The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-03-30

But the work in the mill was too hard
for delicate woman like Mrs. Evans,
and the end of the year found the fam
ilv in a sOrrier condition than ever.
The poor mother was i'll in bed. The
last penny was gone from the purse,
there wasn't a mOuthful of food in the
closet, and the rent of the little cottage
had been due for nearly two weeks.
Poor Dollie, who was twelve years
old now, felt a great responsibility on
her shoulders, and did not know which
way to turn. She felt that she was able
to do a great deal of work, but no one
would hire her because she was too little.
She did manage to earn a few pennies
every day, by taking care of Mrs. Cart
er's baby, while she went to the mill
to carry her husbands dinner, and
these pennies she had expended to-
day in a bit of oatmeal and milk for
mamma; and now Nell was crying with
/ hunger, and viii, who had been out in
search of errands to do, came home
1 with empty hands and a very dOleful
/ little face, for him. Rob, who had been
/ favored with a 1,ice bone by the butcher,
/ who came round in a cart, was the only
one of the family who did not seem de-
] jected. Even the old parrot seemed to
/ feel that she was passing through seri-
] GUS blilleS. anu was Silent anu InOIlon-
less upon her perch.
What shall we do, WHIP said
/ Dollie, clasplng her hands tightly to-
gether. The doctor said mamma
must have broth and plenty of nutri-
/ tious food, andwe can starve ourselves.
VIII shook his curly head dismally.
- / could pick up shavings, said he,
" only they have fell clear down, so you
can't get anything for EN- even if folks
would buy 'em at all.
" Fallen, YOU mean,'' said correct
Dollie, whom distress of mind did not
render less fastidious. /" TAere must
be something that we can do to earn a
little money. We must have money,
| Will, and that at once. We haven t had
any dinner, we had only a crust for
breakfast, and we shall have no supper"
Suddenly a bright thought struck her
as her eve CHANGED to fall on the hand
organ.
80! 1 ten you what we will do,
Will" said she, "we'll take the hand
organ and 90 round with it as the men
do. Don't you know what a stir it
makes about the mills when an organ
grinder comes out from the city? and
haven't seen but one this summer
'How can we carry itP'' said Win.
It's awful heavy, and l haven't any
straps to strap it on to my back like the
men do"
..Why can't we wheel it in your
wheelbarrowP" said she, after mo-
ment's thought.
Jolly, so we canr' said Will Let S
go right off, Dolly. You can play, and
will pass round the hat"
It's a dreadful thing to do, it seems
almost like begging, but perhaps we
shall be able to collect enough to buy
something nice for mamma and our own
supper besides"
And bidding Nell to take good care of
mamma, and not let her know what was
transporting, Dollie put on her bonnet,
and she and Win went down the street,
wheeling the hand-organ.
1t was noon of warm April day, and
the girls and men at the mill, during
eating their lunches, were seated in lazy
groups in the open doorways or prone
nading in couples about the grounds I'M
til the great bell should call them back
to their labOrs.
VIII wheeled the organ quite near the
buildings, and Dollie began to play a
waltz. Whereupon all the girbs and the
/ younger portion of the men commenced
to dance Justify and with great glee.
Splendid music to waltz by, de-
clare" was heard from every direction.
''Where do you s'pOse those children
got hand-organ? Can't you play a
little faster, sis?''
VIII, taking the advantage of a pause,
modestly passed around his hat, and
quite a shower of pennies fell into it.
Nearly every one contributed one or two
pennies, and many more moved to give
as many as five; for they enjoyed the
fun, and did not dread to part with a
few cents, as thriftier people, who have
much more, often do. The children
went at the right time and to the right
place.
Dollie thanked them with a very pref
ty blush; and when the bell rang, and
they were obliged to go to their work
they said; - Come again; some day
won't you?''
Dolly" said Win, when they had
got out of hearing, what pile of mon
ey we've goti Let SIT down here by
the side of the road and find out how
much
! 1--WE have three dollars lacking a few
cents" said Dollie, after a few eagel
moments spent in counting, "but dc
not let us 90 home quite yet. There are
a quantity of children in those little
, houses by the river, and we may picl
, up a few pennies there"
! There is new brig in this morning,
said Win, looking down the river. -
wonder where She came from. Tn
going to be a sea-cap'n when grow big
! Say, Dollie, what are you going to getfo
/, mamma, and what are we going to have
for dinner? I'm almost starved" hC
added, after n little pause.
: g. 1t will depend on how much NOR,
: money we get, Will 1 don't care t
spend very much of this, for we MAJ
not be able to get any more for whole
! week"
I Oh, yes we can, said VIII; eve cal
go all round the lot with the organ, anC
, get a great deal
: A tall brown-beardedm man who looked
= strangely familiar was coming TOWARD
t them. He was evidently a sailor, anC
:. Dollie regarded him wistfully, thinking
e of Uncle George. She could not re
+, member how Uncle George looked
4 for four years had passed since he wen
e away, and still she fancied that thi
; strange gentleman looked like him, blu
: perhaps it was only because he wor,
a sailor clothes. He was walking as
5 he were in a great hurry, and merely
; CHANGING at the children, was Fastening
: on, when his eye suddenly fell on the
I hand-organ in the wheelbarrow.
j MY goodness! are you DOlli'
2 Evans?'' said he, stopping. and pushing
= Dollie's hat from her forehead. Tina
$ used to be Dollie's hand-orgSn, any
e way" Aud without waiting for
4 reply, he caught her up and kissed her
r a. And this is VIII. Win, why, yoV
/ young rascal, why didn't you have
o some Evans look in your face, so tina
, your uncle would know you when h,
e met you?'
e Il haven't got no uncle" said VIII
e / whose grammar was ALWAYS uncertain