The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-15
sTHE THREE MERRY OLD MAIDS"
4 Thanksgiving Tale.

1t was a small, meanly-furnished
room, in the fifth story of third-rate
clearinghouse in New York city
fireless, cheerless and very small-where
three young girls, wrapped i'll shawls,
sat by the high, narrow window. The
youngest broke the silence by saying:
"Grace, / want new dress, and shall
have just $1.63 to buy it with when my
weekly wash-bill is paid.
Indeed, Kathie; you can afford an
imported suit then, suppose?"
Doubtless" was the reply to the
cynical remark; land Nell needs one
just as bad as [.
"See here said the third girl-Nell,
by courtesy-as she took from her
pocket thin, worn portemonnaie, and,
unclasping it, shook the contents into
her lap; one quarter, B cents and 7 pen
MES is the extent of my assets"
"The quarter is bad" said Grace, as
she gave it an emphatic twirl on the lit
tie stand by the bed.
bad! oh, Grace, what a comforter !!
Imported suits and a bad quarter-al-
most the half of all i havew and tears
really came to the girls eyes.
"Such a fuss about quarter
mockingly interrupted Grace, "when
the munificent sum of So awaits you at
the cashiers desk next Monday"
Yes; and 81 of that is for board, 60
cents for car fare, which leaves me with
81 .40-to pay the washwoman's bill,
buy my MONDAY lunches, etc"
Girls, we can't live in this way
Cannot something be done?" Kathie
spoke in despairing way.
last night-no new thing-endeavori
to financier way out of this dilemma
Ny visions of heaven are place where
dollars and cents are unknown, while 1
think the abode of superlative torment
must he paved with them, which poor
sinners labor unsuccessfully through all
eternity to pick up"
"Nell don't Kathie's voice was
tremulous.
There, dear, won't" and her Sis
ter's arms were twined around her.
Grace can afford to be cynical, for she
has IS week, with an occasional lift
from her father"
"And, like prodigal, she spends five
roem larger than q closet, with fire in
it, though at present it is untenable, as
her roommate has it filed with a bevy
of choice spirits who are reading aloud
from Mrs. Fleming's last work"
Is there no help?" Kathie's ques-
ton broke the momentary silence which
had fallen upon the group.
No, Kathie, we must make the best
of it." Nell's voice was firm, with ring
of sternness in it, I'VE must make the
best of it, Poor little Kathie, papa's
pet" And the tone took on tenderer
strain, as she stroked her sisters hair.
al don't mind for myself, but for
you, little Kathie. There is only
one way in which we could do
better. If it was possible for
about two-thirds of what we are now
paying, and live better; but furnished
room would cost too much, and we
can't by any means furnish one our
selves"
Would you do your own cooking?"
inquired Grace; there is scant econo-
my in taking meals out"
Yes, certainly"
" But that would be tiresome."
We could fare better and live cheap
er. Cooked meats are comparatively in
expensive, and, though / do not admire
bakers bread, we have to eat it here I;
vegetables we could cook, and always
have some little luxury for Sunday pre-
pared on Saturday eve."
ooh, Nell, if we could!" and Kathie
clasped her hands as she looked be-
seechingly upward.
"Kathie's longings are always pray
RS" calculated Grace. at is sheer
nonsense; we work hard enough now
"Grace, we work to earn money; but
/ would work as eagerly to save, and
have better food, clothing and warmth
for Kathie."
"Only little more than week from
THANKSGIVING" sighed Kathie, "and