Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-10-08

i'm. 1t was weeks before light was adj
nitted into her room and she could bear
o see the pale face of poor plain Phebe,
Who, had she resembled her brother
more, might, alas, have been more well
,ome.
But Phebe was a very brave girl, and
lad known where to carry her sorrows
md her crosses. So she bore her moth
,r's complaints with exemplary pa
ience, and to her oft-reiterated ques
ion, "What shall we do without Tom"
cheerfully, "God will help us,
wait and see."
Poor Phebe! She never had realized
how much they had all depended upon
the strong arms now folded over the
heart never to beat again. The girl
would go out in the small stable, and,
laying her head on the old horse's
sob and cry as if her heart
would break. She dared not cry at
home, for her mother was broken in
health and spirits, and never ceased to
mourn for her boy. All the work of
the family devolved upon Phebe, who
was obliged to keep her wits about her.
The little money Tom had saved was
nearly gone; after the summer winter
would follow, and what would become
of themP
Somebody had advised her to break
up the little home, put her younger
brothers away, and find something to
do in neighboring city, but Phebe re-
PEELED the thought with something like
anger. She had had an offer for the
horse and cart and her brothers. bust
ness, and had almost made up her mind
to accept it.
"But when that money is all gone
where shall we get more?" she asked
herself, when all at once way out of
her difficulty was made clear. Theid
came to her one night when she sudden
ly awoke to find the moon shining in,
white and clear, making every object
visible.
"Why, I wonder I haven't thought
of it before" she exclaimed aloud.
"Thought of whatP" said her mother,
who, it seemed, was also awake.
ga plan, dear mother, that seems to
me full of promise | can't sell Toms
horse, dear old fellow! am sure Tom
wouldn't want me to, and as l walked
Just now it occurred to me how we
could keep him. What's the use of hav.
ing health and strength if you can't put
them to some accountP"
"What are you thinking of, my dearP'
her mother asked. 81 don't see how
we can keep old Dobbin. 1t costs IL;
something every day, though fortunate
ly the hay is not all gone. 1t looks
dark ahead. l don't see yet what We
are going to do"
"But l do" said Phebe; sat least
| see what am going to do. I'll go ovel
and talk with Jenny about il, poor girl
t-and ti,fnk IL win meet with ner ap
proval. / don't know what you will
say, but as lay thinking things over i
occurred to me that am perfectly &C
duainted with Toms route, having gon'
with him often when was younger
and so why not start out on the busines
myselfP"
"Oh, Phebe!" exclaimed her mother
in distressed voice, "you couldn't; it.
mans business"
"But don't see why I couldn't max
it woman's business. It's not hard
and am young and strong and healthy
Then we could keep Dobbin, and il
time ! could make as much money a
Tom did," ~
81 never heard of such a thing,
feebly demonstrated her mother.
"That may be; but if we want to kee
the children together and have a HON
| don't see any other way. AT a
events, I'll try it if you only say
may"
dWell, you must do as you think best
only it seems so strange, so kind of III
!. natural, - murmured her mother, ~
think of your going from house to hous
with tinware, out in the country, too.
Everybody knows Toms wagoi
and they used oftener to come out
, him. said Phebe. "He has made hin
self q reputation, and, although it wi
t be new and, perhaps for time, lit
awkward, | don't see any other wa
: open. 1t would kill me to sew; can
r keep school; and we must have food.
r eat and clothes to wear. In fewyea
little Jimmy can take the BUSINESS, "
S can only make II living till then"
: The news ran through the village iii
wildfire when Phebe Palmer set h
|, resolute little face businessward behi'
e old Dobbin. Some praised and sor
commended.
2 ats lucky she's so humly," sigh
y an old crone.
$. I" Homely" spoke up poor Ton
y betrothed, with tears in her eye
70 "Phebe Palmer is as beautiful as
70 70 angel" -.
er Su,l Fl,uLu InusL hevv boon L0outi
u certainly to the angels as she SO brav'
n took up the burden she had set hers
ne to bear. 1t seemed almost as If II
IN were with her, guiding and helping h
s. though without words or visible pr
ence. And certainly greater than
81 helped her to bear the burden.
Il, "Deary me, and you've taken \
oJ M Palmer's businessP" said woman W
'u at SIGHT of the natty red and wi
49,, wagon which had been Toms pri
wv came out to the roadside. "WeD,
nn '1n sure you've got good courage; but
on 81, will all lend you helping hand.
rs Palmer was great favorite with eve
OF body that knowed him, and sad eno'
=, = it was to hear of him taking off in 81
lm, Iuo a cruel, hard way" "Why, bless y
'o little heart" she added, wiping her
"a with her check apron, "we1l all
i"O twice as much for his sake"
oss And so they did. Everybody
res kind. At this house she must hay
,ad cup of coffee-her brother always oil
ner at that bite of luncheon, and it seer
the as if everybody made their purchase se,