American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-28
VOL. XXIV.

"Well, I'll count again." and the curl
head was bent over the purse, but wa
quickly raised, to say with very re
face:
Only dollar, mamma, in sma
change"
Nothing was said in response to this
but Adelaide and 10 looked amused, Will
the mother and Annie seemed puzzled
Upon adding the different sums togethe
the five people were found to be pOssesse
of an even sixty dollars.
81 suppose you have some back wages
Addie and Jo?"
The girls nodded assent, and then tn
mother proceeded:
We shall have to live very close thi
| winter but with economy we may b,
comfortable. shall have to ask Addit
and 10 to pay into the expense purse 81,
dollars a week instead of five, and if
| can get any sewing to do 1 may be abb,
to do the same. We shall have to dis
| charge Hallelujah and work a little harder
ourselves. l dare say we shall get through
the winter much better than we antici
pate"
At this juncture Hallelujah put he
black head into the dining room door.
PLEASE, Missus Stillman, most forgo
| to tell you, but de flour is out, and de cot
fee and de shugah and, oh, yes, dere aim
anoder drop o. dat dere golden 'lasses;
squeezed de jug fur de notifies dis mornin'
| Specs you'll have to get some more, cause
Laury, deIe, is so mighty fond o. 'lasses,
and with broad grin at " Laury, dere,'
HaHelujah's face disappeared.
Not half as fond as she is of the
| lads" said Adelaide, in a stage whisper tC
10.
But Laura did not propose to hear, and
| with her face wrinkled into what seemed
L. 81, Of
she exclaimed;
80 dearl Everything is out, and so
are WEI" 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:
a really don't see how we are going to
manage It,"
Laura's tears were a signal for the weary
mother, who soon gave way to her feel
ings, leaving Adelaide and Annie to fol-
low in a fearful shower.
But 10, the silent partner, as the girls
had long since dubbed her, didn't pro-
pose TO give way to such weakness, al
though her eyes were little misty as she
exclaimed:
Nonsense, girls would not be ba-
bies any longer; you ought to be ashamed
of yourselves, too. infringing upon moth
er's right, who, because she has been
sick and isn't strong yet, ought to be
allowed to cry in peace. 1t I were
mother I'd have you arrested for trespass
or Infringement of patent"
Laura looked up indignant.
mother Nature holds the patent on
tears, l reckon, and we are all heirs of
tears forever. What you know about
patents would not make book"
But what l 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 shuuld happen
to drop in?"
A ling at the bell, as if in corrobora-
ton of JOS words, made Laura jump to
the mirror to find 10 guilty Of "extreme
exaggeration," as she quickly informed
her.
But it was only the postman with a
note for 10, which she quickly transferred
to her pocket, while the other girls asked
in breath:
"Why don't you read it?"
With very red cheeks 10 made
answer:
because l do not want to-"
Which consise reply made the sisters
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 10 be late? 1t is quar-
ter past eight now?''
YES" said Adelaide, putting on her
hat, with sigh. ITS time we were off.
Come, Jo."
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 COMFY to show her
those 1isle thread hose we were speaking
of yesterday. COMFY promised to make
A moment later and the mother and 10
were alone. The door had hardly closed
when JOS arms were around her mothers
neck, and the two were weeping out their
sorrow together; for 10 had given away
at last.
Even with all her bravery JOS heart
had been aching terribly the whole morn
ing; but more for her mother than her
self, and it had cost her not few pangs
to come to the resolve which she was now
about to confess.
Mother" she began, faltering, "you
know you have often asked me what
have done with my money, and l would
never tell you anything except that it was
safe. You never have pressed me, and
now I'm going 10 tell you. I've only got
hundred and fifty dollars, but it's in U. S.
bonds and gold. 1 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 it for a
reserve fund, you know. I'm going to
bring Laura the dress, but you mustn't
tell and then there'il be a hundred dollars
for you. I've only about twenty dollars
back wages, and l must fix myself
up little. If we are all economical,
think we can get along. And
there's one other thing, l don't want
you 10 take in sewing this winter, tor | |
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 |
you know that'll be so much less
Tor somehow 1t costs a good deal to keep
Il lot of hearty girls" and 10 finished |
with feeble smile,
But 10 was not one long given to re- |
pinIng. n passing regret Il little bitter |
outcry against the hard necessities OF |
life, and she was ready To take up her |
burden again, and go checrfully on her
way.
Well" she exclaimed, after mo-
ments thoughtful silence, " times up,
and L must be on my way to the store !
/ IN pretty sure that we can get through
the winter, mother, and if we do we are
all right"
Bending down she gave her mother "A
kiss, that brought the words
"God bless you, child. How could ]
live without you"
valescence, and the pale and pretty inva-
lid, in pink wrapper, was taking her first
whole hour of sitting up in the easy Chair,