Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-09-10
The LITTLE RosETrE MAKER.
BY ANNA NORRIS.

but, mother, the doctor SAID fathel
was better, and yet you look more
sorrowful than ever"
Yes, Katie, dear, because the doctor
also said your father needed nourishing
food now, to bring back his strength
and l have no money left to buy it.
"But you earn money by sewing
mother; and will help you more. Now
that my head aches too badly to 90 te
school, | can sew, guess.
"You! poor little child! No, you
must not sew 1t would be worse fol-
you than studying. l must try to FIND
some other employment. l canno,
earn enough by this sewing for the
shops to pay the rent of our miserable
room, and get such food as we now
have. l have just finished this work
and will carry it home, and then make
some inquiries for: something more
profitable. You run up once in q
while, dear, and see if your father
wants anything"
eyes, mother" answered the child
and she sat watching until her mother
figure disappeared in the crowded
street, and then resumed her employ
ment Of sorting out some bits of ribbon
which had been given her by a neigh
boring milliner, in return for doing
some errands.
. Hates father, Mr.. Reed, was an in
dustrious carpenter, who had always
had comfortable home for his family
until few months before, when he ie-
ceiyed severe injury By falling from
building on which he was at work.
Still, the physician spoke hopefully OF
his soon being out again, and all seemed
going well; when the news that the
man in whose hands he had deposited
all his little savings had absconded, and
left him helpless and penniless, caused
a most dangerous relapse. Mrs. Reed
sold article after article of furniture anG
wearing appeared, and struggled on, till
at last, everything being gone, the.
were obliged to take refuge in one
room Of a wretched tenement house =
There they had been for some weeks
| when our story opens.
Kate, always rather delicate child
| had grown thin and Pale, and com
planned SO much of headache that thu
doctor advised her beng taken from
school. Time now hung rather heavil,
on her hands. She shrank from mucl
intercourse with the rough, vulga
children in the house, and passed mos
of the day in their own room but oc
casionally, as when we just saw her, sht
would take advantage OF their absence
at school, and steal down to the door
step for short time.
81 wish / couldss help MOTHER" sh
thought sorrowfully Il wonder i
there is nothing that little girl can do
Just then the milkman drove int
the yard. He was an honest, pleasan
looking man, VINO always spoke kindl.
to the pale, gentle girl, so differen
from the noisy crowd that clamorousl,
demanded a ride. He drove a fin
gray horse, with which Kate had forme'
a great friendship, and she Away
stroked and patted him, or gave him
handful of grass, if she could find an.
in the dusty street.
| So when the milkmau had passe'
into the house with his cars. she com
menced patting her dumb friend, AM
talking to him as usual, when brigh
idea struck her, and deity knottini
some OF her ribbons together, sh
fastened them near the horse's ears.
! "Now, old Billy, you look YER
handsome she exclaimed, steppin!
back to see the effects Of her work
Just then the milkman came out.
"Ah, Miss, /. Kate he said, shav
you been trimming up my horse?'
| eyes sir, answered the child, rathe
timidly, edo you minds"
| "Mind! O no; am much obliged t
you, and So dare say is Billy! See no,
proudly he holds up his head! He wi
have to come ONE afternoon, and tax
you out to ride, in return for you
i kindness. And with a friendly good
morning he drove a.,idly way.
81 must run and see if father want
anything" thought Kate, turning t.
wards the house A toilsome iourne,