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

Islands; or perhaps newspaper re-
porter, or a pale clerk under the daz-
cling skylights of some dry goods pal
ace. At all events he's worse off than
| am, for he can't mend his own clothes
and l can"
And the smiles dimpled around
Maywood's little rosebud of a mouth,
as she sat down to darn holes, sew on
tapes and insert patches.
EEHeu never know who did it, said
Honora to herself; "but, dare say,
he'll be thankful !; and if one can get
a chance to do a little good in this
world, one ought not to grudge ones
time and trouble"
And as Honora stitched away, she
unused sadly whether or not she ought
to accept a position which had offered
itself of assistant matrOn in an orphan
asylum, where the work would be al
most uncomfortable, and the pay next to
nothing, with no Sundays nor holidays,
and a ladies' committee, consisting Of
three starched old maids, to "sit" upon
her the first Friday of every month.
~ almost think I'd rather starve,"
said Honora "But, dear me starving
is a serious business, when one comes
to consider it face to face"
Sally Mulvey came back, putting and
| blowing like a human whale, in about
two hours.
Mother says she's sent the wrong
basket" said she, breathlessly.
81 thought it very probable, Sally"
said Miss haywood.
"And mothers compliments" added
Sally, land she can't undertake your
things no longer, Miss haywood, cause
she does a cash business, and there
amt nothing been paid on your &C
count since last June"
Honora felt herself turning scarlet.
Il am very sorry, Sally" said she,
Tell your mother will settle my bill
as soon as possibly can"
Sally hounced out of the room, red
and indignant, like an overcharged
thunder. cloud, and poor little Honora,
dropping her head on her hands, burst
into tears.
pretty girl that-very pretty" said
Mr.. BrOderick, the old bachelor, to his
landlady.
y
II mean the young lady boarder OF
yours that | see on the stairs now and
then" said Mr.. Broderick. "Nice fig
ure-big, soft eyes, like a gazelle.
Didn't some one tell me she was a
music teacher"
That's her profession" said Mrs
Pennypacker. 'But there amt many
pupils as wants tuition, and, poor little
dear, she has but hard time of it."
"Humph!" grunted Mr.. Broderick
What fools women are not to have 9
regular profession! If had daugh,
ter, I'd bring her up self-supporting
institution"
And Mr.. Broderick DISAPPEARED into
his room, in the midst whereof stood 8
girl with tapping slippers, portentous
shawl and a bonnet which had origin
ally been manufactured for woman
twice her size.
"Who are your" demanded Mr.
Broderick.
''Please, sir, Pm Sally-the washer
woman's Sallyp was the response.
"And what do you want here?" sale
Mr.. Broderick.
'Please, sir, I've come to bring youl
things" said Sally, chattering off hel
lesson like parrot. "And, please, sir
her tumble duty, and she 'opes they'll
suit, but it was that damp and muggy
Monday and Tuesday, as starcl
wouldn't stick; and she 'opes you'll
excuse all mistakes, as they shall bt
done better next time, sir-please, sir.
"Who mended 'em?" demanded Mr.
| Frederick, whose hawk eye had al
ready caught sight of the dainty needle
work upon his garments
''Nobody mended 'em," said Sally
"And mother she says it's easy to SEE
as the new gent is a bachelor, on &C
count of the holes in his heels and toes
and strings off his dickeys."
Il can tell you who mended 'em,
said Mrs. Pennypacker, 'fnr | see hel
at it, the pretty dear-Miss haywood
And says she, 4 don't know whose they
are, Mrs. Pennypacker; bat says she
they need mending kind acti I
never comes amiss' No more it does
sir, Lord bless her !"
"Humph p said Mr.. Broderick
"she's right-no more it does. And
she's a regular scientist at the needle, is
Miss haywood. Just look at that patch
Mrs. Pennypacker! 'Euclid's Geome.
try couldn't produce straighter line
or truer angles. See the toe of that
stocking It's like piece of Gohelir
tapestry. That's the way | like to see
things done!"
And Mr.. Broderick never rested I'm.
til he had been formally introduced tc
Honora Haywood, and had thanked
her with equal formality for the good
offices she had unwittingly rendered
him.
1t was golden October evening that
Honora came down into the kitchen
where Mrs. Pennypacker was baking
pies for her eccentric boarder, with the
crusts made of the best Alderney butter
instead of lard.
ooh, dear! oh, dear!" said Mrs. Pen
nypacker, ''what a thing it is to be an
Old bachelor"
He won't be q bachelor much long
er. " said Honora, laughing and coloring
as she laid her cheek on the good land
lady's cushioning shoulder.
what do you mean?" said Mrs.
Pennypacker.
He has asked me to marry him, y
said Honora, "after only two weeks
acquaintance. He says that a girl
who can mend stockings as 1 do needs
no other test. And he says he loves
me; and-and--
"Well?"
L IL