The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1880-11-03
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

can Old bachelorP" said Honora
haywood.
That's what he told me, just in so
many words" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
who stood on the threshold of her best
room, with her head tied up in pocket
handkerchief and hair-broom in her
hand wherewith she gesticulsted, after
tragic fashion, as she talked, while
Miss haywood, tall and slender as a
wild lily, stood in the hall, with roll of
music under her arm, and her slight
figure wrapped in shabby black shawl.
And he's willing to pay my price,
cash down, every Saturday night,
Never attempted to beat down penny,
if you will believe it, my dear"
"Why should hep" said Honora.
"Most people do, my dear, said Mrs.
Pennypacker. "A wrinkled old widow
like me, who has her living to earn, is
mostly fair game for everybody. A real
gentleman, my dear-every inch of him.
But he's little particular, I'm afraid I"
81 suppose most bachelors are," said
Miss May wood, smiling.
Eyes, my dear-yesr' nodded Mrs
Pennypacker. But this gentleman is
beyond the average, I think"
"And if he isP"
"Nothing," says NJ 8. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom handle at
a stray mothmiller, which was flutter-
ing blindly against the garnet damask
window curtains" nothing except that
one don't quite know where to have
him. He drinks old English breakfast
tea, and he wants his ple-crust made
with the best Alderney butter, instead
of lard as is good enough for other peo-
pie; and he must have ventilators to all
the windows, and an open CRATE instead
OF the base-burning stove; and-I hope
you'll not b. offended, my dear-but he
partic llarly dislikes''a piano."
Ii "Di5likes. a pianow said the little
music. teacher, reddening in spite of
herself.
"And he says, says he, hope there's
no piano in the house. A piano. says
he, plays the deuce with my nervous
system, with its everlasting tum tum!
These were his very words, my dear.
So I courtesys, and says I, You will
not be troubledi with one here, sir.
And so, my dear, III be grateful if you
won't mind doin' your ,practicin' until
he's out for his daily walk; from one to
three, just as regular as the clock"
"Miss Raymond looked up piteously
in the old landlady's face.
81 will do anything to oblige you,
Mrs. Pennypacker, she said, earnestly.
81 haven't forgotten how much am
indebted to you, both in actual money
and in kindness, which money can
never repay"
And the soft blue eyes filled with
tears as she spoke.
"My dear, don't say word" said
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily. you've
been sick, and you've got little be-
midland, and its quite natural you
should be little low-spirited now and
then. But you mustn't get discour
aged. Things will look up after while
And you're quite welcome to stay here
until you are able to settle up your little
account"
Honora haywood sighed, as she
remembered how often her little ad-
vertisement had been inserted in the
daily newspapers, without attracting
the least notice from the world of pa
irons and pupils. There were so many
capable music teachers, willing to give
lessons at moderate prices, nowadays,
and how was any one to eknow how
sorely she needed the money!
And as the time crept on, and on
upils came, Honora.began seriously to
kIherself whether she could 60 out in
some menial capacity, or stay genteelly
at home and starve.
CLOTHES, ma'amp
Houora started from heri reverie, as
the washwoman's stumpy little gir
banged herself, like human battering-
ram, up against the door, with {
preposterously large basketson her arm
"Yes," said Honora. coloring. "Pu
them down, Sally. But Tim afraid i
Isn't convenient to pay your mother to
day"