The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-10-15
THE FIFTY.DOLLAR BILL.

Mrs. Dean SAT alone IN her little
kitchen. She never used her parlor.
There was the extravaganza of an extra
fire to be considered-the fact that the
best rag carpet, woven by her own skill
full hands. must not be worn out too
recklessly, the dread possibility of sun.
shine fading ont these chair covers.
Mrs. Dean was an economist. She be-
lieved in making everything last as
long as it possibly could. Aud 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.
She was 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
were to be sold at the village store in
exchange for tea. sugar, spices and all
such necessary groceries. "a penny
saved is as good as penny earned"
was the golden rule by which she shaped
her life. ~
" I'm glad took that money ont 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 burglars-though, to be sure,
no burglar" she added with compla-
cent, inward chuckle, g would ever
think of looking in the folds of the old
Cfinkerrille 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! q clean, crisp, s,eU fifty
dollar bill! And all savings, too. out
of the house money"
just then there sounded knock at
the door, and in came old DIR. Bridg-
man, rubicund with the touch of the
March wind, and muffled 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. .sNo, thank you; can't sit
down. I'm a deal too busy for that.
But heard yesterday that you took
fifty dollars out of the savings bankP'
"Yes," said Mrs. Dean. her face in
voluntarily hardening, al didr'
I'VE are taking up a subscription to
get little lame Dick Bodley q cart and
donkey, so that he can go around ped
ding tinware," said the doctor. dts
pretty hard for any one afflicted as he
is to get along, and if you can help us a
little ~
"But can't" interposed Mrs. Dean,
breathlessly. 1.-The money was an in
vestment. don't propose to cut it up
into little bifs.n s1 ise
ITS deed of charity, Mrs. Dean,n
said the good old man, ssto help lame
Dick Bodley."
Il dare say" said Mrs. Dean. a little
irritably. But l never pretended to
be a charitable character
The old doctor went away, and the
next visitor was Helen Hurst, q rosy
girl Of eighteen.
Excuse me for interrupting you,
Mrs. Dean" said she, "but Larry
Johnson was at the bank yesterday, and
he tells me that you drew out your
WAS all creation thereP' thought
Mrs. Dean.
But she said nothing, only knit away
until her needles seemed to glance and
glitter like points of fire.
II am trying to get boarding place
ut Mrs. Swipes'," added Helen, color
ing. $50 as to be near the district
school, where am to teach this spring.
But Mrs. Swipes requires payment in
by the month, and unfortu-
nately we have used up all our slender
means in providing my outfit. A teach
or, You know, must be dressed decently
TO command the respect of her pupils.
But if you would kindly lend me ten
II never lend" said Mrs. Dean,
curtly..
II will be sure to pay it up when /
receive my first quarter salary plead
cd Helen. "And don't know Of any
one else to go to-
Its altogether against my princi-
ples," said Mrs. Dean. with her face as
hard as if it had been carved out of
Helen Hurst crept out. feeling humil-
lated and disappointed beyond all ex-
preston.
Mrs. Dean chuckled at her own
shrewdness; but she hardly had time to
stir up the apples in the saucepan be-
lore Mrs. Graham entered with little
eather-covered memorandum book and
pencil.
:. am looking for charitable people,
Yrs. Dean said the 'Squire's wife,
With laugh.
q Then you've come to the wrong
'lace,' said Mrs. Dean, frigiily.
Poor Patrick OHara was killed |
yesterday, in the machinery Of the |
olling-mill," said Mrs. Graham, ignor- |