The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-07-13
"KATIE'S WORK."
HOW A GIRL SAVED A MILL.

Phil Payson burst into the little room
where his mother and his sister Katie
sat sewing, his face flushed, his eyes
shining, and his cap swinging high
over his head.
"Why, Phil !"
"Give three cheers, mother. Dance
like dervish, Kate I'm going to be
night Waterman in Mr.. Medway's mill,
at fifteen dollars a month. Oh, mother,
amt you glad?'
Every glad indeed" answered Mrs.
Payson. and for moment she looked
pleased enough to satisfy Pills high
est expectations. Then her face
clouded.
But your school, Phil dear 1 can't
have you leave that"
81 don't mean to, mother said
Phil, earnestly. "It's all fixed just
right. I'll study nights-it will help
keep me awake, you know-and Miss
Cary is going to hear me recite every
afternoon at o'clock. She offered to,
mother. Oh. mother. do say you're
glad, rcally!'
Mrs. Payson pulled her tall boy
down and kissed him tenderly on both
glowing cheeks. AS for Katie, she
was literally on tiptoe with delight.
She was a little brown gypsy, with
dark eyes full of fire and fun.
Good for Miss Cary" she cried,
twirling lightly around on her toes.
"Isn't She just splendid?"
"She is very kind" said Mrs. Pay
son, smiling; land 1 am Gad, Phil,
more glad than 1 can tell you. How
came Mr.. Midway to give you the
place? 1t is a very responsible posi-
ton, you know"
EYES," said Phil, and he blushed
and hung his head. esquire Deems
recommended me, mother. Mr.. Med
way said he told him l was a very
trustworthy boy. Pm sorry said
such hard things about him."
Pm sure he deserved it," Katie
flashed forth, " for advising mamma to
put us out that is just what he
neutrality-suspicious. away, and
offering to find good homes for us.
The idea What would home he
without mamma? and what would she
do without us, I'd like to know"
"What, indeed 7" echoed her mother.
al can't tell, Katie. But Squire Deems
thought he was acting fer the best.
He has been very kind all through our
trouble. and am sure it was his inf1u-
ence that procured Phil this situation"
but it's mean for Phil to do it all, "
argued Katie. Il wish l could do
something"
Phil wrinkled his nose at his sister
and laughed.
"l'm the man O. this house." said he.
"You and mother are ladies, Katydid.
don't mean you shall do much more
sewing for people"
my fifteen-year man." said his
mother, laughing too; but there were
tears gathering in her eyes.
And Katie dimpled and then relaxed
into swift gravity.
81 know what 1 can do, Phil" she
said, going close to her brother. 81
can hold up your hands the way that
somebody in the Bible did. l can see
the mill from my window, and every
night-every night, Phil, before l &C
to sleep, 1 shall ask God to take cart
of my brother; and every time In
awake shall look down at you, so you
needn't feel lonesc me-"
"Something of the guardian ange
style?" laughed Phil, trying to jok,
away the moisture he felt creeping int
his eyes. you're trump, Katie
but of course that's all nonsense-th,
looking out, you know"
Katie wasn't sure of that, however
and she meant to do just as she said
it were. She would feel as if she wer
somehow helping Phi, and that woul
be comfort. Their little dwelling
though on the same side of the rive
as the mill, was above it, and around
wide bend; and so the long low struC
ture under the river bunk was i
plain view from the window O
Katie's little chamber. She KEEP
her word faithfully; and once o
twice every night she would creep on
Of her warm nest t. the window, an
lcok down across the bend to the mil
Often, not always, she could see Phil
light shining out of the engine room
and sometimes she watched it go froI
window to window as Phil went hi
,ourly rounds over the mill. AS fl
Phil, am sure that, though he woul
hardly have acknowledged it, the lionel
place where his nights were passe
seemed far less lonely to him when /
remembered that Katie might at an
minute be looking from her windo
md thinking of him.
So month passed by, and Phil pc
formed his duties to Mr.. Melway's e.
tire satisfaction. There were som
indeed, who considered him much t.
young for his post, and did not hes
tate to say so. But Mr.. Midway alwa
answered with smile:
well, Squire Deems recommend