Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-18
NEEDLE and THREAD.

| wood.
CHATS 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 a hair-broom in her
hand, wherewlth she gesticulated 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 Sunday night. Never at
tempted to beat me down penny, if
you'll believe 1T, my DEAR"
"Why should he?" said Honora.
"Most people do, my dear" said Mrs.
Pennypacker. IA wrinkled old widow
woman like me, who has her living to
earn, is mostly fair game for everybody.
But he never objected to many terms.
A real gentleman, my dear-every inch
of him. But he's little particular, Pm
afraid"
u suppose most old bachelors are, "
said Miss haywood, smiling.
'Yes, my dear-yes!' nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker. "But this gentleman is
beyond the average, l think"
"And if he is ?"
''Nothing,Y says Mrs. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom-handle at
stray moth-miller which was futtering
blindly against the garnet damask win
dow 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 Attorney butter, instead
Of lard, as is good enough for other peo-
pie: and he must have ventillators to all
| the windows, and an open CRATE: instead
of the burning stove; and-I hope
you'll not be offended, my dear-but he
particularly dislikes piano."
'''Dislikes a piano." said the little
music 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, tum > and says l
You'll not be troubled with one here,
sir And so, my dear, ZIP be grateful
if you won't mind doing your practicin'
until he's out for his daily walk-from l
to 8, just as regularly 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.
~ haven't forgotten how much am in
debted 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 word," said
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily, "You've
been sick, and you've got a little be-
hind, and it's quite natural you should
be 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 ac-
count"
Honora haywood sighed as she re-
membered how often her little adyer.
tisement had been inserted in the daily
newspapers, without attracting the least
notice from the world of patrons and pu-
pills. 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 pu-
pills came, Honora began seriously to
ask herself whether she should 90 out in
some mental capacity, or stay genteelly
at home and starve.
"Clothes, ma'amw
Honora started from her reverie as the
washerwoman's stumpy little girl bang
ed herself, like human battering-ram
up against the door, with preposter.
ously large basket on her arm.
eyes," said Honora, coloring. "Put
them down, Sally. But I-Pm afraid it
isn't convenient to pay your mother to.
day."
Mother didn't say nothin' bout the
pay" said Sally, wiping her forehead
with whisk of her arm, and shifting
herself well 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 and muggy on Monday and
| Tuesday as starch wouldn't stick And