Saturday afternoon it happened that the store was unusually crowded;
everything was stir and confusion. Little Ellie and her companions
dashed now here, now there, in response to the unceasing cry of "Cash!
Cash!" In the midst of the hurry, the floor-walker gave Ellie a
message to deliver to one of the clerks in the basement. "Don't
delay!" he called after her. Eager to please, the child made her way
through the throng, and was on the point of darting down the stairs,
when, alas! her foot caught, she tripped, gave a little scream, and was
precipitated down the entire flight. In an instant several employees
from the neighboring counters rushed to pick her up; but, to their
alarm, though she strove to be brave, when they attempted to move her
she could not repress a low moan of anguish. The superintendent sent
at once for a doctor, who discovered that she had sustained a severe
injury, having struck against the edge of one of the iron steps.
Where was now the proud home-coming? Ellie was taken to the hospital,
whither frightened Mrs. Connors was summoned. Upon one of the cots in
the accident ward lay the child, her small face wan with pain, and in
her eyes the startled expression noticeable in those of a person who
has had a serious fall.
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