Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-12

nying the rest of the house, declared that
we might rs we'll be living in Germany.
AT length the Balbriggans moved away,
and the lower floor was turned into "A
shop for tailor with an unpronounce.,
able name. lie was n good-natured
man. with quite an car for music; and
aunty said hc might add n Won to his
name if he wanted to, which privilege
he was sensible enough To refuse, rs 1t
was ever too much too long already.
| went 10 the store very hcavy-hcarted
that morning, and could scarce get pm
thence TO endure the whims and ways of
nv customers. On the way home my
head began To ache as well ~ my heart ;
but before | was well up the stoop
heard the Jingle of the piano. Tom was
there before me, and he and Daisy were
singing away mt the old yellow keys.
while aunty in her usual chair 10y the
window, dressed in the rusty alpaca
that she had worn nj least hundred
afternoons, keeping time, in her accus-
toned way. with her thin, iong-iingercd
patrician hand.
The day was closing gently without
wind or rain, and nj parting the sun shed
a ilattering beam upon the faded old
room, the thrcadbarc carpet, the horse
hair seats. and stiff old cngravings. One
head Of Daisy rs she stood there singing
away at the top of her voice, her mouth
opened wide. her cheeks glowing, her
eyes shining like sapphircs. II was nm
old lyric of Hcyward's, of which aunty
never grew tired. Tom had squared
himself to the piano with the air of a
professor. and i'm his way was ~ fair To
| look upon as Daisy herself.
"Ach, wundcrschon" said Il voice
from the door. and there was the old
German tailor from the floor below
rubbing his hands in ecstasy. Indeed.
~ the song said, they borrowed their
notes from the lark and nightingale. So
! full and rich and sweet We're they
Since ever these children had been able
to raise note they had warblcd to-
| gcthcr Ia the jinglng of this worn-out
| old spindlc-thread of an instrument. 1t
was the only amusement. the one dis
| traction, of the household. The Bal
| briggans were musical family; aunty
| had once fine contralto of her own
and though could not carry tune. |
had fine appreciation for the sweet
burden of those more fortunate, and
! thanked God fcTyrntly for this gifl Ia
| yund"r two, who sang and sang away
| long after aunty and had gone to dish
up the evening meal. | took heart Of
| grace. and grew content once more.
| " Lets leave It all to God. dear
whispered to Tom. lie who cares for
the fall of a sparrow will not Sc" IL
| want"
Hum-ycs." said Tom. raising his
eyebrows and struggling his shoulders
tricks he had learned from the foreign
ers about us yes; but God helps them
that help themselves; and while were
ON the Scriptures. Prudy, don't you for
get that nice little parable about the
fellow who came 10 grief through hiding
his talent in = napkin. We must do the
best we can with whatever accomplish
ments we have; ch. Pruc?'
I'm sure I've always stTiycn-'
began, for the words of the hoy hurt
me.
Now. Prudy." hc broke in. who
said you didn't? I'm only ailuding to-
others.
We'll. n for you-" began again t:
but he cut me short by declaring that he
had been a second Hercules. Who.
then, do you mcan2" said, wondering
| ly; for what could poor old auntv do
more than she did. and Daisy was but
a child rs yct-barely twenty the coming
| June.
" Nous ycrrons." said Tom. who in
/ terlarlod his conversation in this poly
| glot way.
From that time out Tom did work
/ like hcathon Hercules. Every night
| he went back To the Office and worked
/ there till close on Ia midnight. / had
/ no idea that in tn" insurance business
/ people could be so hurried. and, indeed.
| had heard Of considerable depression in
all the mercantile branches: but Tom
] 4 Il. Il 4, -.
business was remarkable: that people
stood in line and waited till their turn
came around. and there seemed to bc no
/ diminution in the rush ~ vet. He
hoped it would last till the summer, and
begin again with renewed zeal viii the
gales of autumn. ~
" Life and property are 50 uncertain.
I said. mournfully. But I'm afraid
you'll be- worn out. Tom"
Not at all. !" he cried; "l rather en-
ioy il. It's good fun. YOU know. to see
people so excited and enthusiastic. I'm
going 10 take Daisy down there tonight.
PTue. She's crazy To GO. and what on
earth harm can there be? Now you
know ] love her better than my life and
do you suppose I'd risk hurting n hair
of her lovely head? But believe there's
more IN her then anybody fancics. I'm
gong tO Nfes any now. anu NbH ltpk
as If you'd seen ghost, PTue. III be
there to look after her
"But what can the child do thcrc?"
Dor he cried. Der Liebe Him
melr' Tom gasped and shook his head rs
If the subject was too much for him.
Then he added. more soberly: " She can
do lots Of things. s.Prudy-sorting out pens
and papcr. and-and lots Of things.
You've no objection to her going any
where under my protection, have YOU?
"N-no," stammercd; but | didn't
half like Il. and couldn't understand 1t
"If she must do something. why can't
get her situation in the store with
me?"
"Pahl Neverm said Tom. Good
graciousl I should think not! That
would bc another case of hiding ones
light under bushels and such bushel
Now just leave II TO me, Prue.n
was silent. but not convinced. Aunty
was more easily won over. Tom wa
/ Ghn nur,nn laA f-f.f