LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2205, 21 March 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE PINK COOOANUr CAKE. __ De»oon Parson's big -wagon with the heavy farm horses was stopping before Judge Hill's house, and many bright eyes peered out from cape bonnets and wide straw hats to see the Judge's little grand daughter as she came down the steps to join the party. The old deacon himself descended solemnly from bis seat, and, with a bow to the Judge's wife, lifted little Becky into the wagon and placed her among the capo bonnets, 'Glad your grandma would let you go," said Nannie Potter as they drove on, and one seemed inclined to do more than stare at the stranger. ' I think you are real good to invito me, I am Bure,' said Pecky. After this remark the cape bonnets seemed to belong to doable headed bodies, so quickly did they pair off, while pleased whispers reached Becky's ears which sounded like ' She ain't proud v mite I' She laughed, and her little round cheeks grew very red. And then all the bonnets flew back, and Jerry, the deacon's son, said. * I don't think yer very perlite.' But he was pleased at the verdict of the sun bonnets, and from that moment the ride was a merry one.

* I don't know even where we are going,' said Becky, merrily. | 'We are. going up to Deacon Parson's other farm,' said Nannie Potter.

'I didn't know anybody ever had two farms,' said Becky. Jerry tried not to appear proud. ' When we ge.t there, I suppose it won't be the other farm, will it?' said Becky. Jerry laughed, and sail town folka were pretty sharp, The five miles were pasted too quickly to Becky, for everything, to her, was new and delightful. When the other farm was reached, a farmer came out and opened the gate for them, and a little boy with a torn hat watched them with wistful eyes as they drove through to the barn. A pretty little woman came out from tho house and asked them to eomo in, but the deacon said they were going to the woods to eat their dinner. They all scrambled down from the high wagon, and the boys began to hand out the pails and baskets.

' The candy basket is tipped over,' sang out Tommy Potter. The sun bonnets all flew to the rescue. 'Ooooanut cases and peppermint drops all mixed up together!'said one little girl in snoh a pathetic tone that they all laughed. ' Let Becky fix it,' said Susan Lee, wishing to give Becky the highest honor possible. i With a quick appreciation of the compliment, Becky took the basket and began to sort its sweet contents. The others were busy with baskets, pails and jags. She noticed the cocoa-nut cakes with pleasure. If she had a genuine weakness it was for coacoa-nut cakes. After it was all carefully replaced in the basket she still held the oover np and looked at one pink cocoa-nut cake. It was hardly larger than a dollar, certainly too small ever to be mUsed. The ohildren, each with something to carry, were ready to start and they called to Becky. There was no time to lose. The tiny, pink ooooanut cake was (lipped quick'y from the basket to Beoky's pocket. ab she rose from the grass with tho pretty basket on her arm her eye fell on the same boy who had stood by the gate. ' Don't yon want to go the woods with as ?' she said, notiolng his wistful look. ' The deacon didn't ask me,' holding down his tow head. ' Bnt yon would like to come, so come along. I'll ask the deacon to invite you,' and she pulled him toward tie old gentleman. ' This little boy would like to no with us, if yon please, Deacon Parson' she said, as she stopped before the tall deacon, who was leading one of. the great horses to drink. The de&oon stopped, looked down gravely at the boy as if he had caught him laughing in ohurcb, then said, kindly, 'Go spruce up a trifle, Nathan, then come along.' Another consultation among the small sun-bonnets, bnt Becky didn't mind that now. She bobbed her little head, first to one, then another, as freely as a bee dives into flowers, and laughed, and said she wanted Nathan to go because he looked as if he wanted to go somewhere, awfully. In a few minutes Nathan returned with a thinning face and clean jumper, and then they were ready for the woods. The long ride had made them think that "dinner" was the first thing to be talked of, and they quickly chose a pleasant spot for their dining-room. In a very short time the long linen cloth was spread, the basket and pails emptied, and the merry little party, with happy faces, sat down to dinner,

The deaoon arose, took off his broad hat, asked a simple blessing, while the little heads all bowed reverently. It seemed very solemn to Beoky. The great trees with their protecting shade, the soft murmur of the little brood, and the merry voices all hushed, while the kind old deacon, with trustful face turned toward the heavens, prayed earntstly that none of these little ones might ever take a step toward sin Becky's heart grew very heavy. Could it be that tiny bit of cocoa-nut cake ? The merry voices began again ; but it all had a far-away sound to little Beoky, as if she were no part of the innooent merry-making. Her appetite had fled with her spirits. In vain Jerry offered her the daintiest bits ; and Nan Die Potter said, «City folks couldn't eat much ' She conld not eat any more than if the little cake had been fastened over her mouth. When there was a demand for the oandy basket, one little heart went thump I thump! &s If candy baskets had been known to oontain instruments of torture. Tommy Potter watohed Nannie as ehe took out the candy. ' One more cocoa ■ nut c&ke, NaD,' he said, as his sinter put down the basket. 'No,' she said, 'that's all.' • I know better,' said Tommy. ' One, two, three, four, five (get your hand out of the way will you ?), six, seven, eight, nine (bought 'em myself, ought to know), ten, 'leven—l paid for twelve ; and when I pays for a thing I gets it ! Somebody has hooked a cocoa-nut cake,' They all laughed, not excepting Becky. She will never f arget how much it cost her to laugh that day. 1 You don't impose I csre for a cent cocoanut cake, do you 1 said Tommy, almost wrathfully. 'But I hate to know we've got a fellow in the party mean enough to take it.'

'Sit down !' said Nannie, * yon have made speeches enough. How do you know 'twasn't a girl took it V 'Oh, never, never!' said Jerry, gallantly. 'l'll leave it to Beoky, now,' declared the investigating Tommy, 'if when she had the basket there wasn't twelve cocoa-nut cakes ?' ' I really did not count them,' said Becky, coldly, vondering at her own selfpossession. 'Come now,' persisted Tommy," I remember there were only three pink one*. Did yon notice that, Becky ?' «1 did.' said little Nathan coolly. Poor Baoky ! Had she been the meani of being her own accuser P ' There, there !' laid Tommy, 'hear chat. When did you see them, Nat V ' When she (pointing but noi looting at Becky) was a • setting the candy basket right.' ' What diffarenoe can it make, any way ?' said one of the cirl«, teeing Becty'a confusion ; ' Deaoon, ivill you please *o tell Tommy to be quietr" Ihe deacon smitod, but said nothing ; he was anxious himrelf to see how they would come cut. • You saw tb-'ee pink c-ltea, Nat, are you sure V said Trmmy. 'I kcow i- did,' Baid Nathan; two big ones md a J.ttle mite of one.' 'Bememier, Becky's grandfather is a Jurfg*.' swd Jerry, laughing: ' Whe-a wa'4 the last you saw that little pink c&le, Nat ?' ssid Tommy, excitedly. 'ln my hand,' said Nathan. ' B-'ck/'s hand went involuntari'y to her pocl«t. The small piuk cake was gone ! « Where oid you get it ?' cried Tommy. Kecky dropped it and I picked it up.' ' Why didn't you give it back to Becky V ' None of your business.' ' Tut, tut! ' said the de»con. Nathan threw the little cake among the others. 'lf you p»id a cent for that you got cheated,' said one of the girls.

Tommy? W ° rth ■ todfa ft* Myhow,' nSM NathanTs^°^ ie eatiD ß thon 6°. was *, the truth ? ard Kcok y- Did he knowAfter dinner the- „„„«. »„ *«,„ , Becky tried in va W ? nt 4 ° tho mea 3ow little Nathan to qu*°. get 1 ! 1 . ear S"°"* h *• tlon hlm at)o «>t the

'He knows I meai. *.„ . , ... , thought; • why did be *»ft, * afc f * sh « She thonght the deaconf ?*° ok xt |\ „_ at him when he said so coof°A e " r ™, wf deacon waß stretched out n ; T r e trees, with a great red silk" n ?£ er * h * over his face. Becky went bacl nd f erell,ef his Bide. «I will not leave this™ Bat *» said to herself, 'till I tell him t£ a £' B °* that cake instead of Nathan.' l took In a few minutes he sr.id : " that ?' JB It's Becky,' ohe answered very Lumbi He was abunii to draw off the handk'e* chief from his face, when th; aaia, ' PJeaso leave the handkerehfef on. Diacon, I want to tell yon something, ncd I am ashamed.' Hard, indeed, must have been the deacon's heart that would not have been touched by her humble, penitent voice. 'What's the little girl ashamed of?'ho said, kindly. ' I took the pink coooa-nat cake, Deacon, instead ef Nathan.* 'I thonght it wasn't much like Nathan to do it,' said thedeaoon. smilingly. She looked np, and on the other side of the veiled deacon stood Wathan, making motions not to tell. ' I thought I onght to tell you,' said Booky, trying hard not to cry. ' She only dropped it, Deacon, and I picked it np.' 'Why didn't yon give it back to her, then ?' It was Tommy's question. The deacon sat np, pulled off the red handkerchief, and looked at Nathan, who remained silent. * Because,' said Becky, tearfully, *it feH out of my pooket. ' Well, what if it did ?' returned Nathan, 'yon had the care of the candy, and could carry it wherever you wanted to.' 'They all think you took it, Nathan,* said Becky, and I can't, oh, I can't tell them I did it! Will you please do it Deacon ?' The deacon returned to meditate beneath the red handkerchief. When he again emerged, be it to his credit or shame—l say not which—this great puritan deacon said—- ' Let it go as it is, Becky, I think yon have suffered for your sin enough.' The great wagon rolled away from the ' other farm.' As they passed through the gate they all saw Nathan's sturdy little figure leaning against the open gate. 'Goodbye ! good byel* said Becky, waving her hand, and one or two sun bonnets bobbed a pleasant good-night, bnt he felt that the most of them could not forget that he had taken the little cake.

* I don't care,' he said, as they drove out of sight; 'she was the only one that asked me to go!'

'Tommy,' said Becky, as the wagon stepped at the Judge's front gate, ' I took the little pink ooooanat cake. Nathan only said he took it to save me ; I want everybody in this wagon to know that Nathan didn't take it.'

* Brave little Becky!' muttered the old deacon, hastily feeling after his red silk handkerchief.