The Iola register., 1881-09-30

:
presently.
s.She's never very strong, our Janey
isn't" and the mother looked anxious
ly down to meet the tender, loving
smile of her little daughter.
Voyage pretty hard on her too,
daresay,'' said the policeman. STOPPING
to ease the little cart over the crossing.
There, my friend" he said, turn
ing to John Dixon, "third house to the
left, think you'll be sure to get lodg-
ing there. l know the man, he'll do as
well by you as any,"
"Thank ye kindly, sur" said John
Dixon, gratefully. ''It's a bit strange
comm to a new land an not KNOWN
where to turn"
"Whatever did you come for then?"
muttered the policeman to himself; then
aloud, "That's all right. I'll may be see
you again; this is on my beat" and,
with friendly nod to Janey, he turned
away.
Tired, almost discouraged, Mrs. Dixon
set speedily to work to clean the two
dusty. grimy little rooms, they were to
call home for the present, while John
and one of the boys went out in search
of the few articles of furniture they
needed, and something to eat.
Little Janey, holding the baby on her
lap. sat looking on wistfully. ''Poor
mother, wish 1 could help"
"You do help. my lass. the mother
said heartily; "see just how quiet
you've kept baby all this time, so can
clean up Bit"
Janey smiled brightly.
Whenever he frets l show him my
lucky sixpence,' an then he laughs, -
and Janey dangled the coin before the
baby's eyes.
The lucky sixpence''-that is, q
sixpence with hole in twas hung
round Janey's neck by strong, but
much-faded blue silk cord, and was the
child's one great treasure. 1t was the
only thing she possessed of her very
own, except her little two-wheeled
cart, and she could not very well hang
that round her neck, or 60 to sleep
holding it in her hand.
"Dear, dear!' sighed Mrs. Dixon,
stopping her work a minute to wipe her
heated face with her apron, IS it's
many a year since Master Fred o. the
Home Farm gied you that lucky six
pence Janey. 1t was just before he
left for 'Meriky. I mind, and he'd
stopped to wish us goodbye. You wur
little thing, playin' round the floor,
not so old by twoyear as Jimmie there"
pointing to the four-year-old youngster
who was making himself perfectly hap
py in corner of the room with two old
wooden clothes-pins he had found.
II wonder what's come O. Master
Fred" Mrs. Dixon went on, scrubbing
away again; " he couldn't hit it off
very well wi his uncle at the farm, so
he come to 'Meriky, an that put it into
yer fathers head, worse luck.''
And she sighed little as she glanced
round the cherries room, but she
frightened up little when she heard
her husbands foot on the stair, and
when the table and chairs were put in
their places, and the kettle boiled on
the little charcoal furnace John Dixon
had bought, quite cheerful little party
sat down to supper.
We've got little money, Lisbeth,"
said John Dixon to his wife that night,
when the children were asleep, "and
I've got stout heart an a stout arm,
an it'll be queer enow If in all this big
town there isn't some job as wants to
be done as I can get"
But you'd like teamwork best,
John; you're used to that
"Ay, ay, lass, but 'Beggars mustn't
be choosers;' not that we're beggars
yet, my lass" and he gave her a sound
ing kiss.
John Dixon was strong and willing,
but day after day passed, and still he
searched in vain for work. Once in a
while an odd job fell in his way. but no
steady employment. and faster and
faster his little hoard of savings melted
away.
cay, lass, it's not far shillin' goes
here" he said one day; with a sigh.
coming in from the grocer's where he
had been to lay in their slender provi-
sion for the coming Sunday.
Mrs. Dixon shook her head, and
tear or two fell on the jacket she was
She had grown pale and
thin. and the little faces of the children
had a sharp, hungry look which almost
broke her heart to see.
That night little Janey awoke Sob
bing heavily.
'sWhat is it, lass?'' and her mother,
reused by the sound, bent over her.
81 thought Jimmie had brought me
a cowslip-ball," sobbed Janey. 90
mother, mother, l wish we were homer
A "cowslip-ballr' Their thoughts
few back to the little green lane, a
stones throw from their humble cot
tage-door. where between green hedge
rows primroses lurked and yellow cow
slips nodded their golden heads. Mrs.
Dixon dropped her face beside Janey's
and in her heart echoed the child's
homesick cry, 20, I wish we were
homer
Sunday passed. Monday; Tuesday and
still no work. Jimmie was crying over
the last of his scantv breakfast being
done and Sam was choking down a sob
over his crust.
Janey, pale and quiet, sat hushing
the baby in her arms, while the poor
mother looked at the little group dry
ey ed and despairing.
John Dixon threw himself into
chair with a groan.
IFS M use Tisheth - ha said