The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-02-24
HELPING HANDS.

1t[Gt UNN lIHiNCOI
"It's going to be snnppin' cold night,
mother, and so I tell you" said Miss
Elsa Robbins, warming her claw-like
fingers over the blaze of an nrmful of
pine logs which she had j7st flung on
the fire. "And I'm very glad, mother
that we've got the russet apples safe into
the cellar, for its on them place my
main dependence for my interest money
this year"
Mrs. Robbins sat knitting in the cash
ioned rocker--a wrinkled, bright-eyed
little oil woman, whose caps we're always
spotlessly clean, and whose dresses never
seemed to wear out.
"Frost, en- said she.
II rather guess So" responded Elsa,
with a shiver. "Stars shiuin' like so
many little diamond specks, and new
moon behind the pine!''
"Well, it's a good thing we amt stint
ed for wood" cheerfully observed Mrs.
Robbins.
You're always finding out some good
thing or other, mother" said Elsa, lit
tie petulantly.
"La, child, the world is full of emf
said Mrs. Robbins, who had sweet
plaintive voice like n whip poor-wiIl
"The L ord, He's deal better to us than
we deserve"
"Well, them" quantity remarked Elsa,
II may as we'll tell you now as ever, that
the roofs leakin' dreadful bad"
"Leakin', is ij?" said Mrs. Robbins.
"WhersP"
"Up garrett" said Elsa. "over the
west store-room."
"Well, it's lucky it ain't leakin' over
the rooms we live in." said the inveter-
ate old optimist. "If it was to leak al
all, it couldn't have selected better
spot"
"And the fence is down in the north
lot" remarked Elsa, land Neighbor Car
ter's cattle are all in!'
"Bless mer' snid Mrs. Robbins
"Well, there amt much but rock and
mullein-stalks in that lot, anyhow, and
Neighbor Carter don't half feed his cat
tie. I'm glad the poor creatures can havt
a good bite for on,e in their livesl'
"And I've had letter from Walter
widow" added Elsa; ''anj she wants Il
come here with her children"
Tell her to come" said Mrs. Rob
bins. 1T amt a fine city place, AM
maybe she and the little ones will 6nt
it bard to make out on mush and mo
lasses and baked potatoes, as we do
But she's my nephew's widow, and shell
be welcome here"
"But, mother" said Elsa, "thinI
what you are doing. Another family il
this cramped-up little house-a lot O
noisy children, racing and screaming
about-A fine lady to be waited on, VIII
is certainly as able to take care of her
self as we are to take caro- of her. An
yoI know that we owe large bill Mt tn
grocer's, and we haven't ptid for th
COW yet, aud the t,ilJress business i
getting duller every year, now that folk
haYe taken the notion to 60 to the cit
for their little boys suits. And
"Well, child-well," screnely intsl
posed the old lady, "God will provide
He always does. Aud it's dreadful
thing to be widow aud homel, S,
Write TO her, Elsa, and tell her I
come"
"But she has no money TO travC
with" blun'ly added Elsa. "She want
us to send her twenty dollars. She ha
written to Cousin Marrett. up at th
Grange. and they won't even answer lie
letter"
"Dear, dear! that's bad!' cooed Mr.,
Robbins. mo money at ali. Poo
soul! poor SOUL"
"Weil-but mother" pleaded Elsr
ave haven't got any money. either
spare"
"There's the chicken money" sal
Mrs, Robbins, looking wislfully up.
"But that was to buy you warIi
new cloak, mother"
"Well, I'll make the cid gray shaw
do for another year" said Mrs. Robin
"And Walters widow must have none
10 pay her travelling expenses poo
thing! 1t was very wrong Of Olivia Ma
rett not to answer her letter-very, Bi
Olivia and her husband WAS always clos
rs their nature, do s'pose."
And Elsa broke ont laughing. wi
a tear in the corner of her hard. gri
eyes.
"You dear old motheTT said she.
believe should have lost faith in huni