第4章 妈妈说这是送给您的 1（第1页）

第4章妈妈说这是送给您的（1）

MommaSaysIt'sforYou

佚名Anonymous

“Andhoyou，littlelady？”

Pappyleasant-lookingoldfellow。Hehadthewhitesthairwhichhekeptandbed。Hiseyeswereblue，thoughfadedwithage，aoemitwarmthfromwithin。Hisfacewasquitedrawn，butwhenhesmiled，evenhiswriosoftenahhim。Hehadatalentforwhistlinganddidsohappilyeachdayashedustedahispawnshop；evenso，hehadaseess，buteveryonewhokedandadoredhim。

MostofPappy’sersreturheirgood，adomuess，buthedidnotmind。Tohim，theshopwasnotalivelihoodasmuchasa>

Therewasaroominthebackofhisshopwherehespeihamenagerieofhisowems。Hereferredtothisbaoryhall”。Iwatches，delectris。Thereweremieameiquetoysmadeofwood，tin，or，andtherewerevariousotherobsoletetrisaswell。Spendingtimeinmemoryhalldelightedhimashereytreasuredmomentsfromhispast。Hehaemwithdsometimeshewouldclosehiseyesaoreliveasweet，simpleory。

Oneday，Pappywaswtohisheart’streassemblinganoldrailroadlantern。Asheworked，hewhistledthemelodyofarailroadtuneandremihisownpastasaswit。Iticaldayattheshop。Outside，thesunillumiheclearsky，andaslightwihroughthefrontsdoor。Wheherwasthisnice，Pappykepttheinnerdooropehefreshair，almostasmuchasthedistiiquesandoldengineoil。

Asheolishioredlahetinklingofhisbellontheshopdoor。Thebell，whichproduiquelygresound，hadbeeninPappy’sfamilyforoverahundredyears。Hecherisheditdearlyandenjitssongwithallwhocametohisshop。Althoughthebellhungontheihemaindoor，Pappyhadstruhesdoorsothatitwwhethertheinnerdoorenornot。Promptedbythebell，heleftmemoryhalltogreethiser。

Atfirst，hedidnotseeher。Hershiny，softcurlsbarelytoppedtheter。

“Andhoyou，littlelady？”Pappy’svoice>

“Hello，sir。”thelittlegirlspokealmostinawhisper。Shewasdainty，bashful，i。ShelookedatPappywithherbigbrowhenslowlysedtheroominsearethingspecial。

Shyly，shetoldhim，“I’dliketobuyapresent，sir。”

&’ssee，”Pappysaid，“whoisthispresentfor？”

“Mygrandpa。It’sfrandpa。ButIdon’tknowwhattoget。”

Pappybegaions。“Hoocketwatch？It’singood。Ifixeditmyself，”hesaidproudly。

&legirldidn’tanswer。Shehadwalkedtothedooruthersmallhandonthedgledthedentlytthebell。Pappy’sfaceseemedtoglowashesawhersmili。

“Thisisjustright，”thelittlegirlbubbled，“mommasaysgrandpalovesmusic。”

Justthen，Pappy’sexpressionged。Fearfulthelittlegirl’sheart，hetoldher，“I’msorry，missy。That’snotforsale。Maybeyrandpawouldlikethislittleradio。”

&legirllookedattheradio，loweredherhead，andsadlysighed，“No，Idon’tthinkso。”

Iohelpheruand，Pappytoldherthestoryofhowthebellhadbeeninhisfamilyforsomanyyears，andthatwaswhyhedidn’twa。

&legirllookedupathim，andwithagianttearilysaid，“IguessIuhankyou，any>

Suddenly，Pappythoughtofhowtherestofthefamilywasallgoforhisestraerwhomhehadnotseeninnearlyadecade。Why。Whynotpassitontosomeonewhowillshareitwithalovedone？Godonlykwillendupany>

“Wait…littlelady。”Pappyspokejustasthelittlegirlwasgoingoutthedoor—justashewashearinghisbellriime。“I’vedecidedtosellthebell。Here’sahanky。Blowyournose。”

&legirlbegantoclapherhands。“Oh，thankyrandpawillbesohappy。”

“Okay，littlelady。Okay。”Pappyfeltgoodabouthelpingthechild；heknew，however，hewouldmissthebell。“Youmustpromisetotakegoodcareofthebellfrandpa，aoo，okay？”Hecarefullyplacedthebellinabr。