Middletown transcript., 1876-12-30
HOW SHE WON HIM.
Minnie! Minnie! is my chocolate
nearly ready"

nearly ready?"
"ln one minute, grandmamma."
1t was scrupulously neat and daint
in all its appointments. the little parlt
b where Mrs. Brighton sat. although th
carpet was tissue of'darns, the furp
ture faded. and the hearthrug skillfull
eked out by piece of quite anothe
! fabric inserted in the spot most worn
A few flowers, in slender-throate
vase, stood on the antique, claw-legge,
table, the fender-irons glittered lik
gold, and the thin muslin curtains, ar
tistically mended here and there, wer,
white as snow; and Mrs Brighton her
self looked like Cinderella's god d-mothel
in her dress of ancient brocade. bes
yellow thread-lace, and the rings gilt
tering on her small, shriveled hands.
Eighty years old, and lady to tb,
last! That was something to be prout
Of What though paralysis had robbed
her of all use of those dainty -slippered
feet-what though the grand house she
bad entered as bride was now mar.
rowed down to this one room in second
rate building where two other families
also set up their household altars-she
was lady still, and she could boast
that she never had degraded herself to
common toll
Our means are limited" said old
Mrs Brighton. with the lofty air of a
duchess; .'but the pension of my son,
the colonel-who. as you probably may
remember. was killed on the Florida
frontier-is sufficient to maintain myself
and my two granddaughters-and we
are ladies'
Minnie Brighton presently came in
with her little chocolatiere on a napkin
covered tray, and two slices of toast,
exquisitely Drowned and cut as thin as
a wafer.
Il hope you haven't been kept wait
ing. grandmamma ?" she said.
'My DEAR an air of mild re-
signation-''I am accustomed to wait"
..Oh, | am sorry But our fire is out,
and | had to run in and borrow the use
of Mrs. fuckers stove to boil the choc-
olate, and"
Mrs. Brighton contracted her silvery
brows.
1.-The Breightons are not a borrowing
race, Minnie
shall l get you an egg. grand
mamma?'
"Not if the fire is out, my dear"
And grandmamma Brighton went on
with her breakfast, wearing an injur ed
air, while Minnie went back to the other
room, where sat her twin sister, cogi- |
.ating
Anna Brcighton was as pretty as
Minnie, but quite different style. She |
vas dark. with melted. almosd-shaped |
yes. an olive skin, and lips like POM
'granate flower, SO perfectly shaped, SO
ichly red; while Minnie was tall and
lender, and fair as a daisy.
Anna laid down slip of greasy paper
IS Minnie entered.
Its the grocer's bill again, sister.
What shall we do p
Minnie sank into chair.
land the gas yesterday, and the
andlord not paid, and the purse as
mpty as-Mother Hubbard's s cupboard.
What shall we do?"
That's the question: said Minnie,
effectively, arching her jetty brows
If we can only keep it from grand
lamma !"
1--WE must" retorted Minnie. with a
ecisive nod. 1T would kill her. If
q were men now, Nanny, we could 20
ut and get job of wood-sawing, or |
ouse- painting, or"
"Aud why can't we now 2"
"Why? Because Pat O'Neill has
ot all Mrs. Bakers wood to saw, and
scause we can't climb ladders, with |
lint pots over our shoulders !"
''But we can do something else,
oppose. Listen, Minnie-money We
ust have !'
IF we 60 into the highways and ask a
at the point Of the bsyonet !" inter- n
cted Minnie gravely.
There's no poverty like genteel pow v
ty," her sister sighed. But you p
vent heard my plan. Mrs Baker, the
undress in our top story, is sick" b
"What then? We have neither wine is
r jelly, nor yet crisp bank-notes to Fl
stow upon her."
"And she can't keep up to her en- ~
gements There are two swiss muslin
II dresses, Auted and puffed beauti- IL
lily, lying in her basket, waiting to be g
ne up, at this present moment. Five a:
liars piece she has for them" g
"Well?" b,
II shall do them up" :
Nanny! You p
"Well. why not? Think what golden
cam pactolus ten dollars would be in
r empty Golfers! Ask yourself how m
earth you or | could earn ten dollars
: other way And after all, swiss ca
slin dress is a pretty poetical sort Of
ric to wash and iron; and into the ne
gain, poor Mrs. Baker keeps her Gus &c
lers" on
'Oh, Nanny! have you come to that?" an
Now you look and talk exactly like an
r old grandmamma! Don't be a
'se, Minnie! Just you invent some
~ about my being promenading in Ri
park, or taking lessons in wax flower ha
King. to delude her credulous soul, of
lie ! 60 up stairs and coin money"
But | may help your ma
perhaps, if my wrists sp'
tired. Not now; some one must M,
! with grandmamma." =
X X X X Ma
1T is very strange" said Miss Geor- me
tie Appleton, :" that my dresses
en't come home! Positively, shall on
g nothing to wear tonight" the
be was lounging before the sea-coal
10 blue silk negligee. trimmed with 90
ns-down, and little French tangle