The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-02-12

NAf ~ ACC anu tttCiA
wasn't poor, like Neelie."
And Aunt Gertie's eyes were full OF
divine pity that glorifed heE. whole face
But she 'wist not that it shone.
80, darlings, that is my story. No
much of one perhaps but all true.
wanted you to know it, for now it will b
easier to give the soft answer when Nee
lie Is cross; eh, Debby?'
Yes, ma'am;" said Debby, soberly
really touched for the moment by the pa
thetic little story.
You've forgotten the nsortl1s," re
marked DEFY.
"Oh, we'll, 1 said you would fine
those, said auntie smiling.
There's a whole lots of EN-" said
Debby
TO be soft ans,cered, because most
everybody has some sort OF trouble,
said thou htful DEFY.
g To be pleasant to cross people be-
cause perhaps they We lost their husband,
said Debby
To not marry a sailor" was Dolly's
sage deduction.
Auntie laughed at them all, and car
ried them out to supper.
| The effect eff the little story was what
Aunt Gertie intended. Neelie was much
the same as ever, but the children paid
TO heed to every word that was spoken,
and the result was quieter and more
peaceable household.
They were all studying in Aunt Ger
ties pretty ''school ROOM" one Monday
morning, about week after this. Dolly
was taken with a sudden thirst over her
A. B. C's.
8 Please m gwout and get drinker-
water ?" said Doll and auntie nodded
/ as usual.
Somebody's coming up the path,
Neelie," said Dolly, as she crossed Nee
lies 'spandy clean floor.
"FIl warrant; there is! said Neelie,
wringing her mop out of the scalding-
hot suds. There's been three tin ped
oilers and an insurance agent, so far. L
suppose this ones got patent rat traps"
$ He says please can he have drink
of water ?" said Dolly, who had gone to
the door for her.
Tramp, is he Well never vet re-
fused anybody a cup of cold water"
[ am very sure she did not close her
reward"
OIl0 iCW u glass Vi SOlu water anu
gave it to the man with a crisp "Take
it 7" that made him look up quickly.
The next instant the glass was shiv-
cred on the doOrstOne.
q Neelie :"
1t was the mans voice-a passionate
glad voice.
And Neelie threw herself into his arms
with glad sobbing cry, and two words
that told Dolly oharp-ears the whole
story.
i" My Jackl'
do think we have few minutes of
heaven once in a while, in this dear, dis
NAL old world.
Neither of them noticed that Dolly
had departed post-haste for the upper
regions.
DEFY was just sing songing ''the mines"
and had got as far as ''nine times 'leven
is ninety nine," when Dolly burst in like
a small hurricane with
you'd just better go into the ktcken,
Aunt Gertie! There's a queerest look
ing man you ever saw down there,
frightening Neelie all to splinters. /
saw him myself; and he breaking glass
things, and then he went to shaking
Neelie. l was scarf And Neelie knows
him, for she said My Jack 7
Aunt Gertie was bewildered, but she
was used to Dolly's small excitements.
Nonsense [ guess Neelie can take
care of herself However, I'll go see
VINO it is. Stay here, children"
The children stayed, and suffered ago
MES of curiosity. At last Di couldr't
stand it any longer, and being near the
door, she slipped out slyly to see and
hear.
She came back in few minutes, brim-
full of news and excitement.
''It amt trampL It's Jack! It's
Neelie's sailor Noa0 shan't you die !"
'FBut he's dead y said DEFY.
Cant help that" said Di. Don't
act much's if he's dead, hugging Nellie.
And she's crying over him as if he was
the probable SON."
WHAT'S auntie doing ?"
"She's crying too, l peeked through
the crack of the door, and saw her."
"Ain't it fun ?" said DEFY. eve
shan't have to be so awful careful now
when we speak to Neelie.''
"Don't you expose she'd make me a
doughnut man if 1 should ask her -
said Dolly, whose mind was on the ''main
chance" which with Dolly was generally
eating.
"Mean if she don't" said Debby.
''You s'pose l would'n if l had a dead
husband come back %
Aunt Gertie came back at this point
of the conversation, with ''smile on
her lip and tear in her eye
"Pm going to give you halt-holiday,
children" she said, ''to celebrate Neelie's
good fortune. Jack has come home
Jack Bisscn, the ailor-husband [ told
you of the other day. This is the end
of the story"
But real stories are never done. Some
time, perhaps, you shall hear more
about Neelie.--Cottage Hearth.