Peg's Easter Eggs

1915--

Peggy was the cutest ever. She was the pet of her home, and there was nothing this little Miss wanted that she did not get. One day she asked for a dog and Papa brought home a tiny poodle. Another time she said she wanted an umbrella, and sure enough, Mother bought her one just large enough to fit over her.

Now Peggy was very fond of her dog and very proud of her umbrella. She never took a walk that Poodle did not go out with her, but alas, the umbrella was not so fortunate. Peggy knew she oughtn't to carry an umbrella when the sun shone, and the sun insisted upon shining all the time.

Peggy had set her heart on going out and buying Mother and Father each an Easter-egg, but Mother was always around, and no opportunity came until the day before Easter Sunday, and then it was raining.

"Hurrah!" said Peggy to herself, "I'm going to the store, and I can carry my new umbrella."

Taking Poodle by the string, she hoisted her umbrella and sallied forth. Her thoughts ran thus, "Thank goodness Mother was out so I could get off without arousing 'spicion,'" even though Peggy was a little girl, she thought in big words.

She reached the shop in which were the precious chocolate eggs. The window was full of them, and Peggy decided on very pretty and fancy ones that graced the center. Down went the umbrella, and into the shop went Peggy and Poodle.

"If you please, I want those awful pretty ones in the window for my Mother and Father," she said, when she became conscious of a lady standing next to her.

She looked up, and there stood her very own Mother.

"Why, Peg, you out on such a day!"

"Yes, Mother, and here is what I came for," and Peggy gave her Mother the pretty egg.

Mother tried to look serious, but how could she scold her darling when the child's intentions were so good and unselfish?

"What have you in that bag?" asked Peggy, as the lady behind the counter handed it across to the little girl's Mother.

"You shall see in good time," smiled Mother, "now come home and don't get yourself wet."

"How can I, with my umbrella over me?" answered the child, and away they went towards home.

The next day Peggy entered the dining room to place Papa's egg on his plate, when there on her own was a big chocolate one with "Peggy" written in white sugar letters across the top.

She climbed on her Mother's knee, to kiss her thanks, and as she did so she whispered, "Now I know what was in the bag."

--The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, Illinois, April 3, 1915, page 3.