The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-04-21
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

I
hand, wherewith she gesticulated after a
tragic fashion as she talked, while Mrs.
! haywood, tall and slender as q wild lily,
stood In the hall with a roll of music
under her arm. and her slight figure
wrapped in a shabby black shawl. "And
he's willing to pay my price, cash down,
every Saturday night. Never attempted
to beat down penny, if you will believe
it, my dear"
''Wby should he ?" said Honora.
"Most people do, my DEAR" said Mrs.
Pennypacker ga wrinkled old widow
like me, who has her living to earn, is
mostly fair game for everybody. A real
gentleman, my dear-every inch of him.
But he's little particular, I'm afraid. :"
Il suppose most bachelors are" said
Miss haywood smiling.
eyes, my dear-Yes!" nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker. "But this gentleman is
beyond the average, think
''And if he is?"
| ''Nothing," said Mrs. Pennypacizer,
making dab with her broom handle at
a stray mothmiller, which was futtering
| blandiy against the garnet damask win
dow nothing except that one
don't quite know where to have him.
He drinks old English breakfast tea, and
he wants his pie-crust made with the best
Alderney butter, instead of lard as is
good enough for other people; and he
must have ventiIators 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 he particularly
disliizes q piano"
"Disiikes 8 piano!" said the little mu-
sic teacher, reddening in spite of herself
"Aud he says, says he, 4 hope there's
no piano III the house. "A piano, says
he, plays the deuce with my nervous
system, with its everlasting tum TEN 2
These were his very words, my dear. So
courtesies, and says I, you will not be
troubled with one here, sir. And so, my
dear, Ell be grateful if you won't mind
doing any practiciu' until he's out for his
daily walk from one to three, Just as
regular as a clock"
Miss haywood looked up piteously in
the old landIady's face.
81 viii DO anything to oblige you. Mrs.
Pennypackor, she said, earnestly. 81
haven't forgotten how much on, itldebt
ed to yoa, both in actual money and in
kindness, which last I can never repay"
And the soft blue eyes filed with tears
as she spoke.
''My dear, don't say word, said Mrs,
Pennypacker, hastily. you've been
sick and you've got little behindhaud,
and it's quite natural you should be a
little low spirited now and then. But
you mustn't get discouraged. Things
will look up alter while. And you are
quite welcome to stay here until you are
able to settle up your little account"
Honora haywood sighed as she re
membered how often her little advertise
ment had been inserted in the daily news
papers without attracting the least notice
from the world of patrons and pupils.
There were so many capable music teach
ers, willing to give lessons at moderate
prices nowadays, and how was anyone to
know how sorely she needed the money
And as the time crept on and no pupils
came, Honora began seriously to ask
herself whether she could not go out in
some menial capacity, or stay genteely
ut home and starye.
CLOTHES, ma'am?"
Houora started from her reverie, as the
wash woman's little girl banged herself
like human battering ram, up against
The door, with large basket on her arm.
Yes" said Honora, coloring. "Put
them down, Sally. But I'm afraid it
isn't convenient to pay your mother to-
day"
Mother didn't say nothing bout the
pay" said Sally, wiping her forehead
with a whisk of her arm and shifting her
self well-nigh of her feet. 81 was to
leave the clothes with her 'umabla duty
and she 'oped they'd suit; it was that
damp and muggy on Monday and Tues
day, as starch wouldn't stick, and she
'opes you'll excuse all mistakes as they
| shall be done better next time"
81 dare say they are quite right, said
Honora, with little sigh, as she marvel
ed at this unexpected excess of courtesy
on the part of her laUndress.
But when Sally had stumped off down
stairs, her Tapping slippers beating a sort
Of tattoo as she went, and Miss Haywood
took off the fringed towel that covered
the basket Of clothes, she gave little
/ start.
''Shilts, said Honora, ''and socks and
turnover collars, No. 16, and great big
packet-handkerchiefs, like the sails of a
ship, and white vests, and-goodness me,
what does it all mean Mrs. Mulvey has
sent me some gentlemans wardrobe by
mistake. lmust send these back at once.
Bat then Miss haywood looked down
at the articles in grave consideration.
81 never had brother" mused Miss
Maywood; "and | can't remember NV
father; but of this [ am quite certain-if
[ had either one or the other / should
thank any girl to mend their dilapidated
wardrobe if they looked like this. And
Mrs. MuIvey can't send before night, and
unfortunately I've nothing to do, SO Ii
Just mend this poor fellows clothes who.
ever ne may be. 4 half starved theolog
lcaI student perhaps, training for the
Foiynesian islands, or perhaps news.
pSpsf reporter, or pale clerk under tbs