The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-02-16
Helping HANDS.

ike myers over the blaze OF an arm
full of pine logs which she had Just
flung on the fire. "And I'm very glad,
mother, that we've got the russell
apples safe into the cellar, for its on
them 1 place my main dependence for
the interest money this year"
Mrs. Robbins sat knitting in the
cushioned rocker-a wrinkled, bright
eyed little old woman, whose caps
were always spctlessly clean, and
whose dresses never seemed to wear
out.
frost, eh," said she.
81 rather guess so," responded Elsa,
with a SILVER. "Stars shinin' like so
many little diamond specks, and a new
moon behind the pine"
"Well, it's a good thing we amt
stinted for wood" cheerfully observed
Mrs. Robbins.
"You're always finding out some
good thing or other, mother" said Elsa,
a little petulantly,
LA, child, the world is full of 'em -
said Mrs. Robbins, who had sweet,
plaintive voice like whip-poor-will
1.-THE Lord, He's a deal better to us
than we deserved
"Well, then" quantity remarked
Elsa, II may as well tell you, now as
ever, that the roofs leakin' dreadful
bad"
"Leakin', is it ?" said Mrs. Robbins.
"Where?"
"Up garrett" said Elsa. cover the
west store-room."
"Well, it's lucky it amt leakin' over
the rooms we live in," said the invet-
crate old optimist "If it was to leak
at all, it couldn't have selected a better
spot"
"And the fence is down in the north
lot" remarked Elsa, "and Neighbor
Carriers cattle are all in!'
"Bless mel" said Mrs. Robbins.
"Well, there amt much but rock and
mullen-stalks in that lot, anyhow,
and Neighbor Carter don't half feed
his cattle. I'm glad the poor creatures
can have good bite for once in their
lives"
"And I've had letter from Walters
widow" added Elsa; land she wants
to come here with her children"
"Tell her to come" said Mrs. Rob
bins. at amt fine city place, and
maybe she and the little ones will find
it hard to make out on mush and mo-
lasses and baked potatoes, as we do
But she's my nephew's widow, and
she'll be welcome here"
"But, mother" said Elsa. "think
what you are doing. Another family
in this cramped-up little house-a lot
CT noisy children, racing and scream
ing about-a fine lady to be waited on.
who is certainly as able to take care of
herself as we are to take care of her.
And you know that we owe large
bill at the grocer's, and we haven't paid
for the COW yet, and the tailoress bust
ness is getting duller every year, now
that folks have taken the notion to 90
to the city for their little boys suits.
And"
"Well, child-well," serenely inter-
posed the old lady, God will provide.
He always does. And it's dreadful
thing to be a widow and homeless.
Write to her, Elsa, and tell her to
come"
"But she has no money to travel
with" bluntly added Elsa "She wants
us to send her twenty dollars. She has
written to Cousin Marrett, up at the
Grange, and they won't even answer
her letter"
"Dear, dear that's bad p cooed
Mrs. Robbins. "No money at all
Poor soul {! poor soul! -
"Well-but, mother" pleaded Elsa,
eve haven't got any money, either
to spare p
There's the chicken money" said
Mrs. Robbins, looking wistfully up.
"But that was to buy you a warm,
new cloak, mother"
"Well, I'll make the old gray shawl
do for another year." said Mrs. Robbins.
"And Walters widow must have
money to pay her travelling expenses
poor thing! 1t was very wrong of
Olivia Marrett not to answer her let
ter-very. But Olivia and her husband
was always close. It's their nature, /
do s'pose."
And Elsa broke out laughing, with