The Baltimore County union., 1882-11-25
HOW THEY HELPED HER.
ny ROSE HARTwIcH THORPE.

al can't afford il. Celia. wish |
could but the dress alone would cost
fifteen dollars, to say nothing of the
trimmings and the dressmaker's BILL. :"
"Can we manage to make il ourselves,
mother ? The pattern that Miss Bowen
cut for me fits beautifully, and I'm sure
that we can make il as nicely as any one,
If we try. Mr.. Dunstan is coming to
take possession of Dunstan Hall in two
weeks. He is young, wealthy and un-
married he will call here, of course,
as father has superintended the repairs
OF the hall, and has had the care Of things
since his uncle's death. Don't you sup
pose that father can add little more to
the amount already in your possession ?
So much depends on my having some
thing nice and becoming to wear, and
sp my making fine appearance during
| tie next few weeks"
~ kuow ia, q" replied her mother, with
awcary sigh "but I've only the twenty.
five dollars with which to get you and
Pet each 4 dress. ! know that your
father can't spare another cent this
month, and wouldn't think Of asking
him for it. Ifyou get the dress you have
set your heart upon having, it will take,
at the very least calculation, twenty dol.
lars for dress material, lace and buttons,
even il We make il ourselves. This
would leave only five dollars for Pets
dress"
Little Mrs. Haywood emptied the
contents of her purse in her lap as she
spoke, and carefully counted the shining
silver pieces once more, vainly hoping
TO find that she had been mistaken in
the amount il contained. She turned
the purse upside down, and shook it
vigorously /; she pinched and patted its
empty sides, in order to make sure that
no stray dimes had slipped between the
outside and the lining. Her efforts
were of no avail, however. Count the
liyie pile as often as she might, it always
summed up just twenty-five dollars and
and three cents.
"Pet's only little girl, and il won't
be so serious matter il she isn't dress
cd handsomely" began Miss Celia, APP
pealingly. Then drawing her chair
closer to her mothers, lowering her voice
and glancing apprehensively around, she
added: al have passed my twenty sixth
birthday, you know, and must catch
a husband this summer, il ever intend
to. Pet will look very nice in pretty
Calico"
"You bet she will !" came like small
blast from behind the sofa.
Miss Celia gave a terrible scream, as
a great, brown ball rolled out into the
room, and unfolded itself like man,
moth jack-knife.
First, two bare, sunburned feet were
thrust out, then head and arms became
visible, and finally small terror Of the
household-viz., the little brother-as-
sumed sitting posture, and eyed his
LADY sister with twinkling, elfish eyes.
al always thought that you's long
time a gettin' past twenty. Pet and I've
had six birthdays since you've had a
single one," he began laughing immod-
erately; "an' you've always had a
dreadfully old look for your age, too. "
"Dick I" said Miss Celia, turning
upon him so suddenly that in trying to
dodge the expected blow he turned a
double somersault and landed in heap
near the door.
The young lady's features assumed a
meditative expression, and when she
again addressed him her tones were soft
and persuasive.
"T'm going to trust you, Dickie, with
| n nraaf ea..as Il, fact Isxx, s,n.n0 to
make a confdant Of you, and I'll buy
you a pint Of peanuts the next time 60
to town IL you will find Pet and come
with her to the maple tree in about hall
an hour"
"I'll do iti 10 he cried, springing up
like 4 rubber ball, and darting out Of the
Ippm with surprising agility.
GA whole pint o. peanuts for jest goin'
out to the maple tree" he soliloquized.
"Cracky amt she a-gittin' generous
in her old age1 Said she's a-goin' to
make a confidant o. me. Now she
needn't think I'm a-goin' to jine the
church, for I shan't do il. The minis
ter baptized six confdants last Sunday;
but 'twould take more'n one pint o.
peanuts to get me into the water with
my best breeches on. They'd never be
Ct to be seen after that, an don't gel
new duds 50 often that can afford tc
spile 'em jest to please her."
"Mother," remarked Miss Celia, seri'
ously, after Dicks exit, al am going tc
engage both the children to assist me
this time. They have been the means