Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-03
THEFIFTY-DOLLhRP PILL

Cuc never uotu HUi pdliOl 1bElc
was the extravaganza of an extra
fire to be consldered-thef fact that
the best rag carpet, woven by her
own skillful hands must not be worn
out too recklessly, the dread posi-
bility of sunshine fading out the
chair covers. Mrs. Dane was an
economist. She believed in making
everything last as long as she could.
And she had made the kitchen her
headquarters, and at there sewing
with her feet comfortably balanced
on the stone hearth, the saucepan of
apples bubbling away at her back,
and the sound of her husbands axe
ringing from the back shed as he
cut and split the kindling piled up
there in we'll seasoned logs.
She was little, wrinkled face
woman of fifty, with stiff ribbon
bows to her cap, hair that seemed
dried up instead of silvered land blue
eyes that twinkled as though they
had discovered perpetual motion.
To save money was her chief aim in
life. The very mittens she was now
knitting were to be exchanged for
sugar, tea, spices and all such neces-
sary articles at the village grocery.
ga penny saved is just as good as
penny earned" was the rule by
which she shaped her life.
sI'm glad that | took that money
out of the savings bank yesterday"
said Mrs. Dane to herself, as the
bright needles clicked merrily away.
''People say it isn't quite safe, and
one can't be too careful. But then
again, there's danger Of burglars,
though, to be sure, no burglar" she
added with a complacent inward
chuckle, "would ever think of look
ing in the fold of the old Clinkerville
Clarion newspaper, in the wall pock-
ct on the wall. It's the bureau
and the trunks and the locked-up
closets that they aim for. A fifty
dollar bill clean, crisp, new fifty
dollar bill And all savings, too, out
of the house money"
Just then there sounded a knock
at the door, and in walked old DIR.
Bridgeman, rubicund with the
touch of the March wind, and muf-
fled up in the furs of the wild ami
mails which he had shot from time to
time.
"Good- day. Mrs. Dane, good day !"
said he. "No, thank you; l can't
sit down; I'm deal to busy for
that. But l heard yesterday that
you took fifty dollars out from the
savings bank"
eyes" said Mrs. Dane, her face
involuntarily hardening, 81 did"
eve are taking up a subscription
to get little lame Dick Bodley a cart
and dunkey so he can go round ped
ding tinwaie," said the doctor. cit
is pretty hard for any one afflicted
as he is to get along, and if you can
help us little"
"But l cannot" interrupted Mrs.
Dane, in breathless manner. 1.-The
money was an investment. l don't
propose to cut it up in little bits"
cts a deed of charity, Mrs. Dane,
to help poor lame Dick Bodley."
81 dare say" said Mrs. Dane, a
little irritably. "But l never pre-
tend to be a charitable charter any,
how"
The old doctor went away, and the
next visitor was Helen Hursh, a
rosy-cheeked girl of eighteen.
excuse me, Mrs. Dane, but Lar
ry Johnson was at the bank yester-
day, and he tells me you drew out
your money"
81 wonder if all creation knows
l drew my money!" thought she.
But she said nothing, only knit
away, until her needles seemed to
glitter and dance like points of fire,
81 am trying to get boarding
house at Mrs. Swipes )" said Helen,
coloring, $50 as to be near the dis
trict school, where l am to teach in
the spring. But Mrs. Swipes wants
payment in advance by the month,
and unfortunately we have used up
all our slender means in providing
my outfit. A teacher, you known,