River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-30
now We KEPT OUR PLEDGE.


now We KEPT Our PLEDGE.
Priscilla. Louisa and myself pledged
ourselves after Uncle Daniel died to live
on. we three. all our liyes-that we'd sink
or swim together, that we'd work for and
with each other until our fortunes were
madc-just ourselves.
We clasped hands ON IL.
We were orphans, and had always lived
with uncle. and were brought up a. his
own daughters.
1t was great surprise u every one, " hen
the will was read, to find it dated many
years back, and that everything was left
TO a nephew, Of whom he had often beard
but had never seen.
Lawyer Adams shook his gray heard
Tcgretfullv as he told Us he had heard our
uncle speak of making a new will, but he
had put it off till too late.
So we found ourselves possessed only
IT the little sum our mother had left Us.
The first thing we did was 20 rent a
little cottage (which seemed very queer
aud small after the "Grange'D, and then
". settled quietly down, as we expected
20 live for years to come.
Pris a book keeper, l, Floss. a nursery
gOveTness. and Lou the hOusekeeper,
stocking -darner and chief cook and bot
tie washer
The Haughtlys and the other girls tried
To- patrOnize us after our descent" las /
overheard one Of them call it, but we
soon SHOWED them We could get along
very well without them.
NV eldest sisters name Is Priscilla,
but /. With my inherent disregard of the
"dignities," nicknamed her Pris.
Lou is our beauty, and not a mere
beauty either.
Ny own name OF Floss was given me
in my childhood days, when, | suppose,
my hair was silky.
Ii Is an awful MISSIONER now. for my
hair is my one aggravation.
Ii won't lie smooth, nor vet wave in
distracting rings round my forehead.
No, and often feel like crying when l
comb ii in very anguish: it lies neither
one way nor the other. but just stands
fluffy and miserable.
Pris SAYS il suits my face. aud | don't
feel she Is complimentary.
Two wears went 10y, and rOthing oc-
cured to disturbe our pleds. We We're
left pretty much alone.
/ grew To love my little charge very
much. but il was pretty hard to plod
two miles in all kinds OF weather twice a
day. But. all things considered. We did
very nicely.
One cold morning | was hurrying
along, hardly able to see for the binding
,lcct. when something fell at my feet
Nv start Of surprise may D. imagined
A. | looked down, and there Sprawling
on the ice was a great man. For a sec
ond he sprawled, and then tried 70 star
a. his feet. only IN sink back with :
groan.
Well. thought /, What would Pri,
De- in nv circumstances" - | said in my
most duIcet tones
Can | be Of any assistance To yo'
-irt
y Yes. | think You can; my ankl,
must be sprained. but hardly beliey,
you could help me up.
nodded assent 10 the last wOrds, as
glanced down Al the PROSTATE length
ness.
Well, You will BE- 50 kind. pleas
take this card To the hOusekcepcr az the
Grange.
He took card from his pocket, anG
,cribbling something upon it, placed II
in nv hand. | looked despairlngly uI
the street rs far ~ / could see and tber
down. but no one was in sight, 81 turn
rd away, leaving the poor man in hi
misery until some aid should come.
A. went he called after me
DO you know where 10 tind th'
'CranCe3'
I said YES quite decidedly, and walked
away rs fast as I could.
had done all could when gave III,
housekeeper the card tshe was a stranger
10 me-, and so | started again for my
destination, where | knew | should b,
late. and also would receive a severe loob
from my employer.
Before long the~Grange- chaise paSscc
me. and again, coming back. The SECOND
time. leaning ON the cushions, | saw ia,
hero of the accident He saw me. too
for a smile lighted up his dark face.
What an adventure 10 tell the girls.ant
in what graphic wa told it.
SO said Lou, ..the heir of the Grang
has entered into possession. Well, girls
We don't envy him, do We
Envy him. Well, Lou, can't say. a
| stood in the dear old hall queer kline
of feeling came over me. My idea o
comfort doesn't correspond with tn
washerwOman's-a swate place, with jis
room for nae and my old man and tn
childer."
By this time a little crimson flag be
gan to hang itself out in Pris'S cheek. a
She looked reproachfully at me.
You shouldn't talk 80 wildly, Floss;
am sure we are happy as we are"
Il am happy, but miss the library,
said Lou, looking up.
..And l the piano, supplemented l.
Pris smiled al US both aud quoted tina
bit Of Scripture about the 'camel and tn
needles eve.
II was unele's nephew, Mr.. Ralph Max
well, and after his foot got better | Ofte
sew him at a distance.
l managed TO avoid meeting, though
for hate to be thanked, ana what | iii
I should have done if 1t had been nj
c0achman instead of him.
Ihave said Priscilla was a bOOk-keeI
or.
She always had taste for mathemai
les. and her position was responsible
one in a large pin mandatory.