Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-24


have been lost and you might have been put
in prison, or sent to bed, or goodness knows"
With that she shut the lid Of the golden
palace and went down stairs, with the
shawl trailing yard behind her and
the bonnet scouting almost as far, one would
have said, in advance. On the floor below she
paused to put on her gloves, and loi in the
palm of the second glove she found X. Now
Sophy was by no means so ignorant as not to
know that was money. Philosophers might
doubt IT, nevertheless, she knew il. But her
experience OF money had been confined to
pennies and nickel half-dimes and ten-cent
notes; and she thought Y was a ten cent note,
only larger and handsomer than usual The
discovery seemed quite providential TO her
She had been dunning her mother that very
morning for ten cents, fairly earned, accord
ing TO agreement by dressing her own self Gall
but the top button behind) for ten mornings
without once stopping TO gossip with the fur
niture or the canary, or pretending that she
was somebody else, or worrying people with
questions. So she trailed, as fast as dignity
would allow, down the next fight of stairs, to
tell her mother she had found ten cents, and
to get permission TO confscate IT,
This brought her to the man floor, and she
still had to descend TO the basement But
just as she reached the head OF the basement
stairs she heard her mother going to the outer
door below, to answer knock; and not wish
q
Lady Gray, and to be told by her mother, in
the presence of strangers, that she was merely
silly child, traipsing about in old duds that
were mile too big for her, she drew back a
little, and remained unseen. But she could
see and hear pretty clearly; and this Is what
she saw and heard, though without under.
standing 1t thoroughly:
ing, prematurely old but very cheerful and
kindly man, with bundle In his arms,
stepped within. GOOD afternoon, Mrs.
Homebody; i have brought those Christian
Unions. You know you wanted them GER
tainly before Christmas. Surprise for Mr..
Homebody, perhaps" And Old Morocco
stole glance at Mrs Homebody indicating
an earnest hope that she was in "a good
natured, cash paying mood.
But she was not particularly good
just then-nobody is in the middle of a bak-
mg-and moreover she was in the economical
temper. Economy with some people means
10 postpone paying debts and never to let 90
a bit of money without being obliged TO. So
she said indiflerently: "Well, you can leave
the bundle and call again. We will see If it
suits"
Old Morocco made another attempt. He
united the string, opened the bundle (siyly
putting the string in his pocket to serve for
smother bundle) and displayed the books
There could be no doubt 1t was a beautiful
piece Of work; and Mrs. Homebody couldn't
help saying SO. But she still fought off the
evil moment Of paying away money, though
she did not for an instant intend To repudiate
her obligation. Really" she said "you
must call again. cannot possibly pay such
large bill nowhere she thought suddenly
OF up in the garnet and added" without
great inconvenience. These are hard times,
you must remember"
AYE, God knows" said Old Morocco sor-
rowfully; and added in timid, polite way:
" You couldn't pay me three or four dollars
on account, perhapsy This was almost his
last hope, II he got three or four dollars the
children should have their stockings and
mittens, and the oyster-suppcr should Ger.
tainly come off But otherwise there was no
chance TO celebrate Christmas.
Mrs. Homebody was really touched by the
unconscious pathos Of his tone, and wished
with all her heart that X had been lot Of
small bills, so that she could have granted
this request. But she was ashamed to pro-
duce a ten-dollar note after what she had
said, so she merely repeated her Invitation 10
call again. A curious phrase, that "Call
again" We speak 1t to our best friends, and
1t carries great deal Of cordial hospitality
In 1t; We speak ii TO indifferent people in
differently, and II means nothing; then we
speak IL at the door to the young man who
collects the bills OF the butcher or the grocer
or the milkman, and 1t means again and again
and again. We don't say "Call again" 10 the
doctor at present rates, II we can help IL; and
as for the gas-bill collector, he pays no atteD-
ton to II II we do sayI IL, but quietly goes
home and stops our gas. This Is, indeed, an
outrage; but as IL has nothing to do with the
present story pass IL by In silence. Mrs.
Homebody, in telling Old Morocco TO come
again, put II in a little less discouraging form
than at first. "Come again-day after to-
morrow" said she "bccause tomorrow IL
Christmas, you know-and bring receipted
bin with you"
Old Morocco turned sadly and bowed him
self out, saying, with an attempt at cheerful.
ness that seemed much like a sigh, " Well,
good-dayi i must get back TO my family
She was half o mind, even then, To recall
him. II she bad known all that was In his
thoughts she certainly would have done IL.
But he never made practice Of narrating his
domestic affairs; and she was merely led TO
feel In a general way that 1t would be far
more In accordance with the principles that
should rule at Christmas time TO pay this
quiet, gentle, dilapidated old gentleman
what she fairly owed him than TO turn him
away 80 unnecessarily, on the theory that 1t is
never best To be In u hurry about paying out
money. White she besitated he closed the
door and was gone. Instantly she heard the
clear, shrill voice Of little Sophy sounding
down the stairs. "Mother!" cried Sophy,
forgetting la her excitement that she was
Lady Gray and hadn't any mother, may /
give him ny ten cents
Yes" replied her mother, sarcasticalIy,
quite unconscious Of Sophy's performances,
you find ten cents lying around anywhere
give 'em to anybody you likcW And Mrs.
Homebody returned TO the kitchen, where, In
the rescue Of pie that was In imminent dan.
ger Of getting burnt, she speedily forgot X
and Sophy and Old Morocco.
But Sophy had not waited for farther dis.
cussion. With both hands she had turned
the great knob on the front door land whisked
out, with all her draDery, into the street.
y.--LADY GRAY.
Old Morocco had not gone very far; In fact,
he could not resolve TO go home until he had
conquered his disappointment. In half an
hour, perhaps, be would be able TO take q
brighter view Of things and hustle into bis
shop with great show Of cheerfulness, say
ing: "Well, children, what do you Think
Mrs. Homebody thinks the books are beauti-
ful and am to call day after 10. morrow and
get the money" But be couldn't make that
Remark seem very exhilsrating yet. 30 he
walked very slowly down the street until he
was arrested by gentle pull at bis coat and
looking down perceived a small creature In
mot Outlandish costume, who said TO him,
out Of the depth Of poke bonnet, :" Mr..
Bookbinder. have you famiiyy"
The question was so serious and so sudden
that he answered before he had realized the
absurdity OF the situation: Yes, indeed,
md ,orp hf. haa Mt ys.s