Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-03-15
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

San old bachelor?" said Honora May
wood.
That's what he told me, in just so
many words" sail Mrs. Pennypacker.
who stood on the threshold of her best
room, with her head tied up in a pocket
handkerchief, and hair-broom in her
hand, wherewith she gesticulated, after
q tragic fashion, as she talked, while
Miss May xood tall and slender as a
wild llly. stood in the hall with a roll
of music under her arms and her slight
figure wrapped ma shabby black shawl.
'.And he's willing to pay my price,
cash, every Sunday night. Never at
tempted to beat me down a penny, if
you'll believe it, my dear"
"Why should hep" said Honora.
''Most people do, my dear" said Mrs.
Pennypacker. "A wrinkled' old widow
woman like me, who has her living TO
earn is mostly fair game for everybody.
But he never objected to my terms. A
real gentleman, my dear-every inch Of
him. Bat he's a little particular I'm
afraid"
81 suppose most old bachelors are, !"
said Miss haywood, smiling.
''Yes, my dear-yesl' nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker. ''but this gentleman is
beyond the average, 1 think"
''And if he is?'
Nothing" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom-handle at
a stray moth-miller which was futtering
blindly against the garnet damask win
dow curtain; nothing except that one
don't quite know where to have him. He
drinks only English breakfast tea, and
he wants his pie-crust made with the
best Alderney butter, instead of lard, as
Is good enough for other people; and he
must have vent1lators to all the windows
and aA open CRATE, instead of the base
burning stove; and-I hope you'll not
feel offended, my dear-but he particu
larly dislikes a piano"
"Dislikes pianol" said the little
music teacher, reddening in spite of her
self.
'And he says, says he: 4 hope, Mrs.
Pennypacker, that there is no piano in
the house. A piano, says he. plays the
dence with my nervous system, with its
everlasting tum, tumr These were his
words, my dear. SO 1 courtesys, and
saws /: You'll not be troubled with one
here. sir And so, my dear, I'll be
grateful if you wont mind doing your
practicin' until he's out for his daily
walk-from to 3, just as regular as the
clock"
Miss haywood looked piteously upin
the landlady's face.
81 will do anything to oblige you,
Mrs. Pennypacker," she said earnestly.
II haven't 70 rgot how much L am in
debted to you, both in actual money,
and in kindness, which money can never
repay"
AID her soft blue eyes filled with tears
as she spoke.
my dear don't say word, said Mrs.
Pennypacker, hastily. you've been
sick, and you've got little behindhand
and its quite natural you should be
little lowspirited now and then. But
you mustn't get discouraged, Things
will look up after awhile. And you're
quite welcome to stay on here, until
you're able to settle up your little &C
count"
Honora haywood sighed as she
thought how often her little advertise
ment had been inserted in the daily
newspaper, without attracting the least
notice from the world of patrons and
pupils. There were so many "eapabie
music teachers, willing to give lessons
at moderate prices" nowadays, and how
was any one to know how sorely she
needed the money?
And as the time crept on and no pu-
pills came, Honora began to ask herseif
seriously whether she should go out III
some menial capacity, or stay gerteeliy
at home and starve.
"Clothes, ma'am."
Honora started from her reverie as
the washerwoman's stumpy little girl
banged herself like human batteriDg-
ram. up against the door with prepos
terousIy large basket on her arm.
YES" said Honora. coloring. Put
them down, Sally. But I'm afraid
isn't convenient to pay your mother
to-day"
"Mother didn't say nothin' bout the
pay," said Sally, w1ping her forehead
with a whisk of her feet, shifting herself
nearly off her feet. 81 was to leave the
clothes, with her 'umble duty, and she
'oped they'd suit; but it was that damp
on Monday and Tuesday as starch
wouldn't stick. And she 'opes you'll
excuse all mistakes, as they will be done
better next time"
81 dare say they are quite right,
said Honora with little sigh. as shs
marveled at this unexpected access o
courtesy on the part of her Miieslai
laundress.
But when Sally had stumped OH dow
stairs, her Tapping slippers beating
sort of tattoo as she went, and Miss May
wood took off the fringed towel tina