The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-26


self; "or The pretty child who puts
the bower of cut-paper leaves aside,
and holds up a tiny letter, or the vel
l.set Iz4as1. 6iszl - - nest. Bal
they must be at least a dollar apiece.
and l have but five cents to spare."
So she went into the store, humbly
awaiting her turn, and bought the
two five cent valentines, which the
clerk superciiously tossed toward
her.
"Ishould like two postage stamps"
said she, meekly.
"Stamps ?" echoed the clerk. "This
amt a pestoffice ?"
Lily pointed to printed placard,
of Stamps for Sale Here, and the
clerk. gruInbling under his breath,
reached down two stamps, and took
the four pennies.
He did not relish doing business on
so small scale. especially while
ether customers were waiting at the
counter.
The next morning, however, little
Nudge and Edith danced up and
down with joy when the postman left
the two valentines at their door.
"And here's valentine for you,
Lily" said Nudge. "Only the enve-
lope HASN'T got such pretty gilt roses
on as mine and Edie's have"
Lily was standing with her hat on,
all ready to go to the glove factory,
as the children ran up to her.
"A valentine" said she, ''for me :?
But l think you are mistaken, little
Nudge"
Sine opened the letter with sem
satiCn of wonder as to whom it could
possibly be from. For she got SO few
letters, this gentle, drudging little
creature, that the very sight of an
enveiola sIna strange hand was u
circumstance To startle her.
From Doctor Ingraham," she
said, to herself. He will call here
tp see ne this evening. Oh, dear,
dear! l Mncw now it would be. He
thinks rs 80 strange that haN Mt
said anything about paying him for
his Attendance on Nudge and Edie
Wheu they had the scarlet fever. But
h dO,eh't know how Door we are
And he dosen't know-h0w should
he?-that | was going to his office
this very week, to ask him for the
bill, and try and save up the amount,
little by little until had amassed
the sum. Oh. dear oh, dear, what
am | To do ?'
She laid out the chldren's rations
on the table-a bowl of milk, and
tive liberal slices OF bread for each
and cautioning them not to go near
the fire-which smoIdered i'm little
castiron stOye-went to her daily
work with heart which felt like
lead within her bosom.
Mary Reid was talking, in her
high, soprano voice, about the valen-
tine she had received. Leila Payne
and Parah Howell were giggIing over
gilt.and -tasseled epistles, directed in
masculine hands, but Lily went
straight to the forew oman.
"Mrs. Dobbs," said she, "can you
lend me ten dollars ?"
ZIP" said the forewoman, in sur
prise.
II need it very. very much." said
poor Lily; "and if you will give it
to me to day-this very afternoon, /
mean-I will pay you my next two
weeks entire wages as it comes in
and that, you know, will be twelve
dollars"
Mrs. Dobbs did a little mental
arithmetic in the recesses of her
brain, as she stood there staring with
tishy eyes on Lily VennOr.
Yes, the interest was not SO bad.
She thought it might "pay )" and so
she lent the ten dollars Jor a term OF
fourteen days, Sundays and holidays
inclued.
And Lily, mastering up what cour.
age she could, stopped at Doctor In
graham's Office, ON her way home
frCm work.
II won't give him the trouble to
call" said she TO herself; "f0r, OF
course, it will be disa bpoIntment to
him to know that he can't get his
whole bill. But l will tell him l
will pay the rest as soon az ever l
can. And l hope he won't be very
much vexed {; f r, oh. he was so good
to me when the little ones were