The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-27

quioH.y' III naive and extremely bust
heSS-nXe manner, which became her as
wen as the smiles. ''It won't take me
50 long to get Auntie in the ''Old Ladies'
Home over in the town yonder, cause
earn more money here. I've got fifty
cents put away already. Auntie dom t
know how much it will take; either. ="
very lnquiringly the sweet eyes rested
upon each face a moment. while the
smlies again died out, showing how
heavy this idea lay at the little heart.
And when the old auntie is we'll
housed and kindly looked after at the
Home, then what is to become of Liz
Detn! questioned Aunt Janet, gravely,
" whose voice was suspicion of huski.
ness. $50
"Me! o! goodness! 1t don't matter
ABOUT me, you know. Why, can sell
lakewood and live over yonder, and visit
Auntle; and she'll have good dresses
they give 'em good dresses, wouldn't
wonder! o! no. 1t don't matter about
me at ALL"
Llz beth, having disposed of herself in
TINS summary manner, smiled content
eddy all around. tH'
II should give you the money that
would place Auntie in that Home al
once, and spare you all that long toll
what would you do them" asked Mr.,
Storm, gravely.
FORA moment the soft eyes rested upon
his lace, then the sweet lips quivered
painfully, as she answered, between 6
smile and tears:
/ fesI dny,,t tb;nE ,,o,, ,x,o,,Id IL 4L.4 -.
but, if you did, l would go right home
up to the big room where the chimney il
out and the roof knocked in, and I'd get
right down on my knees and I'd pray
very loud. I'd ask God to bless you for.
ever and ever and ever, and to give il
back to youagain some day."
Not even kettie laughed at Liz beth
earnestness. Mrs. Storm thought her
a very peculiar child, quite unselfish
MIR. Storm vas hastily comparing her
short life with his own, to his shame and
discomfort; while Aunt Janet was de-
Gliding, if her brother failed to carry out
the idea he had advanced, she should
do it.
MIR. Storm was quite in earnest, how
ever; and, after whispered consulta.
ton with his wife, while Aunt Janet
emptied the BASKET directly before the
porch steps, he drew Liz beth close be-
side him, and, with the wistful ewes
fixed steadily upon him, he gave the
promise that sent thrill after thrill
through the grateful little heart, while
the smiles chased each other so radiantly
and swiftly around the tender lips. Mr..
Storm drew the golden head to his
bosom in sudden tenderness and pity.
While Aunt Janet was filling Liz
'beth's basket, without ceremony, from
the store-room, Nettie and Mrs. Storm
were searching through Netties rooms
and closets for superauous clothing; and
as Nettie was found to possess an abun.
dance of the latter, their arms were filled
when they returned, later, and exhibited
before astonished Liz beth every article
that henceforth was to be her own.
To say that Liz beth beamed would
not express it. She dubbed and quite
run over with glee. The mad, wild
snatches Of low laughter running from
her lips at sight of each article was sc
highly contagious that it soon set them
all ahoat, and no one save Liz beth
could have told what the laughter was
about.
"She must take off these queer shoes
papa, and put on this pair of mine. She
will walk so much better" said Nettie
heart and soul alive to Liz beth's com
fort in some extraordinary way and
laughing every time that little woman
did.
They're very handy shoes, Miss
said Liz beth, wishing to do justice t.
the poor shoes that had served hel
double purpose so long.
Nettie remained silent, although un
convinced, while Liz beth, very soberly
and almost reluctantly, put them aside
substituting a pair of Nettie's, that fitted
perfectly, much to the latter's delight.
Liz beth took step or two in the new
shoes, looked up shyly and sweetly, and
with it all so gratefully it seemed impos.
sible to leave off granting favors; there.
fore, Mr.. Storm decided on the spot both
basket and bundle were too heavy for
Liz beth to carry, and he should go with
her; and then Nettie clamored to 60, also,
and, as the morning was so fine, Aunt
Janet proposed to Mrs. Storm that they,
also, should walk around to the old
house, which they did, to the superan.
nuated aunt's surprise, who, being in her
dotage, believed the Judgment Day had
surely come.
Shall we go on and tell of the peaceful
ending of the old Aunt's days in the
Home" she had coveted so many weary
years, until hope died and age had bent
almost double the poor form and bleached
silver white her hairp
Enough that, at last, the poor, feeble
prayers were answered, and the great,
unselfish hope of Liz beth's life was
gratified.
"Did Liz beth live alone after that in
the old house and sell fat wood?'"
o, no! and we can do no better now
than leave the past, skipping over to the
present, gathering up link or two of
the intervening years from no less per-
sonage than Aunt j anet herself.
That is my Liz beth over yonder,"
she said to us; but we cannot convey
through pen and paper the pride accom-
panying the words.
We looked curiously, for the facts re-
garding Liz beth had interested us
strangely; and lower down the beach we
clarIn,. % rolNn1 %