Red-Robin

cinders. An early twilight, gray like a mist, enveloped the city in gloom. Through it lights gleamed bravely from the grimy windo

With her it was a ceremony. She sang as she performed the little act. Without were the shadows of the approaching night-gloom, storm, di

the sound of a light step she sprang to the door and threw it open. A wee slip

er your shawl? Beryl Lynch! Dear love us-a doll!" With a laugh that was like a tinkling of low pitched bells the little mother drew the

didn't-oh, Ber

. Give me it.

till darkened th

e did you

t. Ain't it mine now?" pleadingly. "I wa

r with timid fingers, lifting fold after

she?" s

r simple life-a life the greatest interest of which was to carry to the store each day the small bundle of

k to you?" b

girl had not spoken to her, though she had hung by

kid," loftily. Then,

ated over a fleeting sense of justice, "maybe the little stranger will be a-coming back for her dol

ched out

it. Oh," with a breath that was like a whistle. "

mother's face, a kindling of a fire within the

ool as good as the best and grow up to be maybe the President himself?" She repeated the words softly as though they made a creed, learned carefully

"And it's smarter than ever you'll be yourself with your little books. Oh,

ctical curiosity as to supper.

it sound like fairy food. "Ready to

Dale? A

And Pop'll be comin' along any mi

-legged on the spotless scrap of carpeting and pro

which glinted diamond sparks from much-scrubbed tin. "It's nice-" Beryl meditated. She loved this hour, she loved the singing tea-kettle and the smell of strong soap and her mother's face in the lamplight, with

me'll be-too diffe

that when Beryl had asked Santa Claus for a "real doll" and had cried on Christmas morning because the cheap little bit of dolldom which the mother had bought out of

r. It's the heart and not the gold that counts. And who k

une she and her Danny would know the America and the good things of which they had dreamed, sitting in the gloaming of their Ireland, their lover's hands close clasped? But for that hope why would they have left their dear hillsides with the homely life and the kindly neighbors and good Father Murphy who had taught her from his own dog-eared books because she was eager and quick to learn? T

'bus and go to the Zoo, can't I? And can I have a new coat with fur? And go to Coney? And shoot the shoots? A

t Beryl's anticipations. The floor creak

ou'll be, going to school and learning more than even p

her words. That slow tread was not her big Danny

laughingly pulled him into the room. "It was afraid I was that it was bad news! Danny Lynch

ITTLE GIRL HAD

e's foreman of the gang now. And I stepped 'round to tell ye the good news and that Dan'll be a-workin' tonight with an extry

"It's the good luck! And it's deservin' of it he is for no man on th

in' the dumplin's so I'll go

nce," whispered Moira, too

cted visitor she turned and caught

ever come! It's ashamed I should

ght us the good-luck, Mom?"

fortune is coming, my precious. And it's fine and beautiful my girl shall be with a dress as good as the next one. Wait! Wait!" She flew into the tiny bedroo

the good old Father's blessing." She clasped t

etty beads," crie

ook Beryl upon her lap. "Beryl darlin', was the likes of that ot

ld's voice carried

lf, the selfish likes o' me. You shall go to school and learn from good books. Didn't the old Father tel

out of all proportion to her six years, "I promise to go to school and learn lots like Dale and be fine and boo

threaten such a standard; she stared bravely into the unb

ing that dumplings were more important than anyt

"And what a gay supper it will be-with the new dolly and