The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-12
4 LUCKY LETTER.
q . is ready, girls, " said Saba Thorn

Tea is ready, girls, " said Saba Thorn
@TeaT
It was no luxurious repast Of buttered
toast, fragrant Oolong, honey and
preserves; no comfortable repast. of
cold fowl, tongue, potted meats and
biscuithot from the oven!
When Saba called il 1tea" she mere
ly nsed n conventionalism. II was only
acanty meal OF bakers bread, with a
pot of cheap butter, a little smoked
heel, which had been brought from the
corner grocer's in a brown-paper cover.
and some milk and water, blue and
tasteless for Saba and her two cousins
found it necessary to very
strictly indeed.
Saba worked for an upholsterer. All
dayiong she stitched pillow-ticks and
tufted mattresses in q dark little room,
where there was . prevailing smell Of
rancid geese feathers.
Her cousin, Helen, stood behind the
cosnterof a milliner's shop on the
Bowery; and little Kate-the youngest
of the three-was packer in q fancy
store. and could do up more neat paper
parcels in q given time than You would
believe possible.
they were all three pallid and color
less, like plants that had grown in a
cellar. They all three had . certain
lanquor Of manner, and spoke in low,
suppressed voices.
They lived together in this one room
with . little alcove running out of it,
because il was the cheapest mode Of
existence, and because their scanty
earnings, dubbed together, could be
laid out to more advantage than if ex-
pended singly. Moreover, to these
poor homeless girls, there was a feeling
10 being together.
" don't feel hungr II" said Helen
wit,a9H grimace.
Fra 81, tired of bread and butter!,
siglhea little Kate. ooh, if Icould only
hasassome Of tie stewed grapes thai
mother useii to make!!"
oh, that reminds me,a said Saba,
taking a LETTER off the mantle. GIVE
heard from old Mrs. Pinkney. She
wants Us to buy a fashionable bonnet
for iler-velvet, with q long plume-it
we can get ii for a dollar and a half
andio look out for d bargain IN crimson
mario for Louisa Jnne's winter frocE
She wants theyery best quality and cam
gohIgher than thirty seven cents q yard
And s!se wishes to know If we are &C.
4ansiltted with ANYBODY in the business
who viii dye over her pea-green silk
skirt at half price
Helen shrugged her shoulders.
g sSha must think we have plenty O
time to execute her commissions" sale
she.
Merino for thirty.seven cents 1
yard" cried little Kate. 4And q hat o
velvet for adollar aud Q half. Does til,
woman expect impossibilities ?"
But that isn't all" said Saba. "Un
Gle John is very poor. She thinks hi,
relations ought to look after him."
Uncle John!" said Kate.
APoorln echoed Helen.
But what has become OF all his
money? said little Kate, intently knit.
ting her brows,
AI'm sure I don't know said Saba,
Mrs. P;nkney doesn't gointo particu.
lars. All the rest of the letter is about
the sewing society, and the chicken
cholera which has carried off SO many
of her fowls.n
He must have been persuaded into
Investing in some Of those dreadful min,
ing stocks!n said little Kate.
But. girls" said Saba, what ar.
We to do?n
Precisely what he has always don,
10 ns..n said Helen. "Let him alone"
mo, nc, Helen!n pleaded little Kate
Don't talk SO. Remember he is th,
only uncle we've got. He was our moth.
e 8 brother
And what has he ever done for us?'
rlsOrted Helen, bitterly.
THAT don't signify" reasoned Saba
Heisold and feeble, and he needs oul
care. That is enough"
Saba Is right" urged little Kate
aUneleJ John mustn't belsft to die alone
But what can we do?" said Helen
AWefcan't bring him herelp
said Saba. IT would breal
his heart TO take him away from tht
spino forests. Wo must go to him"
aAnl AL starve together?" said Hell
GO. Idon't SEE TINT that would be much
g a Improvement on the present state
sof things
.Listen,s said Saba. lifting an author
ltAtiye fcrs-fnger. From o %trifing
seniority IN years and somewhat greater
experiences in the world Of work, Saba
had becoms quite an oracle in the trio.
sIve been sonsiderine i. / can d.
sthe Homework for Uncle John
! sad Helen.
course said little Kate. aAnd
he HASN'T been obliged to sell the COW
~ Caiyn4fhAf,a have zeal crearnv Mill