News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-01-25
NEEDLE AND THREAD.
"An old bachelor ~ said Honora May

That's what he told me, Just in sc
many words" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
who stood on the threshold of her best
room, with her head tied up in pocket
handkerchief, and a hair broom in hel
hand, wherewith she gesticulated, aftel
a tragic fashion, as she talked, while
Miss haywood. tall and slender as q
wild lily, stood in the hall, with a roll OF
music under her ann, and her slight
figure wrapped in a shabby shawl.
'.And he's willing to pay me cash
price every Sunday. Never attempted to
beat me down a penny, if you'll believe
it, my dear.
'.Why should he ?" said Honora.
''AIost people do, my dear, said Mrs
Pennypacker. "A vrin1Ied old widow
like me, who has her living to earn, is
mostly fair game for everybody. But he
never objected to my terms. 4 real
gentleman, my dear-every inch of him.
But he's little particular I'm afraid.
Il suppose most old bachelors are, :"
said Miss haywood, smiling.
Eyes, my dear-yes, nodded Mrs.
Pennypacker. But this gentleman is
beyond the average, I think
'sAnd if he is %
Nothing" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
making a dab with her broom-handle at
a stray moth miller which was futtering
blindly against the garnet damask win
dow curtains; nothing except that one
don't know where to have him. He
drinks only English breakfast tea, and
he wants his pie crust made with the best
Attorney butter. instead Of lard, as good
enough for other people; and he must
have ventiIators to all his windows, and
an open CRATE instead of the base bum
ing stove, and-I hope you'll not be of
Tended, my dear-but he particularly
disikes Il piano"
''Dislikes a piano?" said the little
music teacher, reddening in spite of her
self.
And he says, says he: I hope Mrs.
Pennypacker, that there Is no piano in
the house. A piano, says he, plays the
deuce with my nervous system, with its
everlasting tUm, tum = These were his
words, my dear. So I courtesies, and
SAYS I: You'll not be troubled with one
here. sir And so, my dear, I'll be
grateful if you won't mind doing your
practicin' until he's out for his daily
walk-from one to three, Just as regular
as the clock"
Miss haywood looked piteously up
into the landIady's face
1T will do anything to oblige you,
Mrs. Pennypacker," she said earnestly.
81 have not forgotten how much [ am
indebted to you both in actual money
and in kindness, which money can never
repay"
And her soft blue eyes filed with tears
as she spoke.
My dear, don't say a word, " said Mrs.
Pennypacker, hastily. you've been
sick and you've got little behindhand,
and its quite natural you should be low
spirited now and then. But you musn'
get discouraged. Things will look up
after a while And YOU are quite vel
come to stay ON here until you are able
to settle up your little account. -
Honora haywood sighed as she thought
how often her little advertisement had
been inserted in the daily newspapers,
without attracting the least notice from
the world Of patrons and pupils. There
were so many capable music teachers.
willing to give lessons at moderate
prices" nowadays and how was any one
to know how sorely she needed the
money?
And as time crept on and no pupils
came Honora began to ask herself
seriously whether she should go out in
some mental capacity OF stay genteelly
at home and starve.
CLOTHES, ma'am."
Honora started from her reverie as the
washerwoman's stumpy little girl banged
herself, like a human battering ram, up
against the door, with a preposterously
arge basket ON her arm.
Yes" said Honora, coloring. 'Put
en17~down, Sally. But I'm afraid
it isn't Convenient to pay your mother
to-day"
Mother didn't say nothin' bout the
pay" said Sally, wiping her forehead,
with a whisk Of her feet, smiling herself
nearly off her feet. Il was to leave the
clothes. with her 'umble duty. and she
'oped they'd suit but 1t was that damp
on Monday and Tuesday as starch would
not stick. And she 'opes you'll excuse
all mistakes, as they'll be done better
next time"
81 dare say they are quite right" said
Honora, with little sigh, as she mar
veled at this unexpected access Of cour-
tesy on the part of her AIilesian Iaun-
dress.
But when Sally had stamped of down
stairs, her tapping slippers beating
sort Of tattoo as she went, and Miss May
wood took off the fringed towel that COW
cred the basket of clothes, she gave q
little start
''Shirts," said Honora, ''and socks,
and turnover collars, No. Is, and great,
big pocket handkerchiefs, like the sails
Of a ship, and white vests, and-good-
ness mel what does it all mean? Mrs.
Mulvey has sent me some gentlemm's
wardrobe by mistake. 1 must send these
back at once.
But then Miss haywood looked down
at the articles in grave consideration.
81 never had a brother" unused Miss
haywood; ''and l can't remember my
father; but Of this I am quite certain. If
L had either one or the other, l should
thank a girl to mend their diIapidated
wardrobes, if they looked like this. And
Mrs. Mulyey can't send before night, and
unfortunately have nothing to do. SO
I'll Just mend this poor young fellows
clothes, whoever he may be. A half
starved theological student, perhaps.
training for tine Polync5ial Islands; or.
perhaps, newspaper reporter, or a pale
clerk under the dazzling sIylights of
some dry goods palace. At all events.
he's worse off than [ am, for he can't
mend his own clothes, and [ can
And the smiles dimpIei around Hon
ora Maywood's little rosebud Of mouth
as she sat down to darn holes. sew on
tapes, and insert patches.
''Heu never know who did it" said
Honora to herself, ''but I dare say he'll
be thankful and if one can get a chance
to do a little good in this world. one