New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-04-19
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

Ma ~ 100 Ars you very sure that he
THAT'S what he told me, Just in so
many words" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
who stood on the threshold of her best
room, with her head tied up in pocket
handkerchief, and hair-broom in her
hand, wherewith she gesticulated, after
a tragic fashion, as She talked, while
Miss haywood, tall and slender as a
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 willing to pay my price, cash,
every Sunday night. Never attempted
to beat me down a penny, if you'll be-
lieve it, my dear. He drinks only En-
glish breakfast tea, and he wants his
pie crust made with the best Attorney
butter, instead of lard, as is good enough
for other people,; and he must have ven
tilators to all the windows, and an open
CRATE, instead of the base-burning stove;
and-I hope you'll not be offended, my
dear-but he particularly disikes .
piano.
'Dislikes a piano?' 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
deuce with my nervous system, with its
everlasting tum, tum! These were his
words, my dear. So, my dear, I'd be
gratefulif you wouldn't mind doing your
practicing until he's out for his daily
walk-from one to three, 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. Il
have not forgotten how very much am
indebted to you, both in actual money,
and in kindness, which money can new
er repay"
my dear, don't say word," said
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily. you've
been sick. and you've got little behind
hand, and it's quite natural you should
be little low spirited now and then.
But you must not get discouraged. And
you're 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" nowadays, and how was any
one to know how very much she needed
the money?
And, as time crept on and no pupils
came, Honora began to ask herself seri-
ously whether she should go out in some
mental capacity, or stay genteelly at
home and starve.
''Clothes, ma am"
Honora started from her revery as the
washerwoman's stumpy little girl bang
ed herself, like human battering- ram,
up against the door, with preposter-
ously large basket on her arm.
EYES," said Honora, coloring. ''Put
them down, Sally. But I'm afraid
it isn't convenient for me to pay your
mother today
.''Mother didn't say nothing bout the
pay,' said Sally, .:she said was to
leave the clothes, with her tumble 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'll be
done better next time"
Il dare say they are quite right, y
said Honora, as she marvelled at this un-
expected access of courtesy on the part
of her Milesian laundress.
But when Sally had stumped off down
stairs, her tapping slippers beating q
| sort of tattoo as she went, Miss May
wood took off the fringed towel that
covered that basket of clothes, and gave
| little start.
| ''Shirts,' said Honora, 'sand socks,
and turnover collars No. 16, and great
i big pocket handkerchiefs, like the sails
of ship, and white vests, and good.
ness me, what does it all mean? Mrs
Mulvey has sent me some gentleman
wardrobe by mistake. l must send these
things back at once"
But then Miss haywood looked down
at the articles thoughtfully.
Il never had a BROTHER" unused Mis-.
haywood, ''and I can't remember my
father; but of this am quite certain
had either one or the other, SHOULD
thank any girl to mend their dilapidatet
wardrobes, if they looked like this. Ani
Mrs. Mulvey can't send before night, ant
unfortunately I've nothing to do, so II
just mend this poor fellows clothes
whoever he may be. A half starved
theological student. perhaps, training
for the Polynesian Islands; or, perhaps
newspaper reporter, or pale clerk
under the skylight of some dry good
house. At all events he is worse off thai
I am. for he cannot mend his own clothes
and can"
And the smiles dimpled around Ho
nora Maywood's little rosebud of
mouth, as she sat down to darn holes
sew on tapes, and insert patches.
''He'n never know who did it," sal,
Honora to herself, ''but dare say he'll
be thankful; and if one can get IA chanc
to do little good in this world, h
ought not to grudge ones time AM
trouble"
. And as Honora stitched away, sh
unused sadlv whether or not she Ouph