The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-12-16

TO flx the nre up this morning. SAID
Bobble, already beginning to feel the
care of the family.
Yes, we are out of salt. There 90,
ten cents for salt and matches, and oh,
Bobbie, quinine You know the doctor
said papa must have quinineto- morrow,
or he would have another chill. That
will be twenty-five cents. What shall
we do Y''
Bobble thought a moment. Finally
he said
You know they keep box of
matches open down at the grocery for
men to light their cigars with. l might
say to the grocerman, please sir, give
me match, and perhaps he would give
me dozen, and that will save five
cents. Oh, mamma, let me try ?'
With feeling of humiliation the
mother said, Well, Bobbie, you can
go down and ask him." Bobbie rushed
off to the corner grocery and the
mother took this opportunity while he
was gone to take the lamp and look
in one or two places In the room, If
possibly she might see some household
article which could be spared to the
pawn broker to eke out to-morrow's
scanty fare.
She looked at her little bundle of laces,
but they were old-fashioned in shape,
and with sigh she concluded they
could not be sold for anything. AS she
put them back her eye fell on little
velvet case containing little gold
thimble birthday present when she
was a girl. She had entirely forgotten
it, She took 1t out and read her initials
and the date, fifteen years before. 1t
was good deal worn, and rather small
but it would sell for something. She
put it in her pocket and went down
TO meet Bobbie who came in with
his face all aglow and handful of
matches.
Putting on her bonnet and veil and
holding Bobbie tightly by the hand
they sailed forth in the cold and dark
ness with the precious thimble and
thirty five cents to provide for Thanks
giving. 1t was a long cold walk to the
pawnbrokers, the only one in the
place.
"'Taint worth but fifty cents, ma am"
was the decided answer of the pawn
broker.
Why, it cost ten dollars. 1t is
worth more than that for old gold"
The initials on it spoils it for selling,
and it's very light But at any rate
that's all I'll give"
The mother turned away with faint
ing heart Then she remembered the
quinine and the children and all their
bright hopes for Thanksgiving day.
Turning to the man she said faintly
"I'll take fifty cents"
Poor Bobbie's face frightened up
again. Their first stop was at drug
store where twenty-five cents was paid
for quinine. Then they stopped at
grocery. "Cash on hand sixty-five
cents. Let me see; butter ten cents,
potatoes twenty-five cents, eggs twenty
cents. must have custard or some
apples for the children's desert, and 1
want to get soup bone, ten cents. But
a custard will take milk, five cents. I'll
ask for only fifteen cents worth of eggs.
That will just make it." The pur-
chases were all put up and there was
ten cents change, when Bobbie said:
Mamma, you forgot the SALT"
"Sure enough, and it would be i'm
possible to make the food, the potatoes
and the mush for breakfast, palatable,
without salt.' Once more Bobbie came
to the rescue
:" Mamma, you know the butcher
gives big piece of liver for five cents,
and we all like it when you cook it
yourself. Couldn't you buy the salt
and let me get the liver ?" So the salt
was bought and they went the meat
shop.
And certainly very tempting dis
play was that made by the meat-man
of great fat turkeys, plump chickens,
strings of quail, quarters of mutton,
game, and everything else in meats that
were in season. Standing little back
in the crowd was woman, closely
veiled, who held by her hand a beauti-
full bright eyed boy some eleven years
of age, and who seemed reluctant to step
forward and make her purchases. At
length the proprietor turned sharply to
her and said, "Well, ma'am, what can
do for youp"