The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-24

-quinine You know the doctor said
papa must have quinine tomorrow, or he
would have another chill. That will be
twenty-five cents What shall we do"
Bobbie thought moment. Finally he
said:
"You know they keep box of matches
open down at the grocery for men to light
their cigars with, [ might say to the gro
ceryman, please sir, give me match, and
perhaps he would give ME a dozen, and
that will save five cents. Oh, mamma, let me
try?"
! With feeling of humiliation the moth
er said, "Well, Bobbie, you can 90 down
and ask him." Bobbie rushed off to the
corner grocery and the mother took this
opportunity while he was gone to take the
lamp and look in one or two places in the
room, if possible she might see some house
hold article which could be spared to the
| pawn broker to exc out to-moTOw's scanty
fare
She looked at her little bundle of laces,
but they were old-fashioned in shape, and
with sigh she concluded upon examina-
ton they could not be sold for anything
As she put them back her eye fell on lit
tie velvet case containing a little gold thin
bic. birthday present when she was girl
She had entirely forgotten it. She took 1t
out and read her initials and the date, fif-
teen years before. 1t wasa a good deal worn,
and rather small but it would sell for some
thing. She put it in her pocket and went
down to meet Bobbie who came in with his
face aglow and handful of matches.
Putting on her bonnet and veil and
holding Bobbie tightly by the hand they
sailed forth in the cold and darkness with
the precious thimble and thirty-fve cents
to provide for Christmas. 1t was a long
cold walk to the pawnbrokers. the only one
in the place. =.
"'Taint worth but fifty cents, ma am,
was the decided answer of the pawnbroker.
why, it cost ten dollars. 1t Is worth
more than that for old gold
THE initials on it spoil it for selling, and
it's very light. But at any rate that's all
III give"
The mother turned away with faintlng
heart. Then she remembered the quinine
and the children and all their bright hopes
for Christmas Turning to the man she
said family:
I'll take fifty cents.
Poor Bobbies face frightened up again.
Their first stop was at drug store, where
twenty-five cents was paid for qulnne'
They then stopped at grocery. Cash on
hand sixty-fve cents. Let me see, butter
ten cents. potatoes twenty-five cents, eggs
twenty cents. I must have a custard or
some apples for the children's desert, and |
want to Get soup bone, ten cents. But II
custard will take milk, five cents. I'll ask
for only fifteen cents worth Of eggs. That
will lust make it." The purchases were all
put up and there Was ten cents change,
when Bobbie said:
Mamma, you forgot the salt.
Sure enough, and it would be impossi-
bic to make the food, the potatoes and the
mush for breakfast palatable without salt.
Once more Bobbie came to the rescue:
Mamma you know the butcher gives a
bio piece of liver for five cents, and we all
ike it when you cook it yourself Couldn't
YOU buy the salt and let met get the liver?'
SO the salt was bought and they went to
the meat shop.
And certainly very tempting display
was that made by the meat man Of great
fat turkeys, plump chickens, strings OF quail,
quarters of mutton, game, and everythin g
else in meats that were in season. Stand
inc little back in the crowd was woman,
closely yelled, who held by her hand a
beautiful bright eyed boy some eleven years
of AGE, and who seemed reluctant to step
forward and make her purchases. AT
length the proprietor turned sharp ly to her
and said We'll ma am what can do for
you p
She stepped forward and asked Il ques-
. ton in a low voice. The man turned
around and taking piece Of liver off a
hook, threw it on a counter:
Ten cents, ma a'am.'
Again she spoke few words to him i'll
low tone. He turned abruptly from hel
and replaced the liver on its hook:
No, ma am, | can't cut it.
The woman shrank back, and with hel
little boy left the shop and went off facing
the wind.
Standing in the crowd who waited then
turn at the meat shop, was Mr.. Morton.
the eminent lawyer, in whose office Mrs
Hall had done copying. As she stepped
out Of the shop with shrinking, mortified
air, he passed out after her, just in time tc
, hear Bobbie say
And can't we have any meat to-mor-
row, mamma ?
mo, darling, but you must not fret.
There were tears in her voice as she said
this; and following her a few steps farther.
Mr.. Morton heard her sob, while Bobbie
said:
Don't cry, mamma, perhaps | can find
some other meat shop tomorrow morning
where they will sell five cents worth of
liver.
Determined to learn something further
of her residence and circumstances, Mr.
i Morton followed within seeing distance till
he saw her enter the bare looking frame
house of which we have spoken, Bobbie
had gone up stairs, and all alone she sat
her head dropped forward on her hands
and her whole attitude expressing such ut
ter detection and despair that tears invol
untary sprang to the eyes of good Mr.
Morton, as ne saw tllat sne was WlpihS hei
eyes. ..-...... .s... -
"Good God y he exclaimed to himself
that delicate, refined good woman is en-
gagged in desperate hand-to-hand struggle
with poverty, such as might appal the
heart Of strong man. Imust know more
! of her, and7will help her ifcI can. = lHt
passed to the corner grocery and asked:
ssWho lives in that first little frame house
around the corner p
A very nice lady with sick husband
and five children
There was great fat turkey hanging at
the door of the grocery. Mr. Morton
asked the price and said that he would take
it. Then he added: E- -
l. "Here, l want to give you quite All order
! for things to be delivered in the morning