Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-21


what would your ma say? 1t isn't the
place for little lady like you.'
II hayn't any MOTHER said lilly. 81
live with Miss Snip, and she doesn't care
what 1 do; and if you please, Pm not a lit.
tie lady. Pm only an errand girl; but to-
day I'm going to have to nyself-a whole
holiday. / wish you'd let me take charge
of your apple stand. 1 understand trad.
ing; Miss Snip let's, me wait on her Gus
toners sometimes, and I'd like to sit here
all day, because I could look at the water
and the ships all the time"
"But you'd Spite your pretty clothes, and
maybe get i'll yourself, sitting out here this
showery day."
'Oh, no, indeed shouldn't! Your great
umbrella would cover me all up, and it
will only rain a little while at time, any
way. The sun is trying to come out now"
The old woman rubbed her aching
shoulder. and remained silent few min
utes, apparently considering what it was
best to do.
"Well, DEAR" she said at last, 'ssince
you are so kind, don It know but shall
have to give up my business to you, for
my shoulder is powerful bad, and if
should get cold now should be laid up for
weeks p'raps, and Heaven only knows
what would become Of Jennie and me.
But you'll get tired out before long, I
know, and when you do just beckon to me
I live up in the fourth story of this build
ing" pointing to dlngy row Of houses
opposite, "and I'll see you and come
down."
And after enlightening lilly with re-
gard to prices, with many thanks and
blessings, she hobbled away and left the
| little girl alone in her new dignity.
lilly liked it. 1t wasn't 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 a
great many sailors were passing up and
down the street. She put on dignifed
business air, and sat up very erect and
prim, ready to receive customers. And
plenty Of customers she had, assure YOU
The sailors, especially, seemed to be highly
pleased with the dainty little apple wo-
man; and business men made the purchase
Of her pippins an excuse to speak to her, it
was so out of the common course Of things
to see such a delicate, fairy-like little girl
presiding over an apple stand.
Before noon she had sold out nearly all
her little stock; and taking what few she
1,oI 1,E% IL ,l~o q
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 purchase any more apples, and
was willing to leave everything to lilly,
I who was highly pleased with her commits
sion. So she made a nice bargain with a
fruit dealer up the street, and by one
o'clock established herself again as an APP
pie vender at the old stand.
The sun came out in the afternoon, and
business was even more brisk than i'll the
morning. 1t was growing late in the af-
terncon, and Tilly's stock was almost AK
hausted again, and she sat looking some
what weary her head on her hand, when
some one came up On the other side and
said: Cuisines has been good to day
hasn't it, my little woman ? 1 see you are
nearly sold out"
lilly look up, and saw a tall man, with
a brown face and pleasant brown eyes,
scanning her closely-a gentlemanly look
cnr4 Of NH Joo I,
be the captain of a ship.
Tilly's heart gave a great bound, for the
gentleman's face seemed very familiar to
her some way, and her first thought was
that it might be Jim. But no; Jim wasn't
as old as that gentleman looked, and his
features in the picture, though there might
be little likeness in them to his, were
different and then Jim didn't have those
great whishers, and that fierce looking
mustache. Any way, lilly couldn't keep
her eyes away from him, or find her senses
long enough to heed what he was saying
to her.
So she kept looking at him, and he, sur
prised that she should look at him so fix
edlY, looked back at her without saying
word. But at last he smiled, and said,
laughingly, as he fumbled in his pocket for
some change: "Do you like my looks so
very much, you little bluebird ?''
lilly dropped her eyes, and blushed scar
let, faltering out, timldly: 81 thought
that you looked like my brother Jim.''
''Indeed % said the gentleman, the ex-
preston of his face changing suddenly.
'Where is your brother Jim.''
II don't know sir,' said Tilly; "but I
fear that he is dead.''
"You don't know then whether he is
alive or not 1 suppose you haven't seen
him for some time then?''
ooh, no." said lilly, "not since I was
four years old; but I have his picture, and
look at it every day. He was a sailor, and
sailed away on foreign voyage, and 1
have never heard from him since.''
"What is your name. my dear? ques-
toned the gentleman, lifting Tilly's sur
prised little face in both his hands, that he
might have better view of it.
| But he did not wait for her to tell the
name, but snatched her up in his arms and
held her close to his heart, calling her his
only little sister lilly.
| care you really jim ?'' said lilly, when
she could recover her breath.
care you really Tilly," said he, hugging
her closer and closer.
''But why didn't you come home ?" she
asked, looking up shyly into his face.
"The ship I sailed i'll was wrecked, "said
he, ''and all on board, save the second
mate and myself were lost. Wesucceeded
in clinging to some floating spars, until
another ship came up and took us in. That
ship was bound to China, and so to China
| was obliged to go. of course. Then when