Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-12-12
KATHY'S MUSIC.BOX

we've got a good fire, If we haven't
got any supper, aud that's one comfort.
this freezing night at r -
Mikey spread out his little blue hands
over the bright blsze with an sir oi
satisfaction, but at the mention of sup
per his round face heightened visib,y.
and he looked wistfully toward the
empty cupboard. ss -ass
I'VE nigh; do without the shupper
very well, as we had praties for dinnt r,
but what shall we have for aiting in the
morning sure?" said thoughtful John
ny, with his little Irish tongue.
II cannot tell, said Kathy, sighing,
hut the saints will not let US starve.
Perhaps Mrs AruoId will be ready to
pay NE for my work by that time Then
we'll have nice break fast, if 1t il a late
one"
Hot cakes and sirup," suggested
Mibey, smackiDg his lips. as it lie were
already tasting The delicious compound
You don't look ss il you could bid.
that long without a mnrsei 10 pit in your
mouth. You were afther giving ali the
';;iiHef Til us, aid didn't aie the full Of
thinble yourself. You'll be getting
he sick ness again if you DO that way
ks'Ry
AA''by "iu iScl idIu'. ~ WAS true t0dt
size hau tasted scarcely mouthfut of
dinner, and. as she hah been III, she felt
he leed Of food more tnau she usually
did Ill her days of fasting. 1t was NJ.
uncoInnon thing for her to 20 thou.
her dinner and supper not ''bide' until
The next day, without even u crust of
bread
''Shan't I go and see if Mr. Firm
liIa his f.,r L..
OF bread aud u bit If tay? Tay is JUS,
the thing you need said Joining, after
musing awhile, with his grave eyes
fixed on the ire.
81 don't know but you may. Johnny"
said Kathy, hesilatingly He refused
to do so once though, and I'd rather do
almost any thing than ask him again" ("
20" ssid Mik-y, dancing about the
floor, IN be putting the tay Kettle on
right away. Won't it be jolly if We
have the bread aud the tay :" and his
little freckied face fairly beamed with
But Kathy looked very sad and an
xiOus.
Tell him that we will pay bim to-
morrow If possible. and if not, then on
The day after" said che To Johnny, who
was butIoning his old threadbare coat,
III which To brave the bi Ter night.
"The tay Kettle III be billing in o
minute," said M.key, placing it over
the glowing Goals as soon We Johnny had
gone "Hark till you hear it sing,
Ka' hy."
"Poor little fellOw!' thought Kathy.
II am so afraid he will be disappointed |!
0, what dreadfnl thing it is to be az
poor, and " hat will happen to us if
don't get some work pretty soon ?"
"There!" said Mikey, after few
moments of silence. 1T Is beginning
to sing now and won't it be jolly? 1t
is singing for good luck. know it Is.
for never heard it make noise that
pleasaptr'
II did make a pleasant noise, truly,
but J"hnny had been gone long time,
aud Kaihy began 10 feel anxious. At
last his step sounded on the stairs, and
Mikey rushed to open the door.
20 dear! be hasn't got anything,
Kathy? I suppose Mr.. Finn wouldn't
let him have anything. What mean
old man." a...-
"MI. Finn says he isn't going to trust
any body any more; but he wants to
know if you wouldn't be afther selling
that music box of yours-says he'll pay
you 81 for it," said Johnny, sall out OF
breath.
"Sell my music box" exclaimed
Katby. "What u strange idea? How
did he know that had such thing?'
He says he's heard it msny q tim.
when he's been after gnin' by The house,
aud he likes the rnnes it plays" ft
Indeed !" said Kathy, almost indig,
nant that one should dare to propose
such thing as her selling the thing
she priced most on earth, for it belonged
10 her sailor brother Jamie, who We.
! lost at SEA three or four years before
When he went away he told her n-ve,
To part with IT if she could help it. Anu
though Kaihy bad been in sore strait.
before. aud had been obliged To sci.
ever, thing that they could possibl,
SPARE from their little STOCK of house
mold furniture 10 procure fuel and TREAD
-he never had thought If spariDg The
music box Mt Only because II wa,
Jane did she value il, but iis music
had always bee II n great conifrt to her.
IL played sweet, pIalutlve "iu lrish Anc
Scotch tunes. amt, while -he was q, ht
~ofk, il carried hsr thoughts away ipi.
pieasanter places 1t was the chief de
iiyht Hni prize OF both Johnny aoG
| M1EPv, anu u WAS StitIsIu t'dt 'Iey WEIt
wiling TO let it remain silent for ont
| moment.
Mikey = disappointment wastoo much
for him, ard he bsg TO cry ,n spite a
hiu,stlf TIE Tea Kettles merry -so.ts.
v a. uhendurable now N,seened spite
tut aud mock i"g. sotse way. ss II 81
| its tsttie-tie wf.atiis"f steam ifito -.
smoky air ot he diugy OLD siich.,,.
} Ksih5 sat do~n aud isanu,g s,er ii,,ssa
su uvr hands. b.gau TO think H.,v
much good 81 would do them now, 10
there WAS no ctrialuty that she crult
obtain any money to morrow, and he,
CO. Id not live all the time without foon
Tnen there WAS only coal enough to las
until the middle of the next day, if tn.
weai her should he as cold as 1t was nov
She felt az if she ought TO part with thu
mus'c=bux, 6ut Aow could she? aQ
| "Wnat do you say. J"au,ay p sh,
aa'd at iase D." you ,htnk We ha,
beit~f sell The music b"x2"
/ stEh,,rx, vn,, ,,.,,u h.ut .osd r.,