Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-22
NEEDLE and THREAD.


"An old bachelor?n said Honora May.
wood
"That's what he told me, just in 80
many words" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
who stood on tho threshold Of her best
room, with her head tied up in pocket
handkerchief, and q hair-broom in her
hand, wherewlth she gesticulated after
q tragic fashion, as she talked, while
Miss haywood, tall and slender AZ q
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, II
you'll believe 1t, nay DEAR
"Why should hep said Honora.
"Most people do, my dear" said Mrs.
pennypacker. "a 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--eyery inch
Of him. But he's little particular, I'm
afraid"
" suppose most old bachelors are, :"
said Miss haywood, smiling.
Eyes, my dear-yes!' nodded Mrs
Pennypacker. "But this gentleman is
beyond tho average, think"
"And ifheis"
Nothing" says Mrs. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom-handle OF
q stray moth-miller which was fluttering
blindly against the garnet damask win.
dow curtains; nothing, except that
one don't quite know where to have
him. Ho 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 PEG.
pie and he must have ventillators to all
the windows, and an open CRATE; instead
of the base-burning stove; and--l hope
you'll not be offended, my dear-but hi
particularly dislikes piano"
"Dislikes q piano9' said the little
music teacher ,reddening in spite Of her
self
"And he says, says he; ! hope, Mrs
Pennypacker, that there IS no piano II
the house. A piano. says he, 'playl
the deuce with my nervous system, will
it's everlasting tum, tum , and says !
You'll not be troubled with one here
SIR And SO, my dear, I'll he grateful
if you won't mind doing your practicin
until he's ont for his daily walk-from
to 3, just as regularly as the clock"
Miss haywood looked piteously up il
the old landlady's face.
~ will do anything to oblige you
Mrs. Pennypacker." she said, earnestly
81 haven't forgotten how much am in
debted to you, both in actual money
and in kindness, which money can neve
repay"
And her soft blue eyes filed with tear
as she spoke.
"My dear, don't say a word," sal
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily, "You'v
been sick, and you've got a little be
hind, and it's quite natural you shout
be o little low-spirited now and ther
But you mustn't get discouraged. Thing
will look up, after awhile. And your
quite welcome to stay on here, unit
you're able to settle up your little az
count"
Honora haywood sighed as she I,
membered how often her little advel
tsement had been inserted in the dali
newspapers, without attracting the leas
notice from the world Of patrons and pr
pills. There were SO many "capabl
music teachers, willing to give lessor
at moderate prices" nowadays, an
how was any one to know how sorel
, she needed the money!
, And, as the time crept on, and no pr
J pills came, HonoIa began seriously
ask herself whether she should 90 out j
, some mental capacity, or stay genteell
: at home and starve.
Clothes, ma'amw
{ Honora started from her reverie as I'll
, washerwomans stumpy little girl bans
cd herself, like q human battering-ran
4 up against the door, with a preposte
Q ously large basket on her arm.
s eyes," said Honora, coloring. "Pl
D them down, Sally. But Pm afraid
Q isn't convenient topay your mother t
:. day"
Mother didn't say nothin' bout Il
pay" said Sally, wiping her Torches
with whisk of her arm, and sniffir
herself well nigh off her feet. II was