Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-06-13
miscellaneous.
a Ton Of Coal, NIa'am.
by MRS. II. e. A. C. AREY.

Tingle; t:ngle, tiugle went the bell for the
fiftieth time, as 1t appeared to me that morn
ing. l wrote on, the more rapidly from fear
of another interruption; but nobody went to
the door, and presently the nerve of wire
which ran kitchenward through the house,
tingled again with hastier signal than be-
fore. in token of the impatience of the hu-
man nerves that were waiting outside.
dolly, where's Kate?" said 1, clipping
the words short that they might be the less
interruption to the paragraph which was un-
winding itself on the paper.
''Taty's done out door," said the little
three year old. who was building royal cas-
tie on the carpet. | threw down my pen and
went myself to answer the summons
"a ton of coal, MAJ am said the sooty NOR
tai on the steps.
''Oh, yes" said l remembering that the
good man had remarked the night before that
the winters supply of coal had given out,
and that he must send up enough to last the
remainder of the cold season. Drive in at
the side gate and dump it beyond the wood
yard, you will see the place." and was clo-
sing the door hastily to return to my work;
for had just so much that must be done,
before the sun reached the middle of his Jour
ncy for the day. but the sun forsoth was get
ting on without any obstacles whatever, while
all the fates seemed to have conspired to in
terrupt the race of my pen across the paper.
Garry in your coal, ma'am," said parti-
colored boy. promptly presenting himself at
the ori6ce of the closing door. ,s
''Not now replied, Il hare no time to
attend to it, come at noon."
The hour of noon pealed with provoking
jubilee from the towers. The sun had fin
ished its half days work faithfully and we'll,
but mine was not done; and still the pen toll
ed wearily over the paper, in momentary ex-
pectatioD of being called to account for its
delinquency.
''You are not housekcepers to war with
constant interruption" said defiantly to the
Ginning bells, and to the sun whose rays fell
with perpendicular triumph on the cottage
roof.
"a boy wants to know if he shall bring
in the COAL" said Katy, presenting herself
at the parlor door.
''What does he charge for IT." 1 asked
without stopping.
Katy went back for an answer to my ques-
ton, and in moment reported-t'two shil
lings is the boys price"
"Ma," said my little son who had jus
come in from school. pushing past Katy to
speak to me. Ma. there's another boy ays
he will do it for eighteen pence"
''Very well, take the cheapest one" said [
calling after Katy.
'Yes, ma'am," called Katy, and the par
lor door closed upon them. But at the same
moment boy passed the bay window where
l was sitting, aud tapped at the library door.
"What is it?" said [ rapping at the win
dow with my ivory pen-holder.
bring in your coal, ma'am, for fifteen
cents said he.
"Very WE'LL" said 1, supposing it was the
last boy, and weary of the interruption
''Shall l bring it in?" said the boy with
Frightening up of his face.
"Yes, yes"
He turned hastily away with a glad look
on his features, but just then two other boys
came through the gate that led from the wood
ward to the kitchen door, with their shovels,
and commenced at the heap of coal. The
light faded instantly from his sallow cheek
he saw that he had lost the job, and throw
ing up both his thin arms, SO as to catch hold
of the picket of the fence, he bent his head
upon the upper rail, aud the silent tears came
coursiug down, leaving their track amid the
coal dust that obscureo his skin. The atti-
tude was one of such utter despair that the
busy pen was suspended moment that [
might look at him. He was a mere shadow
in comparison with the other boys, who were
now busy at their work, and who seeing his
disappointment raised their heads, and ap-
peared to throw him some bitte- taunt. He
paid no attention to this, however, except to
bow his head lower on the rail; and saying
to myself that his grief was probably caused
by some boyish jealousy about tho finding OF