Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-08-21
ollse, with n dark bedroom attached,
g apartments destined for Miriam.

house, with q dark bedroom attached,
tlls apartments destined for Miriam.
aolin had generously permitted her to
brlng with hera chair or two, table,
beaand bedding, and her boys cradle,
an5llshe furnished the dcsolate place with
them wondering, with her country ideas
ofhouses, at the large wardrobe" until
Dafsaid:
Bless ye, Missus, ye don't know York.
Ttst'smeant to Sleep in. It'll do berry
goS2f me"
pebaid sleepin the dark closet, and
her mistress with her babe, in the room
onssidesslept in spite of the noise be-
neai The wake in one Irish domicile,
thfs party" in another; the explosion of
alSsrossps lamp in one room, and the
ws@beating performances in another;-
sleEt because of their fatigue. But there
caleenights when there was no sleep for
thea for the noise and for wondering
hof hey were to live. Miriam made
hel nsediefy and Deb knit stockings to
sci but the rent swallowed up most of
tIsSzSaznsJS Sand food was very DEAR /.
EStthe baby1eft Off Growing and began
to lie, last was taken i'll, ard then the
metlier could only sit and nurse it, while
Debworked for both.
hesMasta marvellous knittcr, and her
grsatSsggsshapcd balls dwindlcd away un-
der her needles at Il rapid rate. But
neEer quite to al. end. Always upon the
hdsa reH ,ofycllow paper remained ball
ali9t@ tile, size of large egg.
s. wound that there for marsas stock.
ings,. she used to say. "Jes' dar dc yarn
broke swhenethcy came knocking at de
dobg I shan't never knit dat off; ics'
leayc it SO, Kinder to remember him by
ailass nd there was sort of romance
inFEis fineyss though old Deb did not
Knit, knit, knit all day and half the
night, but after all there was nothing to
spare after bread was bought.
Cousin John collected his rents him
self, and called in vain for many day.
Elc WAS patient .. first, thinking the babe
must die soon. But it lived to wall and
moan and keep his money from its moth
cr; and by and by John grew angry.
"Thinl what taxes | pay" he plead.
/" Now you're quite Il prosperous woman,
il YOU choose TO be. There's Solomon hell
give you rs many shirts rs you can make
at seven cents apiece, if you'll take 'cm.
You ought to pay such low rent ms
this And he trowncd ON Miriam, who
only looked down upon her baby and
longcd for the only home for which the
poor are charged nothing-the quot rest
ing-placc Of the grave.
And matters grew worse AID worse
with her, SO bad that there was no small
fire upon the hearth andno loaf upon the
table. Dcb's last pair Of stockings had
produced money enough to buy the med
icinc the child needed and no more, and
there was nothing left save Il great hank
of yarn, which, since an old gentleman
had promised to buy the estockings, might
save them from starvation.
In that hope the old woman had made
ready 20 wind the ball again, when the
short sharp knock they knew so well
startled them both, and in walked John
Hougl, buttoned to the chin in his warm
ovcrcoat.
"Wcll," he said, "rcady for me now %
Miriam shook her head.
Ready" cried Deb" why dcrc's
neither fire nor victuals hcre'-and dat
chile wurs'n ever. Whar to get mouth
ful, l dunno. Ef you was man, you'd
put your hand into your pocket and let
us know"
Don't beg from him." cried Miriam.
81 aint hcggln," cried Deb. "Hc's your
cousin, and he's robbed yc. Why honey,
he know dat house was your'n, and dc
groun', an all. He knows you don't lie.