The Republican journal., 1883-10-04
Only Five Dollars.
BY ROSE TERRY COOK Z.

BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.
"Say. Della, will you go into Water
bury with me Tomorrow y
"I'd like to, Mary wish | could but
think it will not be possible. Luman
finds it difficult to collect money from his
patients this year. and don't know how
to spare a cent"
"Well, was going to say if you'd go
with me, I'd pay your fare for your com
pany. 1 never traded much there, and
don't know the stores, or where to go for
my purchases; and want to call at Aunt
Whites, too, but hate to 90 alone"
''It don't seem right Mary, for you to
pay my fare, but if can really help you,
why, | shall be glad to 90. | ought to
get my Mary a Sunday hat, and Luman
some stockings, and myself calico, and
have a greater variety there to chose
from"
Mrs. Peck was a country doctors wife
Does my reader know all that means I?
She had to economize, because the doe
tors bill is the last bill anybody ever
thinks Of paying in the country and a
good doctor, which means good man =
sympathetic as well as skillful, and kind
hearted as keen, -forbears, even to his
detriment, to press the settlement of bis
accounts; seeing as lie only can see, how
hard it is to be both poor and sick.
Blessings on country doctors Out of
their ranks Il whole calendar of saints
might be canoniZed but the good Lord
only knows how good are these minister
ing disciples of His, who go about as He
did doing good.
And their wives have a harder time
than if they were missionaries. Many a
dark hour did Mrs. Peck watch and wait
for her doctor, knowing well that in
storm or calm through the wild bursts Of
thunder, or treacheIous and binding
SHOWS, his solitary little sulky was abroad
| on the rough hill tops or in lonely valleys,
holding almost her life in its trail shelter,
tugged by the study horse that was only
less worked than its master
All alone with her little girl, She spent
the greater part OF every day and night ;
hard work preventing anxiety from do
ing its worst upon her, though You could
see its traces i'll the gray lines among the
soft waves Of her hair, and in the sad
dark eyes that when she was not smiling
looked tired with past tears.
Mary Peck was the doctors sister
Having large school in a village some
miles beyond Dennis, where her brother
lived, she frequently spent her vacations
at his house.
1t Was now the spring recess OF TWO
| weeks, and she wanted much to 90 to
| Waterbury, twenty-five miles east by
rail to do her shopping for the summer.
She had a good salary and could well
afford to give Della this outing, SO the
tired little woman gladly consented to
| 90.
The doctor literally had not cent in
| his purse to give her; but she had a mack
at raising poultry, and while their own
table was well furnished from the great
coop as she called it, in the yard, the
supertiuous eggs had been readily bought
at the village store, and she had laid up
ten dollars, devoted to shoes, stockings
and calico, absolutely needed; for she
did hate to ask the doctor for money
| Not that he grudged it-never-but he
never had it. Most of his bills that were
| paid, We're paid in produce; neither pota-
toes, buckwheat, pork, straw, nor oats
would serve her purpose. She must
have money for her purchases. So she
set out for Waterbury with Mary, leav-
ing little Mary with the minister's wife
and was soon plunged into the attractive
precincts of the Waterbury dry goods
| shop.
She bought her little girl pretty
straw hat, and some ribbon to trim it, look
ing sharply about her to see how il
should be trimmed.
This cost two dollars and Il half
| Then came some socks for the doctor
and four pairs OF these, strong and service
able, cost another dollar.
In the meantime Mary was looking at
such pretty things that Mrs Pecks eyes
| glistened. These soft suitings were not
for her, nor that graceful wrap of gray
cloth with its heavy fringe; but she was
generous and gentle both, and it gave
her almost as much pleasure to help
| Mary select her things as if they were to
replace her own black alpaca and worn
| shawl
When it came her turn to buy a calico
she was as pleased as if it had been a
summer silk, to find neat skirt and
jacket Of pretty pattern, all made up, fol
a dollar and a half The rest Of hel
money must be saved for shoes. These
she could get at the store in Dennis; a
par for her and pair for Mary.
shopping is attractive, but it absorbs
money very fast. When Mary Peck had
bought her suit, her wrap, gloves, stock
ngS and handkerchiefs, ordered a white
chip bat TO be trimmed with pale blue
ribbon and blush roses-just the thing
to decorate her lovely complexion, dark
curls and violet eyes-she found that hel
purse had given out.
shopping!'
eyes, dear"
"And have you any money left y
Eyes; five dollars and ten cents"
"Oh, how lucky Will you lend me the
five dollars? | am really penniless
My hat came to more than thought il
would cost, and as soon as | get back to
Charlemont, I'll send the money to you.
"Certainly DEAR" and Mrs. Peck drew
out the precious bill, and handed it t
Mary, not doubling what she said, ant
glad she was able to help her.
The ten cents she spent in oranges fol
little Mary, half blaming herself for Tho
extravaganza, but then Mary was bel
only child, and delicate creature at that
holding her mothers heart in her hand
as such children do.
They got back at night to Dennis very
tired. The day but one after, Mary re-
turned to Charlemont. Two days later
little-whom for distinction her mother
called May-came home from school will
her shoes broken across the sole They
must be mended. The cobbler was
patient of the doctors so the shoes were
sent to him, and May scut1ed about in
pair of mOccasins and took slight cold