Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-04-10

tie Beck often dramatically ASSERTED
made beggars.
On the whole, though, we were ratl
or q jolly set Of beggars. If ever an
one was born with q faculty to max
nothing 60 a good ways, that perso
was Mother Barton.
! "a regular little steam engine,
Beck used to say, when that brisk lii
1 tie person aforesaid got up some ney
scheme for adding to the family purse
We made cunning and curious con
trivances for comfort and convenience
frightening the walls with autumn
leaves and dried ferns, made wonder
full lounges out of pine boards an(
calico, and filed our windows with i'm
pr0visiOned flOwcr-pots and vases fnl
Of thriving plants.
II only we could have depended
with little more certainty upon thu
Providence that makes tomorrow a
this day, only moro abundant, We
should never have spoken repining
word.
"Well,n said little Beck, one day,
II suppose l, or some of us, must carry
that sack hOme,p and she held up a
little garment beautifully embroidered.
"There it is, Debby, done, and you're
the only one that's got decent water
proof, so CO."
Debby inspected the sack and de-
clared it the prettiest that ever was
made. -.z..-. ~ ssz..
II have been longing for . breath
Of fresh air." she said, "and it's SO
pleasant out; besides, t0-morr0w's
New Years Day. l want to see the
shop wind0ws.n
So Debby went and soon returned
with the money paid her for the sack.
Only little Becky's sharp eyes could
have noticed the flushed, preocupied
look Of our eldest sister.
allow far did Dick Nudge come
with youi" asked the sly little puss.
y "Beck, what torment you are!"
snapped Debby, with sparkling eyes.
DWELL, tell me, anyhow" pleaded
little Beck.
Gas far as the corner, then, if you
must know"
: "Deb, why don't you show a proper
l.ride?" cried Beck, almost angrlly.-
f" You're not a bit like me. DO you
know how would treat him, or any
Of that familyi With lofty disdain,
thus" and the small creature lifted
herself on tiptoe aud tried to look
down UPON Debby, who being a head
and half taller, uncomprolaisingly
refused to be overt0pped. .
II had an object in view, said Deb |
by, with dignity. "Don't you remem.
Der that missing number Of the Spec
'ator!" she asked, folding her water
proof carefully away.
Yes, l remembered how often hoel
Wished for it to complete the set. Ny
ather had mourned its loss because
he books were unique in binding and
being an old London edition.
ooh, you merely wanted to ask"
aid little Beck, pr0vOkingly.
"That was all. Some time ago he
'romiSed me he would look for it. To-
lay Re tells me it is found among
ONE rubbish in the garnet. He said
e would send it up Tomorrow L
"Pray, why, couldn't he have given
; to you t0-dayf" Il
II didn't ask" said Debby, dryly.
"Maybe hell bring it here himself
and little Beck. Il
"Maybe he will" Debby responded.
The next day came, cold but SPLEEN i
id. We were not so poor but that {
e could make our little gifts to each 7
her. IL
1t was ten o'clock when . carriage
rove up to the door, and Mr.. Mudge's
Otman, as little Beck called him, left +
package for Miss Barton. OF course i
was for Debby, and she laughed at e
If eagerness as she united the cords. b
A little note laid on the outside Of ta
&c cover. She read it. / might as q
ell give the contents here: +
Miss DEBBY-I return this long. Up
st volume with great pleasure, and v
Oultl like you to find page 100, and p
adj a passage that l have marked. v
Debby opened the hook, started to Il
7 feet, read something and turned y
white as ashes. The book fell from o.
+ nerveless hand, and q yellowed n
per floated out and laid at Aunt %
lnice's feet. "
" Girls!" shouted little Beck, pick
: it up and facing Us with q scared q
X, otis the receipt! It's the long +
It receipt! What do you say to that
a New Years present. That
[endid Dick! He found tho book, q
q saw the receipt, and sent it here.1 T
Tears wererunDing down her cheeks; g
Iced, we all cried little. Yes. =
re it was, boldly signed by the y
nd Of Grandfather Nudge. The y
'ney had probably been paid when =
note was down town in the store
e, and not convenient at the time to
!, SO receipt had been given for
money, with the understanding
It the note should he returned when =
Nudge felt able to 70
vn to get it-and he was apoplectic
l died suddenly. :
bur grandfather was an honest, EASY D
t of a man, and supposing the mat
settled thought but little more
nut it until he was taken sick o
nth or two after-and then he re !.
red to the payment Of the debt only
general way. He had put the
cipt away in the volume Of the &C
ctator, It seems, and then had for
ten to speak about il.
Vnvv mot <1.Ak