Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-03-03
Helping Hands.

AuSClo ONcl tHC uldLc VI di tii tDA vi
of pine logs which she had just flung
on the fire. And I'm very glad
mother, that we've got the russell ap
Piles safe into the cellar, for its on
them | place my main dependence
for the interest money this year"
Mrs. Robbins sat knitting in the
cushioned rocker-a wrinkled, little
old lady, whose caps were always
spotlessly clean, and whose dresses
never seemed to wear out.
"Frost, ell 2" said she.
II rather guess So" responde d
Elsa, with a shiver, "stars shiaing
like so many little diamond specks
and new moon behind the pine"
''Well, it's a good thing we amt
stinted for wood" cheerfully OBJ
served Mrs. Robbins.
"You're always finding out some
good thing or other, MOTHER" said
Elsa, little petulantly.
"La, child, the world is full of
'em !" said her mother, who had a
sweet, plaintive voice like a whip
poor.will. The Lord, He's a deal
better to us than we Deserve
"Well, them" quaintly remarked
Elsa, II may as well tell you, that
the roofs leaking dreadfully bad"
''Leakin', is it 2" said Mrs. Rob-
bins. Where"
"Up garrett" said Elsa. "Over the
west Store-rOOm."
"Well, it's lucky it amt leaking
over the rooms we live in" said the
inveterated old optimist. eff it was
to leak at all, it couldn't have select
ed better spot"
"And the fence is down in the
north lot, Remarked Elsa, land Mr.,
Carter's cattle are all in"
"Bless me !" said Mrs. Robbins
''well, there amt much but rock
and mullen stalks in that lot, and
neighbor Carter don't half feed his
cattle. I'm glad the poor creatures
can have a good bite for once in their
lives"
"And I've a letter from Walters
widow" added Elsa, "and she de-
sires to come here with her children
soon.o
"Tell her to come," said Mrs. r.
"It amt a fine city place, and may
be she and the little ones will find it
hard to make out on mush and mo-
lasses, as we do But she is my
nephew's widow, and shall be made
welcome here"
"But mother, think what you are
doing. Another family in this lit
tie cramped up house-a lot of noisy
children, racing and screaming all
about the house-a fine lady to wait
on, who is as surely able to take care
of herself as we are to take care Of
her. And you know that we owe "a
large bill at the grocer's, and we
haven't paid for the cow yet and the
tailoress business is getting duller
every year, now that folks have TAX
en- the notion to go to the city for
their little boys suits. And"
swell, child, WE'LL" serenely in
terposed the old lady, "God will
provide. He always does. And it's
a dreadful thing to be widow and
homeless. Write to her, Elsa, and
tell her to come"
But she has no money to travel
WITH" bluntly added Elsa, 'and she
wants us to send her twenty dollars.
She has written to cousin Marret,
up at the Grange, and they would
not even answer her letter.
'Dear, dear, that's bad 7" cooed
Mrs. Robbins, mo money at all
Poor soul -
swell, but mother, ''pleaded Elsa,
1--WE haven't got any money either
to spare"
"There's the chicken money!" said
Mrs. Robbins, looking wistfully up.
"But that was to buy you warm
new cloak with, mother"
"Well, l will make the gray shawl
do for another year. Walters wild
ow must have money to pay her ex-
penses for travellng-poor thing! 1t
was very wrong of Olivia Marrett
not to answer her letter-very. But
Olivia and her husband were always
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