Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-08
miss Melavine I" said Flo joyfully

1nSu ueAs uooI ueiBuooi, MISS MOI
Lavina Murray (who had given hersel
the name Of Mellavine" when LITTLE
child) was what Flo and Nettie called 81
walking sunshine factory" Manya time
had her kindly deeds help to tide then
over a threatened collapse in the commits
sary department, and her gifts were a'
delicately bestowed as they were timely.
A simple, unlearned woman, with heart
Of gold
You dear things. l hope you haven''
finished your tea, for l said to myself
this boiled dinner is so very savory thi,
afternoon (you know my habit Of two
meals day in winter, my dears) those
girls must have a taste. Don't get 6
chair mustn't sit down."
She did, however, and smiled on them
benevolently, while pretending not to see
just how acceptable was her neighborly
offering.
"Oh, I'm used to all sorts of days, you
know, Miss Melavine. That 5 o'clock
whistle haunts me in my dreams, but I
hope for something better some day.
These parsnips are perfectly lovely. Il
believe that is the current phrase these
days. And what have you done to pas:
away the time :"
"Oh, odds and ends, my dear-odds
and ends. A little mending and my
house work, letter to my sister Celinda's 8
son, because it's his birthday, off among
strangers, dear boy, and bit Of flannel
sewing for one Of poor Bridget Maloney's s
little tribe. I'm so glad you like these
things. Some folks amt any hand for
boiled dinners, bu, l must say l like
them. You get so much in small COM
pass. You may cut off two yards OF
that IL cent ruching, Flo, my dear Now
l really must go. Never mind about
the bowl this time. Caleb Stone is very
sick again--taken worse suddenly, they
say, and Mirandy wants me to come over
tonight. He is dreadful fidgety, and
wants to see me about something partic-
ular, she says. Mirandy is no hand to
do for sick folks, you know, though she's
not to blame, never having been brought
to it" and the short auburn curls slight
ly shivered on each side Of the round,
smiling face, nodded "good will and
good night as she disappeared in the
cavernous depths Of the rubber cloak and
and stepped out into the rain.
"Caleb Stone very sick If he should
die we may have to hurry up the pay
ments to the lawyers or somebody" said
Flo, rather apprehensively, getting her
dish pan ready.
81 shan't worry over that" answered
Nettie, bli,hely, as she tied on large
apron preparatory to dish wiping. She
had recovered her elasticity since the ad-
vent of the parsnips
eff there's an out-and-out angel on
the face of this selfish earth it is Miss
Melavine. What a difference good
meal makes in ones moral barometer. |
was cross before supper, Flo, DEAR" said
she penitently, giving her sister quick
dab of kiss on the left ear, "if any one
has right to be cross it's you, shut up
here all day-with no exercise except to
do errands in the evenings when I'm at
home. You are twice as good and
patient as your unsa,is6ed sister Nettie."
Enough of Miss Melavine'e benefaction
remained to give flavor to the break
fast, and Nettie went to her work with q
light heart in the dark of the wintry
morning. Her duty in the factory was
packing and labelling stockings. About
the middle of the afternoon her quick eve
detected something wrong in pile of
that had just been brought to
her for boxing.
"How's this, Richard :" said she to
the messenger, there must be some mis-
take. Mr.. Barker has given you the
wrong kind. These stockings are part
cotton, and these labels say "superfne
wool"
The boy gave knowing wink. 81
guess it's all right. Barker knowed what
he was about. NUNS the word, Miss
Nettie, if you and | want to keep our
places"
With sparkling eyes and scarlet cheeks
Nettie carried the box of stockings into
an inner room where sat Mr.. Barker, the
overseer of her department, heavy,
flabby man, with pale eyes. pale hair, and
q hanging under lip, and with him one
or two clerks.
"Those are not the right stockings for
my labels, Mr.. Barker. They are half
cotton"
Mr.. Barker fumbled the stockings with
L.: IL c,cn~o looGaI ~ tho Ia hole q mr.