The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-04-02

almost time to get dinner, and
frowning and laughing, went out o
the room. - = - 4 SL.O
!, 1t was not far from New Year,
, Day. No snow had fallen, and tht
old village gossips predicted an Oper
winter.
We had tried to lay In full supply
of coal, but, as usual, the money wa
needed for something else, and VIZ
were burning some green wood, o.
which we had bought few feet. o.
course, being girls, we were always
devising ways and means, always
making crOchet-work to sell, or knit.
1 ting tides, or doing machine-sewing,
for Debby and I had bought q
machine together, but do all we could
we only kept the wolf from the door.
Added to this, Aunt Annice had
patiently instilled into our souls that
we had been wrOnged. Grandfather
Barton had once mOrtgaged his
property for large sum-. After his
death, John Nudge, Of whose father
the money. had been borrowed, de-
clared 1t was unpaid, and made a
claim for several thousand dollars.
This was before our father was mar
ried but he insisted that the sum
had been paid. Mr.. Nudge, then a
young man, insisted that 1t could not
have been, as the mortgage was not
Cancelled, and he had found the note
among his fathers papers.
The upshOt of all was that papa,
being unable to prove that the money
was paid, though his father, on his
death-bed, declared that it was, Or
rather had spoked of it in such terms
that all the family were satisfied that
1t had been paid, gave up the estate,
and by that operation we were, as
little Beck often dramatically assert
ed, made beggars.
.On the whole, though, we were
rather a jolly set of beggars. If ever
any one was born with faculty to
| make nothing go a good ways, that
person was Mother Barton.
"a regular little stoam engine"
Beck used to say, when that brisk
little person aforesaid got up some
new scheme for adding to the family
purse.
We made cunning and curious con-
trivanceS of comfort and convenience,
frightened the walls with autumn
leaves and dried ferns, made wonder
full lounges out of pine boards and
calico, and filed our windows with.
improvised flower-pOts and vases full
of thriving plants.
If only we could have depended
with a little more certainty upon the
Providence that makes tomorrow
az this day, only more abundant, we
should never have spoken a repining
word. .G
"Well," said little Beck, one day,
"I suppose /, or some of us must carry
that sack hOme," and she held up q
little garment beautifully embroider-
ed. "There 1t is Debby, done and
you're the only one that's got de-
cent waterproof, so CO."
Debby inspected the sack and de-
clared 1t the prettiest that ever was
made.
"I've been longing for breath of
fresh air." said she, "and it's so
pleasant out besides, tO-mOrrOw's
New Years Day. want to see the
So Debby went and soon returned
with the money paid her for the sack.
Only little Beck's sharp eyes could
have noticed the flushed, preOccupied
look of our eldest sister.
"HOw far did Dick Nudge come
with you ?" asked the sly little puss.
"Beck, what torment you are"
snapped Debby, with sparkling eyes.
"Well. tell me, anyhow" pleaded
little Beck.
GAS far as the corner, then, If you
must know"
"Deb, why don't you show a proper
pride ?" cried Beck, almost angrily.
hYou're not a bit like me. Do you
know how / would treat him, or any
of that family? With lofty disdain,
thus :" and the small creature lifted
herself on tiptOe and tried to look
down upon Debby, who, being head
and half taller, uncompromisingly
refused to be Overtopped. "a
| 81 had an object In view," said
Debby, with dignity. "Don't you
remember that missing number Of
the Spectator 2" she asked, folding her
waterproof carefully away.
eyes, remember how often had
wished for it to complete the set. My
father had mOurned its loss because
the books were unique in binding and
printing, being an old London
edition."
"Oh, you merely wanted to ask"
said little Beck, prOvOkingly.
"That was all. Some time ago he
promised me he would look for It.
To-day he tells me it Is found among
some rubbish in the garret. He said
he would send it up tomorrow"
"Pray, why couldn't he have given
it to you to-day"
"I didn't ask - said Debby dryly.
"Maybe he'll bring 1t here HIMSELF"
said little Beck.
I" Maybe he will," Debby re-
sponded.
The next day came, cold but splen-
did. We were not so poor but that
we could make our little gifts to each
other.
It was ten o'clock when a carriage
dove up to the door and Mr.. Mudge's
footman, as little Beck called him,
left a package for Miss Barton. OF
course it was for Debby, and she
laughed at our eagerness as she united
the cords. o.
| A little note laid on the outside of
the cover. She read It. 1 might as
well give the contents here
Miss DEBDy-I return this long lost volume
with great pleasure, and should like You 10
find page 100, and read passage that have
marked. 5t
Debby opened the book, started to
her feet, read something and turned
as white as ashes. The book fell
from her nerveless hand, and O
yellowed paper fioated out and laid
at Aunt Annice's feet.
"Girls!" shouted little Beck, pick
ing IL up and facing us with scared
look, ''1t's the receipt It's the long
lost receipt What do you say t.
} that for New Years present? Tha
} splendid Dick He found the book
: and saw the receipt, and sent 1t here
IL x.ll LII