Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.

sewed up In its usual canvas bag for the season.
Aunty said she wouldn't have the dirt and NUS
Of fire upon ner Irss 6 turned carpet We
was the one CHEEKY spot in the whole room.
outside OF the dear Old thin-legged and thinner
t01su In the Whole eEi now comfortable
Ard because 1t was April, and some of tho
house, cleaning done, aunty would have it that
nose was red, and her thin hands were blna
ard we felt so sorry to see her freeze there WITH
her prayer aver 6ook IN her hand. She hadn't eaten
and so very blue with the cold. AS for Daisy
and me- we staid out by the kitchen RANCE nre.
tending TO &c still doing up the dishes, and it
to us instead OF hurting into the parlOr with
his pale lace and melancholy news Somehow
the minute ne took his hat Off knew by the
LOOK OF nS lar that something had happened
IL Usually lay kind of curly and soft about his
foreheso, but now it was lank and stiT aud
per e,dIi 1a s He came right up to us and
Sas bnsteS Cu-curolhg Way, Girls, the bank
Not aunty 8 bank9" said Daisy, for couldn't
The one where she kept her tin, said Tom
us gone up the spout! Clean! he added. with
with one accord we took a peep through at
aunty, as people VIII always gaze upOn a f9i;en
horse, house attire, or any other miserable
She was sitting up by the window az stiff &c
ever; her nose from red had become blue. and
her hands had deepened to a purple. There
was gray look In her face of age. of loneliness,
OF Heaven knows what, that set the tears to
flowing out Of DaiSyS lovely ewes and made a
queer lump In my throat.
WHO can tell herr" whispered Daisy, while
thing.
After all, why tell hersr said Cousin Tom.
la aIways draw the money; it win be an easy
Ting 10 keep up the humbug of the book
But the hnmbug Of the money is the diff
cult part" said.
"Mell 1t win be a tight shave,n said Tom;
ssfhQrp,ll
comes around, but Think can manage it noy.S
We knew that Tom was in an insurance ONCE,
and though the work was light, the pay was
c0rreSpOnd1ngly Vap0rOUS, and he had always
given what he could to the mutual support /
was glad see him put so brave face upon the
ealam1ty; put now that aunty s income was gone,
1t had always served to pay the rent, which
was big item in our expenses.
We lived across tOwn-nO matter where; we
had the whole sect nd al part of the thtri
floor In one Of those Old-fashioned, deep WIN
dow silled. wide and mellow mansions, that
was quite genteel and grand when aunty first
went to housekeeping with her two little
orphan nieceS. Daisy was but a baby then,
and 1t was not till some years later on she gave
domain was sadly altered; the paint had be-
CINE more and more yellow with every year
that went by; the walls took deeper, not to
say ding1er, hue; and the foreign element
evolved itself to such an extent about us that
the BalbriggaDs, the family occupying the rest
OF the house, declared that we might as well
gans moved away, and the lower floor was
turned into shop for tailor with an unpro-
nouneea0le name: He was goOd-natured
aunty said he might add Won to his name
II he wanted to, which privilege he was
sensible enough to refuse, as it was ever
store very heavy hearted that morning, aud
could scarce get patience to endure the whims
and ways OF my customers. On the way
heart; but before ] was wei up the stoop
heard the jingle OF the piano. Tom was there
before me, and he and Daisy were singing away
at the Old yellow keys, while aunty sat In her
usual chair by the window, dressed IN the rusty
alpaca that she had worn at least hundred
afternoons, keeping time, In her accustomed
hand. ~ ' ''S S''eN p''''''AH
The day was closing gently without wind or
rain, and at parting the sun shed a f1astering
carpet, the horse hair seats, and stiff Old en-
lovely head OF Daisy as she stood there singing
away at the top Of her voice, her mouth opened
wide, her cheeks glowing, her eyes shining like
sapphires. 1t was an old lyric Of Heyward's, OF
which aunty never grew tired Tom had
professor, and In his way was as fair to look
upon as Daisy herself. The happy tears sprang
TO my eyes as looked and listened. MY heart
Hghtened. Presently my tired feet began to
keep time to the tuneful measure:
Pack clouds away, and welcome day;
With night we Danish sorrow:
To give my love good morrow:
W,ngs from the wind, 70 please her mind,
Bird, plume thy wing, nightingale. sing:
To give my love good-morrow,
Notes from them both I'll borrow"
each, thunderstorm" said a voice from the
door, and there was the old German tailor from
the floor below rubbing his hands In ecstasy
INDEED, as the song said, they borrowed their
notes from tie lark and nightingale, so full and
rich and sweet were they! Since ever these
children had been able to raise note they had
0'S to the u aSg Of this
was the only amusement, the one distraction, of
the household: The Balbr1ggans were musical
family; aunty had once fine contralto of her
own; and though could not carry a tune, had
q fine appreciation for the sweet burden OF
those more fortunate, and thanked God fer
sang away long after aunty and had gone to
dish up tie evening meal. The potatoes were
so mealy, the ham and eggs so crisp and In
vtting; Daisy had made wonderful pudding.
TOOK heart OF grace, and grew content once
Lets leave it ali to God, DEAR" whispered
70 Tom. " He who cares for the fall Of spar
row will not see US want"
"Hum-yes," said Tom. raising his eyebrows
and Struggling his shOulders-trickS he had
learned from the foreigners about US yes; but
God helps them that help themselves; and
while we're on the Scriptures, Prudy, don't YOU
forget that nice little parable about the fellow
who came to grief through hiding his talent IN
napkin. We must do the best we can with
Prue?"
I'm sure I've always stfiyen-" began, for
the words Of the boy hurt me.
snow, Prudy," he broke In, "who said you
didn't? I'm only abiding to Others"
swell, as for you" began again; but he
cut me short by declaring that he had been a
second Hercules. "Who, then, do you mean?"
said, wonderingiy; for what could poor old
aunty do more than she did. and Daisy was
but child as yet-barely twenty the coming
June.
"Nous verrons," said Tom, who interlarded
his conversation IN this pOlyglot way.
From that time out Tom really did work Ike
heather Hercules. Every night he went back
TO the Office, and worked there TILL close on to
midnight. had no idea that in the insurance
business people could be so hurried and IN
deed had heard Of considerable depression In
all the mercantile branches; but Tom assured
me that the rush IN his line OF business was re-
markab,e; that people stood in line and
waited I'LL their turn came around. and there
seemed 10 be no diminution Ia the rush as yet
He hoped it would last TIL the summer and
begin again with renewed zeal with the gales OF
autumn.
life ard property are so uncertain" / said,
mournfully. 'B"t I'm afraid you'll be worn
CUT Tom.'' ~ ~
Not at ALL ne cried; Z" l rather enjoy II. It's
good fIn, you know, TO see people 50 excited
eEc enthusiastic. I'm gong to take D,isy