Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-19
THE LOST RECEIPT.
BY NJ. A. DENISON.

AND sc" SAID Aunt AnnlCe, - tnat re-
sept was never found"
Debby was putting at the fire, and we
girls were half blinded by smoke, but
Aunt Annicc maundered softly on.
II really believe that's the hundredth
time she's told that story since l came
from school," said little Beck winking as
she passed me. "Poor old aunty! Oh,
you careless ancestor Of ours" continued
Beck, shaking her clenched fist at the por-
trait of an ancient gentleman in "a wig
that decorated our west wall, over whose
Roman nose the paint had been cracking
for forty years; what did you go and
Sc it fory'
Sure enough, what did he go and lose
II for
Aunt Annice, absorbed in mournful
recolections, shook her head over the
hre, and as the little pug at the back of
her head, which generally did duty for a
shignon, had uncoiled itself, and her dear
old nose was very Roman indeed, the eff
feet was uncommonly funny Little Beck
caught sight OF it and laughed in hearty
pantomime.
| think Aunt Annice felt the loss of the
property and the consequent poverty that
had come upon MS more than we did.
She had harped upon it ever since we
children had been old enough to listen
Catch me to blow the old fire after
his fashion if that money could be
found!n cried Debby, springing to her
feet, her face decorated with several small
patches of SCOT. /" / think it's downright
horrid to be poor, there!" stamping her
little foot, which was pretty, even in its
patched shoe.
We'd order a palace at once" little
Beck said, soothingly; land wouldn't
every room be warm2 Don't talk to nae
about cold rooms being best for ones
health, and all that. Don't know how
it is? Did we ever have scant supply of
pudding bat what dear mamma said,
Pudding isn't healthy?"
Well, she meant too much of it." re-
sponded Debby, in whose presence it was
not safe to cast the most innocent asper-
sion upon the darling head Of the house
hold.
is there such thing as having too
much of what one needs?" murmured
little Beck, dreamily. a tell you what,
girls, I'm going to write a poem one of
these days, and it won't be on the blessings
81 adversitv."
alt does tend to make people unselfish,
think" echoed Debby.
Makel Who wants to be made to do
things?" and little Beck tossed her curls
till the sun seemed TO burn its gold into
them.
Were all miserable creatures" NUT
tered Aunt Annice, as she folded her thin
hands one over the other and looked from
the window. Girls, haven't you got a
smoke here?"
"Have had said Debby; "but"--
Z" It's taken itself wings, as our fortune
did, laughed little Beck.
" It was the last thing your poor grand
father said on his dying bed" and Aunt
Annice took up the threadbare old
theme; Annice, I'm so glad that mortgage
IS all paid up! every cent, every cent ,
And he wasn't man to say thing was
done if it wasn't. | always declared that
John Nudge would git come up with
fort but he don't seem to-not yet
hebby he thought he was doing right"
Don't say that, Aunt Annice; don't
make the least allowance for that wicked
man. To see him living in our dear old
homer
Debby laughed Little Beck turned
round sharply and looked at her.
It's so COmical to hear you say that
when we never lived in i'll" was the ex-
planatory answer.
No matter, it ought to be ours, and
the Mudges know it. Dick Mudge-you
needn't look that way, Miss Debby, you
Know he'd give the whole farm for a smile
from you-he always looks sheepish when
ne sees us, and it's a pity, for Dick is
handsome
II wouldn't mind going to singing
school with him if it wasn't for the old
grudge' As it is, they're quite out of our
circle; but do have the sweet oppor
ttnnity of looking them squarely in the
Face IN church, if nowhere else and if my