Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-25

oiolneI DIS a partner! IL was long since
she had any glimpse of pleasure. And
then it would not cost anything. How
could she resist2
u think can CO., she said, her eyes
sparkling. 81 will determine this even.
Ing, and send you note by mail:
AS the girls left her, she noticed how
people glanced at them with smile OF
pleasure. With their airy dresses, sweet
innocent faces and light-hearted voices
the dull street frightened as they passed
Nelly was young and pretty as they, vel
nobody looked after her with pleasure.
u give nothing away-not even
smiles" she thought, as she walked
YEARLY home. In her purse was hel
quarters salary. There was not penny
OF 1t which was not appropriated-sc
much for groceries, so much for the bows
clothes and shoes, not a penny left to
give away.
The Bigelows were wholly dependent
on Nelly's earnings and her fathers sal
airy as book-keeper, and the supply was
scant. She saw many a poor creature in
need OF help, and it CALLED her intolera-
bly, that she had nothing to give.
What was it that Dora had said?' she
unused, as she walked along. "Nobody
so poor that they cannot give something
it they choose
The words rung in her ears as she went
into the bare little dining room where
the family was seated at supper. It was
not hilarious assemblage. Mr.. Bigelow
was thin old man, who talked in mono
syllables to his children. His shabby
coat was buttoned with an air of impreg-
nable dignity. Nelly remembered as IN
dream, that when her mother was alive
she had seen him joke and laugh heartily.
But since her mother had gone, he had
grown lifeless, silent and old. His chill
clren, even Nelly, shrank from his cold
blue eve.
When her mother lived the tea-table
had been bright and merry-no matter
how poor the fare. Now Thad and Joe
were squabbling in whispers over the dry
bread and stewed apples, while Alice
grumbled outright.
You got your pay to-day, Nell. We
might have something better than starya-
ton diet"
Nelly WINGED as if she had been struck.
How hopelessly rough and vulgar Alice
and the boys were growing! Surely it
was not her fault. She worked hard for
them all day, and when she came home
IN the evening with her nervous headache,
they betook themselves to the street for
companions.
''Where are you going tomorrow,
boys" she said, gently. otis holiday,
you know"
"You bet we know!'' They nudged
each other and giggled. Big goings on
to morrow. Never you mind"
"What will you do, Aiice?n
"Follow the parades, I reckon tossing
her head.
Her mothers daughter tramping about
the streets in a crowd of half drunken
men. Nelly looked at the boys with a
searching gaze, They had honest, manly
faces, but hard and defiant lines were al
ready coming into them
She sat silent long time The drive
on the Wissahickon and the dance 1t
was not easy to shut the ooor on that
dream Of delight. At last she looked up
cheelf.aly.
What do you say, children, to pic
mic! Early start, big basket, boat to
Rockland, fishing ; ali kinds of fun
''Nellyw
''Do you mean it,"
The children started up. eve never
did such a thing p cried Alice. II never
was, farther out of town than the water
works in my life!"
ooh, Ally, that cannot be true!"
Eyes, it is true. You don't take any
care of me, or you would know Nobody
does-slnce mamma died." The child's
lips tremble.
Il will take care of you, now, little
sister," said Nelly, putting her arm
around her. "Well, what do you say,
boys?"
Thad and Joe looked at each other.
"We made a sort of engagement" said
Thad; "but we'd rather 60 with you, and
we will co. he added, resolutely.
Mr.. Bigelow had left the table and
wandered aimlessly to the window. Mel
ly ran after him and caught his hand. 1t
Was like caressing wooden statue.
"Papa,-you will go with us?n
u, Nelly, on party Of pleasure!n
He stared down at her. The color ac-
tually rose into his withered cheek. gu
don't think I could, my child? You do
not want a poor old man like me?"
Something in his look revealed to Mel
ly the truth,-the utter loneliness of the
old mans life, the hungry craving for
love and companionship, she had new
er given him. She held his hand in hers
moment, stroking it, and then kissed
is. She could not speak.
l will go, my child
Her fathers voice was strangely alter
ed He went into his own room, and
did not come out again.
Nellie wa, busy until late in the night.
There was tongue to boil, and certain
kind of cookies to bake. The bows how
cred over her, happy, meddling at every
turn, but singularly gentle and affec-
tionate
Mother used to make these kind Of
cakes. Amt they nice2"
Alice had her sleeves rolled up and her
apron On. Never was anybody more
busy or more important. Nellie joked
and laughed, and made more fun out of
the packing of basket than was ever
made since time began. But her heart
was sore within her. What trife was
needed to make these children happy,
and to bind them to home How solitary
| and cherries her fathers life had heen