Morris tribune., 1881-03-31

they are lust the exacting, unaccommodat-
ing kind of people who wouldn t hesitate In
foreclosing the day the time expires!'
She had set herself about earning to pay
the indebtedness.
"You see, she said, "the property is left
by will to mamma and myself conformity.
If it is disposed of at a forced sale it must
be great sacrifice, and then poor mamma
will be left without home. She has done
everything for me"-here Hannah's large
eyes filed with tears-''and it is a small
thing for me to try to save the home for
her."
1 said wondered she hadn't sought a
different kind of employment, and suggest
ed teaching.
90, I've tired applying for schools. Two
or three times I've received invitations to
examinations; and they've given me perfect
ly dreadful lists of questions, asked me
reasons achy we performed operations that
I never before knew we did perform"
"Music, then"
II love music; but there are three teach
ers to every pupil. This is pleasant work,
and I am happy in feeling shall save the
home for mammal"
When reached home that evening sold
an opera ticket 1 had purchased in the
morning, and, whereas had always smoked
lucent cigars, now purchased box at 10
cents Il gave them away before the close OF
the week and went back to $3.50 and asked
mother if there wasn't a place somewhere
in the city where they cleansea and dressed
over soiled kid gloves to look as we'll as
new.
For the next few weeks I had consider
able business in neighboring city, and
used to transact it in season orthe 3 o'clock
train, and then conclude to wait for the ex-
press. Hannah was always in fine spirits,
buoyed up by the belief that she was making
sure progress in paying that debt. I should
as as soon thought of discharging the ma.
tional obligation by peddling matches.
One warm Saturday afternoon, when l
stood by her side, and she leaned back ia
tigued, but distractingly pretty with the
loose hair curling around her temples, she
inadvertently laid her hand on the corner
of the table next me. 1t was growing thin.
back, and which. in the days of youthful
simplicity, she had told me stood for Harri-
man, stood out with great distinctness.
suggested being allowed to make an ar
rangement removing her from the necessity
of liquioating those debts. She refused to
listen. Ipressed the matter unavailingly.
| then went to the proprietor, told him
Miss Farley was school-mate and friend
of mine, who was heroically trying to save
the family residence of her step mother,
and asked him if he could not furnish her
a better position; but Frank is the most OBJ
fuse of creatures. He finally asked me if
she could keep books. Remembering the
splurges in that youthful epistle of hers,
felt by no means confident. but said T.
Give her the books, anyway, and look to
me for damages"
| He found that she wrote neat hand, and
had slight inkling of double entry; but
when it came to the subject of remunera-
ton, and she asked him how much he had
paid his last book-keeper, he had the stu
pidity to reply. He had $500, but l shall
allow you $780,"
All" said she, "he was an old and expe-
rienced book keeper, while I know little
about it. Why under such circumstances
do YOU increase the salary"
Frank wouldn't have scrupled at IN en-.
tire series of equivocations in his own be.
half, but since only my interests were a
stake, his conscience became as tender al
George Washington's. He finally acknowl
edged that the increase was provided for b,
friend.
Il shall accept the position at $780,, sale
she with dignity.
I went up and held conversation will
Hannah I reasoned with her; Il Sc
things in their true light" made matter
clear" 1t did seem as if she might see, bu
she wouldn't.
Upon the urgent and repeated invita-
tions of my mother, she consented to spent
her Sabbaths at our place. She was in tn
frequent receipt of letters from her step
mother in which the most affectionate sen
timents were couched in the most beautiful
language, and on Sunday evenings she uset
to read me extracts from these letters will
tears in her eyes.
The payday came at length wherein
was morally certain she would receive
enough to complete her payments. 1 wen
to see her at her boarding. place that even
ing, and preached the deferred subject
She attempted evasion, but I had decided
that if ever was to havemy own way in this
connection, it was time began. The re
suit was I went home with her the next day
We found Mrs. Farley had just decided
to marry the former chairman of that boar
of road commissioners who wouldn't fill III
my fathers mud-puddle.
Il think, Hannah, said she rehectively
that perhaps we'd better dispose of tn
property. and take our respective portion
to purchase our trousseaux with.
They did accordingly, and one "respec
tive portion" was made up as quickly as
could spur on an able and experienced corp
of dressmakers.
During the years that have elapsed sine
that eventful period. our domestic life ha
} been sometimes critical, and often peculiar
} always jolly. I've never seen the hour whe
in the Utmost recesses of my heart I've re
GREETED that my fathers family once reside
opposite that mud-puddle and Hannah Ann
Springfield Republican