The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-02

face that appeared upon their decks; for
lilly had half-brother who was sail
or. To be sure, he had sailed away
years and years ago, and everybody
thought that he, with the ship he sailed
in, must have been lost, for they had
never been heard from since. But lilly
couldn't help hoping that he was still
alive, and would some time come back
| to her again. She could remember hin,
distinctly, though she was very wee
thing when he went away. She could
remember that he was very tall and very
brown, and used to take her on his
knee, and tell her funny stories and sing
her funny songs. Her poor mother
broke her heart about him, almost; and
they scarcely saw happy day after he
went away, for her father died long be-
fore, when lilly was only few months
old, and they were all alone in the
world.
lilly was sure that she should know
him if she were to meet him anywhere,
for she had his picture. He had il
taken just before he went away, for his
mother, and before she died she gave il
to Tilly, and told her never to part with
it; and then if Jim, who would not know
where to find her, should ever come
back, she might meet him and know
him by his resemblance to the picture.
There were more sails than common,
she thought, tapping like white wings
in the frolicsome spring wind, as she
hurried down the long street that led to
the water, but there were clouds in the
sky, that looked very much like show
or. While she was stopping to consider
whether she should go or not, she no.
ticed an old apple woman, seated before
her stand over the way, in evident dis
tress. Her face was all screwed up as
if she were in pain, and she kept rub.
bing one of her shoulders with her hand.
Tilly's tender little heart was touched in
woman's side, she purchased a few ap-
pies, and then ventured to ask her what
was the matter.
"Oh, it's only my rheumatic, bless
ye," said the old woman. cit twinges
in my shoulder dreadful this damp
weather. 1t pears now as if I should
hev to give up business for to-day, but
if | did Heaven knows where jimmie and
I'd get our dinner and supper. I paid
the last shilling had for rent last night.
jimmie, my daughter, is poor, sick crea-
ture, and can't do nothin'."
"Let me take your place." said
lilly, eagerly; "'twould be real fun fol
me, and 1 know that 1 should sell guam
titles of apples. It's going to rain, you
know, and that will make your rheuma-
| tism worse"
The old woman looked at her with
surprise, and shook her head; but lilly
was not to be put off in that way.
$50 you are afraid to trust me with
your apples, said she, looking up into
the old woman's face with her winning
smile.
"Bless your heart No, DEAR" said
the old woman; 81 wouldn't be afraid
to trust anybody that had face like
yours. But what would your ma say ?
1t isn't the place for a little lady like
YOU"
81 haven't any mother" said Tilly.
81 live with Miss Snip, and she doesn' t
care what do; and, if you please, I'm
not a little lady. I'm only an errand
girl; but to-day I'm going to have to
myself-a whole holiday. wish you'd
let me take charge of your apple stand.
l understand trading. Miss Snip lets
me wait OH her customers sometimes,
and I'd like to sit. here all day, because
could look at the water and the ships
all the time"
"But you'd spile your pretty clothes,
and may be get i'll yourself, sitting out
here this showery day."
"Oh, no, indeed, l shouldn't ! Your
great umbrella would cover me all up,
and it will only rain little while at a
time. anyway. The sun is trying to
come out now"
The old woman rubbed her aching
shoulder, and remained silent few mo-
ments, apparently considering what it
was best to do.
"Well, DEAR" she said, at last,
"since you are so kind I don't know but
1 shall hev to give up my business to
you, for my shoulder is powerful bad,
and if l should git cold now I'should be
laid up for weeks, p'raps, and Heaven
ouly knows whaG would become of jim
ME and me. But you'll get tired out
before long, know, and when you do
jest beckon to me. 1 live up in the
fourth story of this buildin'," pointing
to a dingy row of houses opposite,
"and I'll see you and come down"
And, after enlightening lilly with
regard to prices, with many thanks and
blessings, she hobbled away and left the
little girl one in her new dignity.
lilly liked it. 1t wasn't a very nice
place to stay in, to be sure, but rather
dirty and dark, with great shipping
stores and wharves on every hand; but
she had a view of the water where she
sat, and great many sailors were pass
ing up and down the street. She put
on a dignifed, business air, and sat up
very erect and prim, ready to receive
customers. And plenty of customers
she had, assure you; the sailors, espe-
cially, seemed to be highly pleased with
tho dainty little apple woman; and bust
ness men made The purchase of her pip
pins an excuse to speak to her, it was so
out of the common course of things to
such delicate, fairylike little girl pre-
siding over an apple stand.
Before noon she had sold out nearly
all her little stock; and, taking what
few she had left with her, she went in
search of the apple woman, to make
her eyes glad with the great heap of
pennies that had accumulated in her
box, and urge her to replenish the stock
for the afternoons sale. But the old
woman wasn't able to go out and pur-
chase any more apples, and was willing
to leave everything to Tilly, who was
highly pleased with her commission. So
she made nice bargain with fruit
dealer up the street, and by one o'clock
established herself again as an apple
yender at the old stand.