The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-29
VOLUME H..
~ E [

- -
property. The other servants were Cork
oniahs and Catholics. while Ann was
Fal-lowner aud q Presbyterinn. The,
were kindly set enough. among them
selves, but felt that patriotism and religion
required that they should stand alOoffron
her. They seldom spoke to her. Sh,
had not single friend or acquaintance
outside of the house, in the country. Sht
worked steadily week in and week out
her only pleasure counting the wages
which she kept in little green box.
she could have talked to any body, for bu
little while, of her mother and Dan
But she was an awkward, diffident girl
and when she tried to make friends will
the other servants, they jeered at he
queer Norrh-country brogue.
al night-about this time, Ann used t.
creep up to the attic where she slept, anC
looking out at thetwinkling lights of thu
great city, think of the countless happy
households stretched out there, and of thu
vast country beyond, full of villages anC
towns. from sea to sea, and of how among
them all she was quite alone. There wai
not one person on this side of the grea
sea to care whether she lived or died.
The attic was bare and miserably cold
as is often the c.Ise in houses where the
drawing-rOOms are treasures of beauty Ol
of art. The pain in her breast grew sharp
er with the cold, until one day, while
sweeping, she thought it was death which
had touched her. Death here-away from
her mother and Dan
She sat down on the stairs Just as Hes
ter Deems came into the hall. Hester
was one Of the pret!iest and gayest girl;
in New York, that winter; she was noted
too, for her warm, enthusiastic nature.
: why, what's the matter, Ann? 1t I,
Ann?' She said STOPPING. Etsn
:" It's only dindfe IN my side, Mis-;
Hester"
Hester repressed a smile.
You ought to see doctor, and not
work so hard. Take a week or two to
rest. Your eyes are quite sunken in YOU
head, poor girl.''
She laid her tiny, ringed hand kindly or
AIMS, and ran on TO her mothers room
:" Mam6ss, wish you would call in DR.
Van Horn for one of the maids-that
gaunt. red-haired girl. | don't know why
Mrs. Hipps has such ugly people about,
One ought to have aesthetic taste in choOs.
ing servants as wei. as in furniture. But
the creature is sick. and must see Van
Horn laf|-
"Absurd, Hesterl Why, his chargse
are simply enormous. Let her go to one
of her own physicians. There are plenty
for that kind of people. Have you seen
the intagliO? Tiffany has sent it up"
Hester never thought of Ann again.
But the poor girl put herself in her way
day after day, hoping she would speak TO
her. Not that she hoped for the doctors
coming: but Hester was of her own age.
and her few kind words had warmed and
heartened her beyond expression. She
had such tender, pitiful eyes, Ann thought,
not knowing that the said eyes were the
admiration of half New York. She was
sure Miss Hester would like to hear about
her mother and Dan. But beyond apleas-
ant nod. in passing, Hester noticed her no
llrther. @
At last the money in the green box
amounted to enough TO bring her mother
and the boy over. She sent it on New
Years day, and counted the hours until
the 2lst. the day on which the steamer in
which they were TO sail would come in.
We have no heart to linger on this part
of the story. On the 20th letter came
for her
DEAR ANN:-I take up My pen TO give you
badd news, the Money came safe to hand. But
tom took it out of the chest that mite, and is gone
TO Derry, and is not come back agen. and Dan
is well, and hoping these lines find you in the
same Helth Your afr. Mother,
JANE FuRLoNG.
There were no plans for the future, as
you see, or tender loving words to break
the force of the blow. People in AIMS
class find no outlet for their emotions in
Ifthey suffered the agony
of death they would ''take up their pen''
in the same stilted, rigorous fashion.
There was nothing left for Ann but to
begin to fill the little green box again.
., how slowly it filled
IL only her mother we're here now. and
they could go to Flori6a-somewhere
where the air did not cut like deadly
knife at every breath
She ventrTed to hint at higher wages /;
but Mrs. Hipps was righteously indignant,
and talked of discharging her; and in ab-
iect terror, Ann begged her pardon and
went back to her work.
- One day, in busting the library, she let
fall vase, which broke into a thousand
pieces. On Saturday, Mrs. Hipps passed
her over while paying the servants their
months wages. ~. ..a~t
SIS it for the vase?' said Ann, with
white lips. .frr ...-s.--. s--.
Mrs. Hips nodded. The girl burst
into tears. and went ont.
80, shame!' cried Hester, who was in
the room. "Give the poor creature her
money! Mamma would not approve of
such conduct in you, Hipps, am sure. -
alt is rule of the house, Miss Deems" 4"
said the housekeeper, stiffly. 8 If you
choose to reimburse it to Ann from your
own purse. cannot object, am sure"
(which certainly shall do !" she cried,
going out. aE at'
But sheedid not meet Ann, and she
bought a print or two at Goupils, that
afternoon, and subscribed to a public
charity, and gave the rest of her months
allowance to a fair of fancy work, and, in
fact. forgot all about the matter.
On Mrs. Hipps remarking afterwards
that "the girl cared for nothing but hOatd-
ing pennies, like all of the ScOtch-lrish," ="
Hester was very thankful that she had not
Squandered any money upon her.
- "A selfish love of money is so apt to
lead TO dishonesty" she said, wisely.
At that momert Ann was dusting the
iewel-bOxes and other precious trifles on
Hester's dressing-tabie. She had been
down to the doctors the night before, and
he bad told her the only chance for life
was change of climate.
ain Minnesota you may live for many
years, but will not insure your life here
fOr as many months" he said, having
curt way OF putting thirgs. q
Ann hel1one glittering ring after an
other Ia her hand. The price of one
would hring her mother~and Dan TO her,
and give them a chance for long, happy
lie together She laid them down. It
aid not once occur TO her to steal them.
But she would speak 10 Hester, and tell
her story. She would ask the girl to
whom money was of so little value, to
Iend her what she needed. She could not
die She caught by the door-post as she
went out, TO keep herself rom falling.
She was young. and life was so sweet !
D God she could not diel ei zra'tl .9
! Hester, coming up the hall, motioned
her haughtily aside. She was generous
girl, and She fapcied this miserly servant
began TO show her avariee in her face.
Her features were pinched. and her eyes
bad hungry, starving look. But Ann
stood still. sF-erer.- *
"Tve been tosee a doctor, Miss Hester, ("
she said, " and he says-he says the time
s short. theught I'd ask YOU TO lend
ne some money! 80 -
3. Lend you unoneyin cried Hester, an
yrily. IF you asked me TO give it TO you