The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-12-06
PILLS FIFTY GENTS.
BY JENNIE L. WARREN.

llENHAM-Martna against hlchaIu d.,
for cruelty
Many there were who, if they saw the
names at all under the head of ''Divor-
ces'' in their Chicago daily, had no
time to give to thoughts of ruined
homes, dead hopes, and broken hearts.
The world becomes used to the record
of misery.
Several months after the above names
found their place in the papers, Rich
ard B. Denham's divorced wife, with
her three boys, boarded the cars bound
for thrifty Michigan town located on
the Michigan Central Railroad. Tho
Oldest bov, Phil, was 1O-year-oid
sturdily built lad, old for his years, and
showing thought for his mother in car
ing for his 5-year-old twin brothers,
Harry and Willie. Through many
weary day the only comfort Phils moth
er had found was in his CHEEKY ''Never
mind, mother, wait until I'm bigger,
and then you shan't have such times as
these"
The town in Michigan was chosen as
their home because Mrs. Denham knew
that the minister who had married her
was located there, and she hoped that
buIOugH HIS luIueuC0 SHc IulSuL mOE0
readily gain means of support for her
self and family. She would never go
back to her girlhood home in the East
and to those she loved best, she told
herself. Never!
She had brought some furniture with
her, and she had a little money-enough
to rent a small cottage, where she open
ed select school. She was woman
o. or<NAH od,,oaf:1- -a1d fbvor,crI, bo ~,
fuence of the kind minister a good
many children were sent to her school,
so that the first year, by exercising
strict economy, they lived comfortably.
The next year was less bright. The
minister, whose influence had been so
helpful to her, went to Minnesota; MANY
of the children she had taught the year
before entered the public school, and
she was not successful in securing new
pupils. At last she was forced to aban-
don the little school, and every other
attempt at making living failing her,
she resorted to the weary plan of going
from house to house with her basket of
silver polishes, washing fluid, stove
backing, spunges, and toothpicks, leav-
ing Phil at home to take care of the
twins.
One July morning, basket in hand,
she rang the bell at a spacious brick
house. The door was opened by
young and pretty blondewoman, attired
in the daintiest of morning gowns.
. ''Oh, Mrs. Denham," she said with
evident disappointment. II thought it
was Cousin Ruth, whom l was expect
ing"
Mrs. Denham hesitated an instant,
but the pretty blonde did not say ''come
in," SO she told her errand standing on
the porch.
81 can't trade this morning, thank
you," said the little woman, carelessly
glancing at the articles in the basket.
''But want to speak to you about your
two youngest boys. They were in my
Sunday-school> class. / have not seen
them there lately"
mo" and Mrs. Denham's sallow
face flushed. They have no clothes
fit to wear to Sunday school; as soon as
can earn the money to get them some
they shall go. You can't trade this
morningp"
mo, thank YOU" airily, "but 1 do
hope you will get your boys back to
Sunday school. Children OF their age
should be in Sunday school. Good
morning." The door was shut. ''What
luck, motherP' Phil asked, that night.
She answered by laying 65 cents on
the table.
"If tramp should come tonight l
believe l would feed him." she said.
ut has almost seemed as though l
were tramp to-day"
'Never mind, mother" Phil answer
ed, in his old CHEEKY way.
II don't suppose folks can always
buy. You must stay with the boys a
few days, and let me see what L can
do"
TO the amusement of the boys
tramp appeared as they were seated at
the table eating hot griddle-cakes and
molasses, and, true to her word, Mrs.
Denham baked cakes for him until the
batter was all gone.
The next day Phil was fortunate
enough to secure a job of piling ''edg-
ings" at the mill-yard. Some fine
hand-sewing was sent in for Mrs. Den
ham to do, and the world looked bright
er to the little family.
''Mebbe it's because you fed the
tramp" Phil said to his mother.
The next noon Phil came in from his
work, warm and hungry. ''Mother," "
he said, while they were at the dinner
table, 'there's a man down by the mill
on pile of boards; he's sick and tired,
and his boots are all worn out. He
tod some Qt the boys that he hadp't