Little Falls transcript., 1885-04-24
4 LUCKY LEGACY.

has Just come into q strange mheri-
tance, He sat solitary in his little
4 boarding house room trying TO realize
4 II the poor child hadn't me, be
said to himself, "it could go and apply
| for admission to some institution. If
hadn't it, I could -pshawl that is not
the idea, 1 must decide what I am to
do" .- .S.@..s ~ ELF
/ Tom bad solemnly promised to care
for the new born babe of his only Sis
ter who had just died.
Tom was interrupted by knock on the
door. It was followed by cry of min
gled entreaty and command, such as on
ly hungry babes know how to emit.
"Ive fetched the poor little dear
around, sir" said the nurse, brandishing
her charge. There! there! there! It's
got the wind this minute, mixin' milk.
Have you found nurse, sir? And
baby wants Clothes"
She dropped her shrieking charge
upon Toms bed and started toward
the door.
ooh! OH" gasped Tom. "Donot go.
In, the name of mercy, do not! Why do
you say I want nurse? Are you not
one?" "..
II am, sir" she said, turning conf
dentially to Tom, ga monthly lam
willing to stay with you while I can.
But, sir, my summons may come any
day or hour. It is impossible to calcu-
late. I'll work for You while can, sir,
but when my call comes no earthly
thing can keep me-"
"Can you" said Tom, looking gloom
| lily at his now silent prize on the bed,
"can you give me any advice?"
Mrs. Primmins placed her arms akirn-
! DO.
Tom fervent1y prayed for light Oh the
medltations.
II have it," cried Mrs. Primmins
"Malviny's got to take It'll"
"Bless your dear soul" responded
Tom. Malvina's tho very one! What
talent you have Tor managing, auntie
dear"
There was Tom, his very self! He
had hit on exactly the right compliment
to pay the nurse. He was actually
floating through life on this instinct he
had for saying the most pleasant thing
to everybody. Mrs. Primmins OF all
things desired the reputation of man.
nuverer, as it was, of course, the one
of all others she did not deserve.
"Yes," she cried, chuckling, II can
manage. Let me alone! And the first
thing in the morning I'll go there with
you. Now,' said she, Selling her
charge, who was beginning to squirm,
''now I'll see what's to be got out of
your landlady."
Winking violently with first one eye
and then the other, she started to go;
then, with sudden solemnity, she re-
inserted her head in the doorway"
IF I'm summoned" she said, ''it's
above all else: If I'm called, I must go
day or night"
"Certainly," said Tom, much puzzled,
tsbut you won't be, a1lnty!" AS the
young man walked abroad to get his
dinner he felt impressed with an almost
mysterious awe of the old nurse.
F'To think Of living always with death
grinnirg one in the face like that" he
muttered.
In the night Toms dream of peace
was again dispelled.
Another knock at the door.
cam I under % ban?" growled Tom;
"what's the matter now?"
"I'm called" said the voice of Mrs.
Primmins. 'My summons has come!"
"Oh, the duce!' cried Tom, lost to
all sense Of the Importance of concilat-
ing the nurse. "Go to bed! Hold on
till morning"
In the morning, Tom. who, happy
fellow, always slept souudest uuder
sense of depression, did not make his
appearance until 9 o'clock. lie found
that Mrs. Primmins had actually lisap-
peared for parts unknown. In the
arms of his hitherto stern land]ady he
found his charge Nesting. A new
light-that Of love-was beaming IN the
solemn woman's eye--that woman,
thought Tom, who could see any Of her
boarders starve and rot for ten cents
saved!
II have undertaken" said the land
lady, giving Tom smile such as he had
never dreamed couI Id rest in her feat
ures-''I have undertaken to go with
you in search of Mrs. Primmin's niece,
Malvina."
Several hours later Tom Collins
sprang from a light wagon IN which he
had drivea to the door of {. pretty cot
tage.
ave will make the last effort by in.
quiring here" he said to his landlady,
who held the baby.
With his usual impetuosity he pushed
directly through into the rear kitchen.
There he forgot his errand-forgot ey-
erything except what he saw. Ayoung
girl, plump, neat and rosy, stood with
round arms barred before table. She
was assiduously occupied in carressing
with white hands little humps OF dough
into shape. %.,4...-.. .&... w. :, ~ I.
Suddenly she turned. Such dim
pling smile! Such rosy embarrass-
ment! Tom, great black haired, jetty
giant that he was, thought this little
plump blonde an angel Thought!
why, he was sure of it! = :.
After awhile he came to his senses
and said: '.-z. z.....s :. ...,,,
"I'm looking for one Malvina Bark:
er." .#.f..5. @r- '@, 4.a:.
"And that is me-" said the rosy lips.
'Then I've brought you baby" he
said abruptly. ~ .,... T..
A good. deal Of astonishment can be
mt into a 1,air of bright blue ewes
without spelling them -and SO there
was. Fortunately. at that point the
landlady appeared, and NO, . moment