Gypsy Breynton

ath of a hundred fields where crimson clovers nodded in the sleepy wind. It seemed to Gypsy that she had never seen such mellow sunlight, or skies so pure and blue; that no

y down to the blossoms of the purple weeds that hid in the grass. She wondered that she had never thought of it before. How many millions of people were enjoying this wonderful day! What a great thing it was to live in

tter-basket on her arm, and dreaming away with her great brown eyes, as such young eyes will alway

a human

is? Gypsy felt a momentary impatience with the mournful sound; then a sudden curiosity to know what it meant. A door happened to be open near her, and she walked right in, without a second thought, as was t

said Gypsy. The

y, again. The children put t

peered at her from between their locks of shaggy hair, as if they considered her a species of burglar. At this moment a side door opened, and

groaning?" re

Littlejohn," said the woman, with a

wise diminished to see a person who could be "always groanin'cl

arelessly; "she's broke a bone,-though she do make a terrible fuss over it, and v

ng right up to see her!" said Gypsy

ke very much. It only strengthened her resolution, however, and s

Guided by the sound of the groans, which came at regular intervals like long breaths, she went up a second flight

alled a fretful

ypsy; "may

said the voice, "but you ma

yellow, wizened woman lay upon the bed. Her forehead was all drawn and knotted with pain, and her mouth looked just like her voice-fretful and sharp.

little embarrassed, and not knowing ex

id Grandmother Littl

aid Gypsy, rushing to the point at once;

that's the matter, an'clock I wonder the whole town hain't heerd me holler,-I

sorry,"

oaning at this, and seemed to be in such suffe

doctor?" she aske

n, seems to me it war, but I never heerd on't, wharever it is, an'clock he with his whiskers only half growed, an'clock puttin'clock of my foot in

splinter broken l

n; "I tell ye I fell down stair

o suppress her su

of you?" she a

box on the bed, an'clock now I am, the neighbors is shy enough of troublin'c

asked Gypsy, beginning to think Grandmothe

a cup of cold tea when they feels like it, and crusts of bread, and I with no teeth

l go right home and get you some, and tell my mother. She'l

k I hope you'll be rewarded for botherin'clock yourself about a poor old

have a whole barrel full. You can have some just as well as not; I'll bring you down a pound or so

y to the poor and afflicted you be! I should like some

psy; "I'll hurry hom

oaning out her thanks, and went down

up as the door burst open, and Gypsy swept in like a little hurricane, her turban hanging down her neck, her

Gyp

treet, and heard her groan up two flights of the crookedest stairs, and she broke her ankle, and the neighbors wo

Gypsy; what does

on and green peas, and I'm going to give her my five dollars, and--Oh, white sug

aid down her wo

reddening, "I don't see w

make out of it is, that a little girl who is so excited she hardly knows what sh

nkle, and is star

off your things, and when you get rested tell me the story quietly an

d woman in town who had had no dinner. However, she sat still and fanned herself, and when she was rested, she managed to tell her story in as c

rst place, you felt so sorry for the old woman, that you went alone into a strange house, among a sort of peopl

g her head a little; "I did

seems to like to com

said Gypsy,

st remarkable thing about her seems to be her modest request

s in such dreadful pain. When I sprained

own the two or three pounds of sugar you promised her, nor to spend several dollars on fresh salmon-a delicacy which we have had on our own table but once this season. Besides, there are thirty or forty sick people in town, probably, who are as poor

dollars," said Gypsy,

eek a poor little girl who has no hat, and can't go to Sunday-school, excites your sympathy, and you would be glad to give something toward buying her a hat-you have not a copper. You go to Monthly Concert, and want to drop

expression of conviction and discomfi

so quick to feel sorry for the old woman, and so ready to be generous with your own money and help. I would rather have you fail a dozen times on the unselfish side, than

little soft kisses on the forehead, that Gypsy liked so much. "I

suggested Gypsy. "She said

ve some work which I cannot leave now, and I have little doubt the woman had some dinner. The poor are

omforted for M

f Yorkbury knew so well by sight, for the biscuit and the jellies, the blanc-mange, and the dried beef and the cookies,

id you f

, y

asked Gypsy, a little puzzle

a sufferer," said Mrs. Breynton. Gypsy's face f

ything for her?" asked Gypsy, a

s properly taken care of. I gave her her supper, and have arranged with one or two of the ladies to send her meals for a few

ng; "and I may take her down

ou wa

o bed as hap

nough, when her mother thought it best she should wait till she had eaten her own. However, on the strength of the re

fish-balls and sweet white bread, and was somewhat taken aback to find

and wearisome, and Mrs. Littlejohn neglected to call her an angel of me

lf, and told Gypsy where it was. Gypsy had been having a great frolic in the fresh hay with Sarah Rowe, and came in late. No one but Winnie was

ck, some one knocked at Mrs. B

it?" she

a doleful voice; "what do

," said Mrs. Breynton,

king in her sleep again," s

s supper," said the doleful

, Gy

sy, humbly. "Couldn't

can't be helped no

s so quick and generous, and sorry for people, and ready to do, and you