Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-10-23
THE BAR OF GOLD.

hem curlecue things on Mrs. Jones' wall,
init it2'
$50 it's, said Ned, looking over his
sisters shoulder. ''Nell can do any
thing"
''Ihis ain't SO good, (" said Nell, mod
estly. 81 wish / could do anything,
Ned; I'd paint nice lot of flowers to
hang over your bed"
do, Nellln jim exclaimed.
Eyes, make that for us, Nell,'' Ned
added, as he looked admiringly upon the
drawing on the table. At that instant
the little group around the table were ST.
enced by woman's voice.
IF / were your father I'd take them
notions out of you mighty quick, miss !"
The girl looked up, turning fright
ened face to the speaker Her lips trem-
5led, but she mastered her emotions as
she replied:
81 washed the dishes, ma, and swept
The kitchen"
after told you dozen times or
more. Why don't you hunt up your
clothes and sew the buttons on them, in
stead of putting all the work on me2'
I'll mend them, ma. | didn't think
it was any harm to learn to draw and
paint little"
'Learn to paint What does a colt like
you know about drawings It's down
right laziness, and Pm going to see if
your fathers going TO encourage it, when
you ought to learn to make your own
clothes. When | was old as YOU
The supposed head of the house entering
at that moment, Mrs. Chapman turned to
, him, wrathfully:
"That girl has had the impude1ce to
talk back to me because | spoke to her
about attending to her own clothes in
stead of fritterin' away her time in non
sense on paper.p
Mr.. Chapman, who, after taking to
himself u second wife, discovered he had
voluntarily placed heavy yoke upon his
neck, looked at the little group now hud-
died together mute, and with scared
faces
II tell her, if | was her father, I'd take
that laziness and nonsense out of her.
A girl as big as that ought to be to work.
You ought to take her to the factory with
iou, Chapman. She can carry spools up
and down stairs, or do something useful,
stead o. sprawlin' all over paper aud
>lates, usin' up pencils"
81 didn't think Nell big enough to 90
to work yet. I'll think about it,
The fathers heart pleaded for the lit
tie girl whose upbraiding eyes forcibly
recalled the dead, and reminded him of
his obligations to the living.
"Well-only don't be too long think
ing about it, said Mrs. Chapman number
swo, as she left the room. Nell stole to her
fathers side, apd slipped her hand in his
Don't mind, pa. If it wasn't for
Ned and Jim, | wouldn't care, but I'd
.ather be with you in the factory than at
home.p
"Hush!' He felt ashamed of it but
he was afraid his wife would overhear
her. 'sI'll see about it-don't fret-and
don't talk back. You must be good
children" This was addressed to the
group collectively. The oov mutineers
were preparing to knuckle their eyes,
when he added harshly, 'sNone o. that
aowln whereupol the boys choked Jumps
down their throats, and pushed their
fists straight down into their pants peck
cts, while their father glanced at the
,aper Nell left lying on the table. He
bent suddenly over it, then turned to
Nell:
'sYou copied it.
mo, indeed / didn't pa.
81 saw her do it, said Jim, coming
to his sisters aid man fully.
She did it all out of her head, pa, y
Ned affirmed. They both looked at
Nell, and Nell blushed as she cast her
eyes down.
Il can do ever SO much better than
that, pa. T"
Mr. Chapman sighed. He wished he
was not quite SO poor. He wished he
could send her to school He wished
so many things that he realized keenly
for the thousandth time. he had made
the mistake of his life in marrying Han
nah Cone. It would not do to let this
nonsense grow-to encourage it. Best
take Nell to the factory Work would
occupy her time keep peace in the
use maybe.
So It was settled to the satisfaction Of
| Mrs. Chapman number two. Nell, at the
| age Of fourteen accompanied her father
20 the factory the following Monday.
Hague's factory was 50 vast, the
crowds Of men. women and children who
were shut up II It from early morn til
luiglt. 50 numerous that q score more or
! .ass wero nexer noticed Il made great
kHcs0nra IL jim ard Ned however.