Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-10-06
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

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 a peck
et-handkerchief, and a hair-broOm in
her hand, Wherewith she gesticulated,
after a 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 Sunday night.
Never attempted to beat me down a
penny, if you'll believe it, my dear"
'Why should he?" said HOnOra.
GHOST people do, my dear" said Mrs
PenEypacker. "a wrinkled old widow
woman like me, who has her living to
earn, IS mostly fair game for everybody.
But he never objected to my terms. A
real gentleman, my dear -every inch
of him. But he's little particular,
I'm afraid"
Il suppose most old bachelors are"
said Miss haywood, smiling.
Yes, my dear-yes" nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker But this gentleman is
beyond the average, | think"
'And if he is?"
Nothing" says Mrs. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom-handle
at a stray moth-miller which was fut-
tering blindly against the garnet dam
ask window curtains" nothing, except
that one don't quite know where to
have him. He drinks only English
breakfast tea, and he wants his pie
crust made with the best Alderney but
ter, instead of lard, as is good enough
for other people; and he must have
yentllators to all the windows, and an
open CRATE, instead of the base-burning
stove; and hope you'll not be of
Tended, my dear-but he particularly
disllkes piano"
"Dislikes a piano, says the little mu-
sic teacher, reddening, in spite of her
self
"And he says, says he: L hope, Mrs.
Pennypacker, that there is no piano in
the house. A piano. says he, plays
the deuce with my nervous system,
with its everlasting tum-tump Those
were his words, my dear. So | cOurte-
seys, and says | You'll not be troub-
led with one here, sir. And so my
dear, I'll be grateful if you won't mind
doing your practicin' until hes out for
his daily walk-from l to 3, just as reg
ular as the clock"
Miss haywood looked piteously up
in the old landlady's face.
II 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 her soft blue eyes filled with
tears as she spoke.
"My dear, don't say a word" said
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily, you've
been sick. and you've got little be-
hind hand, and it's quite natural YOU
should be a little low-spirited now and
then. But you mustn't get discouraged.
Things will look up, after awhile. And
you're quite welcome to stay on here,
until you're able TO settle up your little
account"
Honora Haywood sighed as she re-
membered how often her little adver-
tisement had been inserted in the daily
newspapers, without attracting tha
least notice from the world Of patrons
and pupils. There were so many
capable music teachers, willing to give
lessons at moderate prices" nowadays,
and how was any one to know how
sOrely she needed the money?
And as the time crept on, and no
pupils came, Honora began seriously
to ask herself whether she should go
out in some mental capacity, or stay
genteelly at home and starve.
Clothes, ma'amp'
Honora started from her reverie as
the washerwoman's stumpy little girl
banged herself, like human battering-
ram, up against the door, with a pre-
posterously large basket on her arm.
YES" said Honora, colo1ing. "Put
them down, Sally. But I'm afraid
It isn't convenient to pay your mother
to-day"
"Nother didn't say nothin' bout the
pay" said Sally, wiping her forehead
with a whisk of her arm, and shifting
herself we'll nigh off her feet. II was
to leave the clothes, with her tumble
duty, and she 'oped they'd suit; but it
was that damp aud muggy on Monday
and Tuesday as starch wouldn't stick.
And she 'opes you'll excuse all mis-
takes, as they shall be done better next
time"
Il dare say they are quite right"
said Honora, with little sigh, as she
marveled at this unexpected access of
courtesy on the part Of her Milesian
lauudress.
But when Sally had stumped off
down stairs, her Tapping slippers beat
ing 3 sort of tattoo as she went, and
Miss haywood took off the fringed
towel that covered the basket of clothes
she gave little start.
Shirts" said Honora, ''and socks
and turnover collars, No. 16, and great
big Observation-Disclosures, like the sails
of q ship, and white vests, and-goodness
me, what does it all mean? Mrs. Null
vey has sent me some gentleman's
wardrobe by mistake. | must send
these things back at once"
But then Miss haywood looked down
at the articles in grave consideration.
Il never had brother" unused Miss
haywood; "and [ can't remember nv
father; but of this am quite certain
if [ had either one or the other. |
should thank any girl to mend their
dilapidated wardrobes, if they looked
like this. And Mrs. Mulvey can't send
before night, and unfortunately I've
nothing to do, SO I'll just mend this