Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-30

"Tirodp O. nom, not very. I don't
mind the basket, cause it's so nice out
of-doors. The sunshine, you know, and
the flowers and the birds and the Lake
arc so lovely. I'm glad came. Do you
think. now, you would care TO buy
bunch of fat wood'P"
Every bundle in your basketr' said
Aunt Janet, who was thinking fast and
furiously, and mentally vowing that, il
this living lesson OF content and humility
being thrust, so to speak, in her brothers
very face, should fail to open his eyes 10
his own state, then there was no hope
for him.
Mr.. Storm was thinking to better
purpose than Aunt Janet was giving him
credit for or was willing to.
That very content, one Of 'Lizbeth's
chief virtues, so manifest in every word
she spoke, in every smile that lowered
about the tender lips, in the bright, even
tones of her voice. Content with toll
and privation, that needed no word of
hers to confirm, and grateful even for
the sunshine, the birds, and the flowers,
touched the mans real heart, that. after
all, lay snug and warm, "a little warped,
true, by too much prosperity under the
rubbish that seliishness had piled high
! touched him, we say, as no loudly-spolen
reproof could have done.
"Have you always lived over yon-
derp" questioned Nettie, who had sober
ed while listening to 'beth's story,
and quite forgetting her queer shoes.
80! no, Miss. We used to live two
| &, I.,,t
if we moved up here, could sell more
wood, because of there being so many
big houses up this way, you know"
'Liz'beth looked around her audience
so smilingly, it should have induced
some one to believe that selling ''fat-
wood was one of the most delightful
occupations in the world.
"There is another thing l am glad we
moved over yonder for" she added,
quickly, in naive and extremely bust
ness-like manner, which became her rs
well as the smiles. at won't take mo
so long to get Auntie in the "Old Ladies'
Home" over in tho town yonder, cause
| earn more money here. I've got fifty
cents put away already. Auntie don't
know how much it will take; either"
"And when the old auntie Is we'll
housed and kindly looked after ut the
Home then what is to become of Liz
bethp' questioned Aunt Janet, gravely,
in whose voice was a suspicion of huski-
ness.
"Me! D! goodness! 1t don't matter
about me, you know. Why, can sell
fat-wood' and live over yonder, and visit
Auntie; and she'll have good dresses
they give 'em good dresses, wouldn't
wonderp o! no. 1t don't matter about
me at ALL"
'Liz'bet having disposed of herself in
this summary manner, smiled content
edly all around.
"If should give you the money that
would place Auntie in that Home ut
once, and spare you all that long toll,
what would you do thenp" asked Mr..
Storm, gravely.
| For moment the soft eyes rested upon
his face, then the sweet lips quivered
painfully, as she answered. between a
smile and tears:
II don't think you would do that, sir;
but, if you did, / would go right home,
up to the big room where the chimney is
out and the roof knocked in, and I'd get
right down on my knees and I'd pray
very loud. I'd ask God to bless you for
ever and ever and ever, and to give il
back to you again some day"
Not even Nettie laughed at Liz beth S
earnestness. Mrs. Storm thought her
a very peculiar child, quite unselfish.
Mr.. Storm was hastily comparing her
short life with his own, to his shame and
discomfort; while Aunt Janet was de-
Gliding, if her brother failed to carry out
the idea he had advanced. she should
do it.
Mr.. Storm was quite in earnest, how
ever; and, after a whispered .consulta-
ton with his wife, while Aunt Janet
emptied the basket directly before the
porch steps, he drew Liz beth close be-
side him, and, with the wistful eyes
fixed steadily upon him, he gave the
promise that sent thrill after thrill
through the grateful little heart, while
the smiles chased each other so radiantly
and swiftly around the tender lips. Mr.
Storm drew the golden head TO his
bosom in sudden tenderness and pity.
While Aunt Janet was filling Liz
'beth's basket, without ceremony, from
the store-room, Nettie and Mrs. Storm
were searching through Nettie's rooms
and closets for superlluous clothing; and
rs Nettic was found to possess an album
dance of the latter, their arms were filled
when they returned, later, and exhibited
before astonished Liz beth every article
that henceforth was to be her own.
To say that 'Liz'beth bcamed would
not express it. She bubbled and quito
run over with glee. The mad, wild
snatches of low laughter running from
her lips at sight of each article was so
highly contagious that it soon set them
all afoat, and no one save 'Liz'beth
could have told what the laughter was
about.
"She must take off these queer shoes,
papa, and put on this pair of mine. She
will walk so much BETTER" said Nettie,
heart and soul alive to Liz beth's COM
fort in some extraordinary way and
laughing every time that little woman
did.
They're very handy shoes, Miss"
said 'Liz'beth, wishing TO do justice to
the poor shoes that had served her
double purpose SO long.
Nettie remained silent, although un.
convinced, while Liz beth, very soberly
and almost reluctantly, put them aside,
substituting pair of Nettie's, that fitted
perfectly, much to the latter's delight.
Liz beth took q step or two in the new
shoes, looked up shyly and sweetly, and
with it all so gratefully it seemed impos-
sible to leave off granting favors; there
fore, Mr.. Storm decided on the spot both
basket and bundle were too heavy for
Liz beth to carry, and he should 60 with
her; and then Nettie clamored to go, also,
and, as the morning was so fine, Aunt
Janet proposed to Mrs. Storm that they,
also, should walk around to the old
house, which they did, to the superan-
nuated aunt's surprise, who, being in her
dotage, believed the Judgment Day had
surely come.
Shall we 60 on and tell Of the peaceful