The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-05-10

off among strangers, dear boy-and q
bit of flannel sewing for one of poor
Bridget Maloney's ragged little tribe.
I'm so glad you like the things. Some
folks amt any hand fol boiled dinners
but must say like them. You get
get so much in q small compass, You
may cut me off two yards of that twelve
cent ruching, Flo, my dear. Now l
really must go, Never mind about the
bowl this time) Caleb Stone is very
sick again-taken worse suddenly, they
say-and Mirandy wants me to come
over tonight. He's dreadful fidgetty,
and wants to see me about something
particular, she says. Mirandy's no hand
to do for sick folks, you know, though
she's not to blame, never having been
brought to it and the short auburn
curls, slightly silvered, on each side of
the roundi smiling face nodded good
will and goodnight as she disappeared
in the cavernous depths of the rubber
cloak and stepped out into the rain.
6. Caleb Stone very sickl If he should
die we may have to hurry up the pay
ments to the lawyers or somebody"
said Flo, rather apprehensively, getting
her dish-pan ready.
"I shan't worry over that" answered
Nettie, blithely, as she tied on large
apron preparatory to dish wiping. She
had recovered her elasticity since the
advent OF the parsnips, etc.
eff there's an out-and out angel on
the face of this selfish earth it's Miss
| Mellavine. What difference good
meal makes in ones moral barometer.
1 was cross before supper, Flo dear,
said she, penitently giving her sister a
quick little dab of kiss on the left
ear, "if any one has right to be
cross it's you, shut up here all day
with no exercise except to do errands
in the evenings when I'm at home to
tend the store. You're twice as good
and patient as your unsanctified sister
Nettie."
Enough of Miss Mellavine's benefac.
tion remained to give flavor TO the
breakfast, and Nettie went to her work
with light heart in the dark of the
wintry morning. Her duty in the fac
tory was packing and labelling stock
ings. About the middle of the after
noon her quick eve detected something
wrong in pile of stockings that had
just been brought to her for boxing.
"How's this, Richard ?" said she, to
the messenger, "there must be a mis-
take. Mr.. Barker has given you the
wrong kind. These stockings are part
cotton and my labels say superfne all
WOOL"
The boy gave a knowing wink. 81
guess it's all right. Barker knowed
what he was about. NUNS the word
Miss Nettie, if you and 1 want to keer
our places"
With sparkling eyes and scarlet
cheeks Nettie carried the box of stock
ings into an inner room where sat Mr.
Barker, the overseer of her department
heavy, fabby man, with pale eyes
pale hair and a hanging under lip, anC
with him one or two clerks.
"These are not the right stockings
for my labels, Mr.. Barker. They are
half cotton"
Mr. Barker fumbled the stockings
with his thick fingers, looked at the
labels and then at her with a beer.
smile.
"My dear young lady, you surpris'
me. The stockings are all right. You
; legitimate business is simply to put OF
the labels which we provide"
Higher mounted the color in Nettie'
cheeks. Her voice trembled, but he
courage did not falter.
"Then I must decline to do it, Mr.
! Barker"
"Ho, no, indeed p said the beer,
Barker, with sudden energy. "Here
Simpson" to one of the dapper clerk
lust passing through the room, "B
kind enough to step to Mr.. Wigginf
desk and ask him to settle account
y with this exceedingly conscientiou
: young woman, and provide her with
! ticket of leave" and Barker turnel
abruptly on his heel.
Nettie's nerve and indignation carrie
/, her through the next few moments, an
: ! soon she had closed the factory-doo
: behind her.
'I know I've done right, and l shal
: find something to do. l hope FL
; won't be very much overcomep
Her sister looked up surprised at he
early return. On hearing the story sh
l gave half-hysterieal laugh.
"You match my experience, Nettit
That drummer for the Worcester fri
J was here. Do you notice anythin
Q stranger"
n Nnettie looked aroud the room, an
Y beheld showcase and rope-lines nearl
> : emptied.
d 1--WE hadn't the money ready, 20
know" said her sister, $50 the good
u had to go. He was 'vewy sahwy,
o 'disagweeable dewty,'-and all that sol
y of thing of couree. Such 'genteeP ki
If gloves he wore, and such a 'gentee
J, case he brought to pack the things in
t sat in stony silence, working ava.
and never lifted finger to help. Mea
n of me, wasn't it ?"
6 Nettie slowly sank into the littl
n rocker and stared helplessly.
"Now," said Flo, proceeding brisk
O | IL -. IL. lE Ahn nnnnA Ainrl io w hl