The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-18

nave lelL.
"Well, III count again" and the curly
head was bent over the purse, but was
quickly raised, to say with very red
face:
'Only a dollar, mamma, in small
change"
Nothing was said in response to this.
but Adelaide and Joe looked amused,
while the mother and Annie seemed puZ-
zled. Upon adding the different sums to-
gether the five people were found TO be
possessed of an even sixty dollars.
- suppose you have some back wages,
Addic and Joelp
The girls nodded assent, and then the
mother proceeded:
1--WE shall have TO live very close this
winter, but with economy we NAV be
comfortable. | shall have to ask Addie
and Joe 10 pay into the expense purse six
dollars a week instead of five. and if L can
get any sewing to do, | may be able To do
the same. We shall have to discharge
Hallelujah, and work little harder our
selves. dare say we shall get through
the winter much better than we antici-
pate"
But even as she said this, Mrs. Stillman
could hardly repress sigh.
1t was hard to lose all that hard-earned
money, and all the philosophy and pa
tience which she could summon to her aid
didn't make it at all pleasant to cOntem-
plate.
At this juncture Hallelujah put her
black head into the dining-room door.
please, MiSsus Stillman, most fergOt
to tell you, but de flour is out, and de cOf-
fee and de shugah, and, oh yes, dere amt
anOder drop o. dat dere golden lasses
squeezed de jug for de notifies dis mOrnin'
Specs you'll have to get some more, cause
Laury dere, is so mighty fond o. lasses,r
and with a broad grin at "Laury, dere,''
Hallelujah's face disappeared.
"NOt half so fond as she is of the lads, :"
said Adelaide, in stage whisper to Joe.
But Laura did not propose to hear, and
with her face wrinkled into what seemed
to her the proper expression of despair,
she exclaimed:
"Oh hear! Everything is out, and so
are we;" but suddenly realizing that the
unpleasant state of affairs was something
that could not be chased away with a
laugh, she quickly burst into tears as she
said:
q really don't see how we are going to
manage it,
Laura's tears were signal for the weary
mother, who soon gave way to her feelings,
leaving Adelaide and Annie to follow in a
a fearful shower.
But Joe, the silent partnsr, as the girls
had long since dubbed her, didn't propose
to give way to such weakness, although
her eyes were a little misty as she eX-
claimed:
Nonsense, girls! l would not be
babies any longer. You ought 10 be
ashamed Of yourselves, too, infringing
upon mothers right, who, because she has
been sick, and isn't strong yet, ought to
be allowed to cry in peace. If | were
mother, I'd have you arrested for treSpass,
or Infringement of patent"
Laura looked up, indignant.
Mother Nature holds the patent On
! tears, | reckon, and we are all heirs OF
tears, forever. What you know about
patents would not make book"
"But what | know about grOwn-up
babies would. There have been harder
times at sea than this, and for my part I've
no fears Of going hungry, at least for some
weeks. Good gracious, Laura! your eyes
are red, your nose more so, and the tears
have washed the paint off in streaks
What if Ralph should happen to drop in %
4 ring at the bell, as if in corrObOration
of Joe's words, made Laura jump to the
mirror TO find Joe guilty of extreme eX-
aggerauon," as she quickly informed her.
But it was only the postman, with a note
for Joe, which she quickly transferred to
her pocket, while the other girls asked in
breath:
why don't you read it?''
With very red checks, Joe made answer !:
because | do not want to-"
Which concise reply made the sisters eX-
! change knowing looks, and sufficed for
the time to draw their thoughts away from
! their trouble.
Adelaide" said the mother, at last,
won't you and Joe be late? 1t is quar-
ter past eight nOw."
Yes said Adelaide, putting on her
hat, with sigh. Its time we were off.
| Come, joe"
You may tell Mr.. Hickman to put me
down for an hours lost time; am not
coming at present. Here, take Laura with
you, and tell COnny to show her those
! Lisle-thread hose we were speaking OF
yesterday. Conny promised to make a
reduction"
A moment later, and the mother and
Joe were alone. The door had hardly
| closed, when JOe's arms were around her
mothers neck, and the two were weeping
ont their sorrow together; for Joe had
given way at last.
Even with all her bravery, Joe's heart
had been aching terribly the whole morn
! ing; but more for her mother than herself,
and it had cost her not few pangs to come
! to the resolve which she was now about to
! confess.
Mother, she began falteringly, ''yOu
| know you have often asked me what
have done with my money, and L never
would tell you anything except that il was
safe. You never have pressed me, and
now I'm going to tell you, I've only got
hundred and fifty dollars, but it's in
| United States bonds and gold. l want you
TO take it to help Laura and yourself, but
don't say a word about it. Now don't
shake your head so sadly. You can pay
me back when better times come. Keep ii
for a reserve fund you know. Pm going
to bring Laura the dress, but you mustn't
tell. and then there'll be hundred dollars
for you. I've only about twenty dollars
back wages, and | must fix myself up a
little. If we are all economical, | think
we can get along. And there's one other
thing, don't want you TO take in sewing
this winter, for | don't think you are
strong enough. We three girls ought to
be able to take care of you for one winter
and when Laura's married you know
that'll be so much less, for somehow il
costs a good deal to keep lot of hearty
| girls" and Joe finished with feeble smile
/" Ies, but what would do without my
hearty girls, and my heroic joe
Now don't, mother, | am not bit
heroic, and if you call me that shall boil
the course. I'm not bit like the 'goody
girls of story books. for do like money
and nice things, and it wasn't entirely easy
to resolve TO buy Laura that dress for i
she hadn't been such a spendthrift, she
might have had as much money as have.
~ know" sighed the mother, Laur;
seems very thoughtlesS in regard TO money
matters. BY the way. do you know wha
became of her fifteen dOllars?"
Joe heSitated' for a moment, and theI
said with a trifle of bitterness: The mos
of it went for oysters and confectionery
She met lot of her girl friends dow
town, and they knowing her so well, anC
finding that she had a little money, pounceC
upon her, as girls will, and made he
treat I'd like to see any of 'em maxi
me spend my money for 'enl, if | didn'
want to-" and Joe's flashing eyes bor'
testimony for her.
Laura is too easy. am afraid. wisl
she had some of your decision
If she had, she might be the prim OLE