Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-12-30
The Luck Poll Brought.
BIZ MARGARET EYrrNGR.

II
bent the leafiess branches OF the trees
until they cracked and moaned as though
they couldn't stand it moment longer
they must break off. 1t shook the WIN
dows Of Mrs. Faye's little wooden cot
tage which stood block away from
any other housc-until they ratified again.
1t banked the snow up against the cell
lar door until there wasn't sign of a
cellar door left. And altogether it made
so much noise and confusion that when it
ceased its pranks for few moments the
silence seemed wonderful.
Poor Mrs. Faye, sitting in the rocking
chair in her tiny, neat kitchen, with her
tiny neat baby in her arms, was down
hearted enough. She was a slight lit
tie woman with round, pink cheeks that
had been rounder and pinker, bright
blue eyes that had been brighter and
bluer, and soft, wavy, golden hair that
never could have been softer, waiver nor
goldener Its too golden, !" she used
to say, for mother of four children.
1t looks SO very girlish.'
But Mr.. Faye and the children didn't
think so. Elbert-and for boy ONLY
ten years old must say it was an ex-
ceedlngly pretty and graceful remark
said to his mother one cloudy dav, as he
looked at her with loving and admiring
eyes: Mamma, dear, I'm so glad you've
got such beautiful, bright hair. It's
like having sunshine in the house all the
time"
And it was well Mrs. Faye had some
sunshine on her head this blowy, snowy.
gloomy morning, for there was none in
her heart. And no wonder. Mr.. Fave.
one. of the best of men, and consequent
ly one of the best of husbands, had fallen
on the ice four or five weeks before and
so disabled himself that he had not vet
been able to leave his room. And the
sum of money sent him a day or two
after the accident. by his employers, who
were neither as niggardly nor as gener-
Gus as they might have been, didn't go
far toward supporting a family OF six,
whose expenses were greatly increased
by the necessity for lotions and medi-
cines.
Fortunately the cottage in which they
lived belonged to them, Mrs. Faye hav-
ing inherited it the preceding autumn
from her mother, but they had never
been able to save any money, for Mr.
Faye was only clerk in a wholesale
clothing house at very retail salary.
What shall / do2 What shall doY''
said Mrs. Faye to the baby. There
are only two or three scuttlcs of coal i'm
the cellar and scarcely anything to eat
in the closet, and Quarter and dime
In my pocketbook. But the baby only
poked his finger in her eve and answered
her with q weak imitation of "how
the rooster crows" which wasn't at
all satisfactory nor in the slightest
degree applicable to the case
under consideration. ssDear me
Dear mel" continued Mrs. Fave. rocking
nervously back and forth. flames
mustn't know how poor we are. He'd
never get well If he did. He's almost
fretted himself into fever now. being
kept from work so long. And he thinks.
I'm sure he does-for no matter how
good men may be they never can see
where the money goes that I've enough
to last month or more. must have
help, but to whom can look for it?n
And the wind, choosing 10 hide behind
q corner at this very moment. she heard
q queer voice answer, ssPoll, ma'am; yes.
-ma'am, clever Poll -
Snatching shawl from the hook where
1t hung and wrapping it snUgly about
the baby, who was now ssmewing like
the cat, she hurried TO the garden door.
and opening it a little way, peeped out.
'sPoi, ma'am! Yes, ma 'ams clever Poll, y
said the queer voice. again. but she saw
nobody but Ebert, who was coming in
thc back gate stamping his feet and
swinging his arms. He had been trying
A. 49,