The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-24
THE FIFTY-DOLLAR BILL.

Mrs. Dean sat alone in her littl
Kitchen. She never used her Parlor
There was the extravaganza of an extri
fire to be considered-the fact that the
best rag carpet, woven by her own skill
full hands, must not be worn out toe
recklessly, the dread possibility of sun
shine fading out these chair covers
Mrs. Dean was an economist. She be.
lieved in making everything last as
long as it possibly could. And so she
made the kitchen her headquarters,
and sat there knitting, with her feet
comfortably balanced on the stone
hearth, the saucepan of apples bubbling
softly away at the back. and the sound
of her husbands ak ringing from the
back shed as he cut and split the kind
ling wood, piled up there in we'll
seasoned logs. .rs bonn a4t
She was a little, wrinkled-faced wom-
an of fifty, with stiff ribbon bows to her
cap hair that seemed dried up instead
of silvered, and keen blue eyes that
twinkled as if they had discovered the
secret of perpetual motion. To save
money was her chief end and aim in
life. The very mittens she was knitting
exchange for tea, sugar, spices and all
such necessary groceries. "A penny
saved is as good as a penny earned y
wasthe golden rule by which she shaped
her life.
I'm glad took that money out of
the savings bank yesterday" said Mrs.
Dean to herself, as the bright needles
clicked merrily away. - People say it
isn't quite safe. And one can't be too
careful. But then, again, there's the
danger of though, to be sure,
no burglar" she added with compla-
cent, inward chuckle, :" would ever
think of looking in the folds of the old
C5tnkerUille Clarion newspaper in the
wall pocket on the wall. It's the bu-
reau drawers, and the trunks, and the
locked-up chests that they aim for A
fifty-dollar bill! clean, crisp, neoO fifty
dollar bill! And all savings, too, out
of the house money"
just then there sounded a knock at
the door, and in came old DIR. Bridg-
man, rubicund with the touch of the
March wind, and mutfied up in the
furs of the wild animals which, from
time to time he himself had shot,
GOOD day, Miss Dean, good day.
said he. mo, thank you; | can't sit
down. I'm deal too busy for that
But | heard Yesterday that YOU took
fifty dollars out of the savings bank?"
Yes said Mrs. Dean, her face in.
voluntarily hardening, g l didn'
I'VE are taking up a subscription tc
get little lame Dick Bodley cart and
donkey, so that he can 90 around ped
ding tinware,' said the doctor. ''It's
pretty hard for any one afflicted as ht
is to get along, and if you can help us {
little
"But | can It." interposed Mrs. Dean
breathlessly. 9. The money was an in
vestment. I don't propose to cut it W
into little bits
. It's deed of charity, Mrs. Dean, ,
said the good old man, to help lame
Dick Bodley."
u dare say" said Mrs. Dean, little
irritably. But l never pretended t.
be charitable character.
The old doctor went away, and tn,
next visitor was Helen Hurst, ros,
girl OF eighteen.
Excuse me for interrupting you
Mrs. Dean" said she, ''but LAIR,
johnson was at the bank Yesterday, anC
he tells me that you drew out YOU
money!
WAS all creation there?r though
Mrs. Dean.
But she said nothing, only knit ava,
until her needles seemed to glance anC
glitter like points of fire.
.. am trying to get a boarding plac,
at Mrs. Swipes'," added Helen, color
ing, $50 as to be near the distric
school, where am TO teach this spring
But Mrs Swipes requires payment i
advance by the month, and unfortu
nately we have used up all our slende
means in providing my outfit. A teach
er, you know, must be dressed decent
TO command the respect of her pupils
But if you would kindly lend me tie
dollars
Il never lend" said Mrs. Dear
CURLY.
. i will be sure to pay it up when
receive my first quarters salary" pleat
ed Helen. ''And l don't know of an
one else to go to-
Its altogether against my primo
pies" said Mrs. Dean, with her face
hard as if it had been carved out
hickory
Helen Hurst crept-out, feeling humi
lated and disappointed beyond all G
preston.
Mrs. Dean chuckled at her ov
shrewdness; but she hardly had time
stir up the apples in the saucepan b
fore Mrs. Graham entered with a lit
leather-covered memorandum-book al
pencil.
81 am looking for charitable peopl
Mrs. Dean" said the 'Squire's viii
with a laugh.
% Then you've come to the wrol
place" said Mrs. Dean, frigidly.
Poor Patrick O'Hara was kill
yesterday, in the machinery of t
rolling-mill," said Mrs Graham, ignC