The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-06-21
NEEDLE AND THREAD.


wood.
"That's what he told me, j,st in so many
words" said Mrs. Pennypacker, who stood
on the threshold OF her best room, with
her head tied up in pockeihandkerchiei,
and hair broom in her haid, wherewith
she gesticulated, after a tragic fashion, as
she talked, while Miss haywood tall and
slender as wild lily, stood in the hall,
with a roll OF music under her arm, and
her slight figure wrapped in shabby
black shawl. "And he's wiling to pay my
price, cash, every Sunday night. Never
attempted to beat me down a penny, il
you'll believe it, my dear"
"Why should he?" slid Ebnora.
"NIost people do, my DEAL" said Mrs.
Pennypacker. "a wrinkld 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'sa little particular I'm afraid.
81 suppose most old bachelors are" said
Miss haywood, smiling.
ayes, my dear-yesl"-nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker. But this gentleman is be.
yond the average, think"
"And il he is?"
Nothing" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom handle at a
stray moth miller which was fnttering
blindly against the garnet damask window
curtains; nothing, except that one don't
know where to have him. He drinks only
English breakfast tea, and he.~""ss Isl
Mo o,r., ,,,ao n.:.l .ne best aiuerney
bnttos s.ssead OF lard, as is good enough
rother people; and he must have venti-
lators to all the windowst and an open
crate, instead OF the base burning stove;
and-l hope you'll not be offended; my
dear-but he particularly dislikesa piano"
"Dislikes piano?" said the little music
teacher, reddening in spite of herself.
"And he says, says he: ~ hope, Mrs.
PennybaCker, that there is no piano in the
house. "a piano. says he, plays the
deuce with my nervous system, with its
everlasting tum, tum?" These were his
words my dear. So I courtesies, and says
l: "You'll not be troubled with one here,
sir. And 80 my dear I'll be grateful if you
won't mind doing your practicin' while
he's out for his daily work-irom to 8,
just as regular as the clock"
Miss haywood looked piteously up in
the landlady's face.
II will do anything to oblige you, Mrs
Pennypacker," she said earnestly. 81
haven't forgotten how much am indebt-
ed to you, both in actual money and in
which money can never repay"
And her soft blue eyes filled with tears
as she spoke.
"Nly dear, don't say word" said Mrs
Pennybacker, hastily; you've been sick and
you've got little behind-hand, and its
quite natural you should be little low
spirited now and then. But you mustn't
get discouraged. Things will look us after
awhile. And you are quite welcome to
stay on here until you're able to settle up
your little account"
Honora haywood sighed as she thought
how often her little advertisement had
been inserted in the daily newspapers,
without attracting the least notice from
the world OF patrons and pupils. There
were so many capable music teachers,
willing to give lessons at moderate prices"
and how was any one to know
how sorely she needed the money?
And as the time crept on and no pupils
came, Honora began to ask herself serious
ly whether she should go outih some men
ial capacity or stay genteelly at home and
starve.
CLOTHES, ma'am."
Honora started from her reverie rs che
washer-woman's stumpy littlegirl banged
herself, like a human batterng-ram, up
against the door, with a preposterously
large basket on her arm.
eyes," said Honora, coloring. "Put
them down, Sally. But I'm afraid 1t
isn't convenient to pay your mother, to-
day"
"NTothOr didn't say nothin' bout the
pay" said Sally, wiping her forehead with
a whisk of her head, smiling hGselfofr her
feet. ~ was to leave the cloths with her
tumble duty, and she 'oped they'd suit;
but it was that damp on Mondayand Tues
day as starch wouldn't stick. And she
'opes you'll excuse all mistakes, as they'll
be done better next time"
81 dare say they are quite right" said
Honora, with little sigh, as she marvelled
at this unexpected access OF courtesy on
the part of her Milesian laund;ess.