The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-07-02

And Miriam indicating the library, the |
man of business and the legal gentleman
who had been summoned to the spot pro-
ceeded to make search, but found nothing.
In fact, before long it seemed quite certain
that old Silas Dene must have been wan
dering in his mind whenhe spoke of deed
of gift. At least his son John said so.
$50 you see,'' said John to his poor
cousin, $50 you see, Cousin Miriam, we've
done our best. There's no such document
You'll have to work for your liyin' like 9TH
er poor women, suppose. And as you
can't work here you'd better go to the city.
I've got some rooms can let you cheap
in tenement-house, and I'll recommend
you to tailor / know for slop-work.
You'll get on very well. There's women
working for him that make as much as
twelve shillings week, I'm told,"
And in despair Miriam took her Cousins
advice, and Deb went with her.
CAT least you'd have home, honey"
she said. "He'd never turn you out of
doors, mean critter as he is" But Miriam
had no such faith in her cousin.
|
1t was hidious place enough--a ricl1ety
building with wooden stairs, and two fam
lilies on a floor; and the back room at the
top of the house, with the dark bedroom
attached, the apartments destined for Miri-
am. H.,. rf
John had generously permitted her to
bring with her a chair or two, table bed
and bedding and her boys cradle, and she
furnished the desoate place with them,
wondering, with her country ideas of
houses, at the "large wardrobe, - until Deb
said Bless you, missis, you don't know
the city. That's meant to sleep in. It'll
do very well for me.' ...t
Deb did sleep in the dark closet, and the
mistress with her babe, in the room out
side, slept in spite of the noise beneath
the wake in one Irish domicile the party"
in another; the explosion of paraffin lamp
in one room, and the wife-beating perform
ances in another:-slept because of their fa-
tigue. But there came nights when there
was no sleep for them for the noise and for
wondering how they were to live. Miriam
made her needle fly, and Deb knit stockings
to sell, but the rent swallowed up most of
the money, and food was very dear. Even
the baby left off Growing and began to pine,
and at last was taken i'll; and then the moth
er could only sit and nurse it, while Deb
worked for both. She was marvellous
knitter, and her great egg-shaped balls
dwindled away under her needles at rapid
rate. But never quite to an end. Always
upon the hard roll of yellow paper remain
ed ball about the size of large egg-
IT wound that for masters stockings" ("
she used to say. "Just there the yarn
broke when they came knocking at the door
that off; jus leave it so to remember him
by always"
And there was sort of romance in the
fancy, though old Deb did not know it.
Knit, knit knit all day and half the
night, but after all there was nothing to
spare after bread was bought. .H.
Cousin John collected his rents himself,
and called in vain for many a day. He was
patient at first, thinking the baby must
die soon. But it lived to wall and moan,
and keep his money from its mother; and
by-and-by John grew angry.
"Think what taxes l pay" he pleaded.
"Now you're quite prosperous woman, if
you choose to be. There's Solomon IL give
you as many shirts as you can make at
three-pence halfpenny apiece, if you'll take
'em. f..
You ought to pay such low rent as
this"
And he frowned ON Miriam, who only
looked down upon her poor baby and long
ed for the only home for which the poor
are charged nothing-the quiet resting
place Of the grave.
And matters grew worse and worse with
her, so bad that there was no small fire
upon the hearth and no leaf upon the table.
Deb's last pair Of stockings had produced
money enough to buy the medicine the
nothing left save great hank of yarn,
which, since an old gentleman had prom
ised to buy the stockings, might save them
from starvation.
In that hope the old woman had made
ready to wind the ball again, when the
short, sharp knock they knew so well start
led them both, and in walked John Dene,
buttoned to the chin in his warm overcoat.
"Well, he said, "ready for me now9"
Miriam shook her head. f,
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