The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-11-20

isGtipg big brown braid 90 tumbhnl
dess her bsck. ~
80 an I. said Boa.
so sb +. said Nsspis. who sn suffer
Ing With dreadful cold.
.wLst 10 IL girlsi" said !. turning y,
book face dovn In ny lap.
Its shs suppsss. said Beth.
.It's The everlasting gossip." said Kate
.Ics 20 different from hobs. said Nan
ais 10 whom boarding house life vas new
experience.
.Its all three ard much more. VA
what wanted 10 say, but, being the old
est OF the four, il seemed my duty Y
make The best Of things, 80 ] said. quis'
chesrfulIy. Il didn't - anything uDusus
about the supper tonight"
That's the trouble" groAssd Beth
"It vas altogsthsr too usual. lam q
tired Of Ersad and butter asd apple sauct
and dry cake that ! feel like snashisg ny
teeth at the sight Of thsm. l should like
. slice Of toast. or bowl OF bread and
milk occasionally. without bsisg made v
feel that l had disarrsnged the whole In
tssual economy OF the house"
The snppsrs are bad enough, said
Kals. "but they are nothing to the gossip
TN tired OF hearing il whispered round
that Mr.. johnson and his wife had quar-
rel in their room last night or that Miss
Robinssn has worn three aew dresses this
month, Of ttsf M. Jswett came in ever .
late the other night, and II sounded a.
though no fell up stairs. Bah!" and Kate
looked as scornfal as . round face with .
dimpls in it would ailsw.
II could stand everything else said
Mamie. .if II wss odF Asbs-like. OH
II | could odly sit down in SAe clean kitch'
en-, with my feet in the stove svsn, an see
. braided mat in front Of the sGOvs with
slics cat on it, shoula then b psrfectly
happy" go
We all laughed at this. idea Of bliss. but
after the laugh there was sudden silenes.
for each enc OF US recalled such kitchen
and the presence that had made 1t homo
like.
We we're not sisters. not even kin 10
each other, but meeting as strangers ID >
city clearinghouse, q strong friendship
had grown up between us. starting, !
think, in the fact the We were each or
phaned and had our living to earn, and
strengthened by many congsnial tastes.
We were doing our daily duties in rather
. brave. cheerful way, usually with few
complaints, but tonight we were uader
cloud. Outside, . November rain was
isshing the windows. aud inside, the
stove smoked.
twas payday At the mandatory where
Kate WAS book-kseper, and that was
AlwaysA hard day fvr hsr; Beth had wor.
sisd Two OF her dullest pupils through
their music lesson; and had time in
school that afternoon with . wretch Of !
boy, and was at my wits' end what TO DO
with him ON the morrow; and Mamie WAS
more than half sick--so we sat there quite
still for while. Finally Beth spske: II
suppose we might make these rooms look
! little plessanter. We each have few
pictures aud knick. .knacks."
"Do you suppose l would hang my few
pictures against that awful paper?" said
Kats. .iBeaides, what would b the use?'
lust as ~ got everything nicely fixed
'ons man would want the room, and We
'hould be invited to 60 mp higher, I have
'oarded in this house two years and in
hat time I've advanced from the first
iosr back to the third floor 'front.' and two
moves more will take me out on the roof
1--WE blight 60 somewhere else" said
Mamie.
'Oh! you poor little inr ocent" laughed
18th. You'd change TIE place and keep
b rain.' They're III about alike"
AT this Mamie lifted such woe. bsgone
noe that ] began to feel that something
nus. be done.
"Girlsl" said /, in my most impressive
manner.
Bat here was IN interruption, for Nan
,ie left the rocking chair and rushed to.
Ward tie bed.
"Oa. Nanaie," cried Kate, ''Don't muss
he bed; its hard enough anyway" But
Ihs poke too late, for under the combined
influence OF homesickness and influenza
ysnnis had flung herself on the bed 10 >
or.orn little heap, aud was lifting up her
'oics in hoarse cry.
This was simply dreadful
Beth and purred over her and cuddled
lsr, sad Kate slipped down stairs and
'osxei the cross kitchen glrl into making
bosl Of sage tea, and by the time she
vss back With it the invalid Was some.
rhat comfortsa.
When quist was restored, spoke again.
'Girk lets 60 to housekeeping" Mamie
topped ths bowl halfway 70 her lips.
IstA sat upright on the trunk. and Kate
r,pped the stick Of wood in her hand
sck into the box.
where's the farniturs coming fromY"
I'D she.
"Whoii pay the biilsy" said Mamie.
"Who will do the work?' said Beth,
ho was born south Of Mason and DiIon's
10.
Wen all do it," said ], answering the
st question first .'Asd as for the furnish
g that needa't cost 80 very much; and
bout the bills Kate, hos much do W
! pay wssky' sfg
"Fssr times five is twenty. and two |
ollsn for vashisg m skss twenty. two"
asvered Kate, With boo k.kseper prompt.
~. M