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

WluoW. III you leI lne coal DlaZe ana
crackle it soon turns into ashes. and we
must economize."
Mamma" spoke up tiny voice
from the bed, II didn't eat quite enough
supper. Can't have another half slice
of bread?"
There is no more, Bessie" said Mrs.
with pang, sharper than any
serpents tooth, at her heart. Go to
sleep, dear; you'll soon forget that you
are hungry, and in the morning we are to
start for the country, you know"
Bessie's eyes sparkled.
"We can have all the milk we want
then, mamma, can't WEI" said she.
"And pick up nuts where they grow
among the leaves, and eat apples without
paying two rcents apiece for them."
chimed in Lille. "Oh, mamma, why
don't everyone live in the country? Nam
ma don't You love Cousin Elsa and her
mother? Is Cousin Elsa a. little girlp
Will she play with us?'
"I don't know" said Mrs. Robbins,
with quiyer in her voice. "No, she
is not child; she is woman, like me.
But think she must be an angel in her
heart"
For Elsa Robbins had been the FIRST
helping hand which had been stretched
out 10 lift the poor little widow out of
the abyss of troubles which had almost
overwhelmed her since her husband died,
in the far-away Mexican lands whittier
he had gone TO make the fortune which,
alas! was never made.
She had become sadly used to sharp
words and cold glances, but kindness,
sympathy, tender recognitions of her
claims TO kinship, were new and precious
to her.
Just then there came heavy, creakine
footstep on the foor-a tap at the door.
Little Lille jumped up ami scamperet
back to he'd. Bessie drew her curly yel
low head under the sheets.
"Its mistake said Mrs. Robbins
spiritlessly; mo- ody ever comes
here"
But she rose and opened the door
There stood q stout, middle-aged man
with cheerful blue eyes, ruddy com
plexion, and leg-of-mutton whiskers
SLIGHTLY sprinkled with gray.
"Does Mrs. Walter Robbins liv,
here?" he asked.
Miss Eliza had made waffles for supper
and had fried some fresh crullers, BROW
and light as butteIfy-wings. She hat
brought in the parlor-lamp. and hunte'
up two little china mugs, haudleless, ant
with the gilt inscription faded off, whicl
had been hers and her sisters, as chill
dren, long ago.
They'll please the little ones" sh
thought.
And Mrs. Robbins. in her clean cap
sat smiling by the hearthstone. wLei
Walters widow came in, her black dIes
powdered over with the snow which ha
brgun to fall at the gathering of dusk
and with the two little girls clinging t.
her hand.
"My dear" said Mrs. Robbins. 'yol
are welcome-kindly welcome-you an,
the dear little girIs!
Aud Elsa came in, her face softene
for the moment, and led them hospitabl
to the fire.
ITS a poor place., said she; 'bu
mother is right-you are welccmcF
The children looked timidly aroun,
at the black beams which traversed th
ro1r ovarhead-the deep-set windows
with their broad ledges filled with musk
plants and fish geraniums-thr strings c
red peppers above the mantle-Hnd III
brass candlestioks, which glitterod as i
they we're made Of gold. Aud then II
Z uic-Auc Eifati 'p7h Sh'AhhSs IANSS -
blazing logs-the funnily-shaped ard
irons, with round heads, aud the grea
Maltese cat, asleep upon the g"uay IA
rug. Was it sll trus? or were th'
dreaming?
Bat when it came to hot wafilas an
maple molAsses cookies, with fennel
seeds in them, and milk-jnst as muc
milk as they could drink out of thos
dear little antiqpe mugs the childre
decided the matter in their own mind'
that they were not dreaming at all. An
after thoy had gone to sleep in bed
room Just of the kitchen, where tn
= sheets smelled of sweet clover, and th
I wallpaper was covered with lunches {
cabbage-roses, with impossi6ly gree
leaves, and blue ribbon fllets aroun
, the stoms, Mrs. Walter Robbins fouu
y courage to thank the friends who ha
been 80 good to her in her necessity.
| But there's something / haven't tel
q you yet. she said, timidly. "Icouldn