E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Ronald Holder,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
VOL. 37. No. 15. WEEKLY.
DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING CO., ELGIN, ILLINOIS. GEORGE E. COOK, EDITOR.
APRIL 12, 1914.
"Why, Myra, what is the matter?"
Mabel had found Myra crying in a little sheltered place where thelittle neighbors sometimes played together. Mabel lived in a big houseand Myra in a little one, but they were neighbors, and loved eachother just the same.
"I don't mean to cry long," Myra said, "but I couldn't help having asmall cry before I began to look pleasant. It's because mother couldnot make my white dress for Easter. She had to sew for other peopletill it was too late, and now I have to wear my blue dress when allthe rest in our class wear white."
"That is too bad." said Mabel, putting her arm around her smallneighbor, "but we'll all love you just the same."
"Yes," Myra said, drying her tears, "and mother said that if I wouldtake it pleasantly, and be happy just the same, because it was right,that it would be like an Easter love-gift. I can't take many pennies,but I do mean to take the love-gift, and I'll begin now, so that's thelast tear." Her smile came out like a bright little rainbow. Mabelkissed her, because she could not help it, and the two little girlswent together to look for as many little spring things as they couldfind. This was the best possible thing to do.
"Mother," said Mabel that night, in the little go-to-bed talk. "Myrahas to wear a blue dress on Easter Day, when the rest of us will allwear white. I am so sorry for her."
"Is Myra very sorry, too?" asked mother.
"Of course she is, mother: I found her crying over it this afternoon.But she stopped pretty soon, and said she would not cry any more."Then Mabel told about the "love-gift."
"I wish I could take some kind of a love-gift, too," said Mabel,seeing that her mother thought this a beautiful thing.
"I am sure you could, if you would." said mother.
"Please, tell me how."
"No. it must be your own love-thought first. You will have to-morrowto think it out. Good-night, now."
Mabel thought and thought a long time, next day. At last she whisperedsomething to mother that made her look very happy, and say "Yes,dear."
On Easter morning Mabel waited for Myra, that they might go toSunday-school together.
"Oh, oh!" cried Myra, as she saw Mabel, "you have on your pink dressin-stead of your new white one. Now I don't mind my blue one."
"We sit in the same row, you know," said Mabel, "and we'll be neartogether." She looked very happy. The two little girls with shiningfaces went together to God's house, and One above looked down andsmiled upon them.
THE MYSTERY IN BILLY'S YARD.
"Something's going on over to our place."
Billy Wells walked into the school yard at noon with a face whichshowed that the "something" was very important indeed. The other boysgathered in a little crowd about him.
"What is it, Billy?"
"Tell us, Billy."
"It's—somebody that's come there—"
"What for?"
"To stay, I guess. Acts that way.