Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-06-10
MISSION OF A BIT OF LACE.

WIOOIOV VI n VII VI SHOks
"Good graciousl [ shall be crazy if
things go on this way much longer y
was the winding up exclamation of
Burke Addison's distracting reverie. He
was sitting by the open window in dress
ing gown and slippers, Tuning inwardly
over the broken limb which had kept him
in doors for weeks, his neglected bust
ness, and the state of things in the kitch-
en- and all over the house. He was n
widower, and n slpshod, lackadaisical
girl made an effort to perform the duties
of housekeeper for him. He had been a
widower over year, and during that
time he had a sweet taste of the difficult
ties of getting gooi housekeeper. He
had changed every Few weeks. One in
dulged too freely IN the use of stimu-
lants, and in a fit of intoxication came
near burning the house over their heads.
Another helped herself re sundry valu-
ables and took French leave. A third
set before him such outrageously cooked
dishes that he came near dying of dys-
pepsia one week and starvation the next,
and so ON until now he had one on suffer
eance who he sometimes thought was
worse than any of the rest, who he vowed
should be cleaned out as soon as he
was about again. He had begun to be-
heve that there wasn't capable woman
in the whole city, Mt least none that he
could lay his hands on.
He heard the patter of little feet along
the entry, and the door was pushed
open by little girl of three summers or
thereabouts, who entered holding up
her little apron i'll which were some col
ored candies. "See what | dot from
the candy man." she lisped, holding out
her apron with her little chubby, soiled
hands and showing them to her father.
Then sitting down quietly on the not
over well swept carpet, she proceeded to
regale herself with the sweetmeats.
He uttered "A half-despalring groan as
he looked at her thin face, which was
very pretty when clean, but was now be-
daubed with the colored candies to its
utter Disagreement; her tangled curls
looked as if they had not known brush
or comb for week, her stockings were
soiled and wrinkled, and the trimming
was torn from her dress in several places.
"How the child is neglectedl' he
thought, watching her as, in bhssflii un-
CONSCIOUSNESS of dirt and disorder, she
smacked her lips after each dainty
morsel. "She is growing up like a
weed. and her clothes look as badly ms
any neglected child of the street" He
had fine, sensitive taste for order and
neatness; and the sight of Mabel was
positively painful to him. When he had
married he had made his home IL a dis
tant city from his own, and none of his
relatives or those of his wife were near
him.
Something must be done" he solilo-
quized, half-savagely. THAT girl is
wasting more down stairs than her head
is worth, I'll be bound I'll have to
take day and look around as soon rs
am better. I've sworn | won't advertise
for them. / should be besieged by a
host of Observation-Disclosures. It's plaguey
strange that no one of my acquaintance
knows of II good, capable person they
can recommend.
At this luncture girl in a soiled calico
wrapper that was short behind and long
on both sides opened the door. She had
a dull, monotouous face, and looking
mt her one wondered what could be heI
mission in the world.
"What shall get for supper, STRIP
Il don't care; anything you like, he
replied shortly, well knowing the food
was invariably spoiled in the cooking,
and therefore it was supertiuous to order.
The girl looked at him duly, and then,
without reply, turned and went down,
stairs. He grasped his crutches aud
hobbled around the room awhile TO work
off his impotence Mabel began TO
laugh nj his movements, which looked
novel to her, and having finished her
candy, got up and battered along beside
him.
$50 down stairs and ask Jane to wash
your face and hands, he said in an irri-
tated tone He loved her, but it annoy
ed him beyond measure to see her in
such plight. With a suddenly sobered
face and quivering lips, the little one
obeyed him. and then his heart smote
him for his harshness. Il shall become
n perfect bear before long + he thought.