The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-06-12

"Then," went On Saba, "Tvo laid up
six dollars toward a winter cloak. Uncle
John wants it more than 1 do. I'll keep
it for him"
There is my ten dollars in the savings
bank" added Helen. II did want a
pair of thick boots and a warm winter
shawl. But if Uncle John is really in
need"
II haven't saved any money!" said
little Kate sorrowfully. How could I,
with my wages of two dollars q week?
But / will do all I can to help"
You are dear, generous girls, both
of you" said Saba. ut may be a little
hard, at first, but is clearly our duty
to go to Uncle John. And / will write
and tell him SO this very night"
"Do," said Helen, "Il borrow Miss
Clitch's ink-bottle, and there are q pen
and two sheets Of paper in the wash
stand drawer. I can buy q postage
stamp at the druggists on the cor
ner."
Wouldn't o postal card be cheap
err" said wise little Kate.
But Saba shook her head.
would you put Uncle Johns power.
ty IN a postal-card for all the world to
read? she said.
And little Kate answered, somewhat
abashed:
II didn't think Of that, I only thought
OF economizing q cent. / wonder if the
time will come when we don't have to
think Of saving?"
And little Kate put on her bonnet
and tripped around to the druggists,
where II particular clerk put himself
out to wait on her.
"She has got a face like a daisy"
said the druggists clerk. IF eyer I
marry, l should like a wife like that!
No, she's not much of a customer OF
ours, hut 1 have seer her at church
meetings, and / walk home with her
sometimes Of an evening. She lives in
Timm's tenement-honse with her sister
and cousin. and works at Gracey's store.
That's all / know about her. But she
always makes one think of a wild-flow-
en-"
Uncle John Jaycox was sitting by the
The fire of birch logs blazed gloriously
up the chimney Il pair of fat, home-run
candles glittered on the table. In all
the room was an evidence of gripping
poverty.
Eyes, said Uncle John to- tall young
man who sat opposite, II guess I'll have
you to u the farm for me Isreal Pen
field. TITS getting to much for me to
run it alone. But as for a to
keep the house for HE. now that Anas-
tasia Grixon has been fool enough to
marry old Simson--Eh? what?-a let
ter? I'm obleeged to you, Mrs. Pink
ney! Stop and take a warm while /
read it, aud I'll gityou 6 basket of gille-
flower apples to carry home afterward.
They're Jest spilen' to be eaten them
~gilleaowers is"
But as he perused his letter, q curl
GUS expression stole over his rugged
features.
"Snakes alive!n he said stamping II
foot on the floor. "What in creation
does all this mean? i guess we'll have
enough Of h~ousekeepers, Isreal. Here
is my three nieces from New York a
comm to live with me because Mrs.
Pilkney here has writ en- that I've
lost my property. And there goin' to
take care of me. Well T swan /"
Il didn't write no sich!" whined Mrs.
Pinkney, with rather an alarmed air.
Il only said you was dreadful poor in
health. I ment the lumbago and the
rheumatic. I didn't say nothing about
money"
well. no natter what you said, or
what you didE say" declared Uncle
John, crumpling up the letter in his
hand and staring at the fire. "The
| cole tbin1,E T3p, ,,oor o,,l k1,o,.,,o 1,1 - - ,
here to support me, and make a home
for mel n my old age-bless their hearts !
I don't know why they should do 1t" he
added with q conscience-stricken face. II
did nothing for them. And Kate and
Helen are my sister James darters,
aud Saba is Hepsy's only child. And
they're workin' for a liyin', and I've got
more'n / know what to do with. It's a
shame now it, that things is so n
evenly devided@
"Just exactly what I've always said, "
quietly remarked Isreal Penfield.
Uncle John Jaycox looked at him
with a queer twinkle in his opaque
blue eyes.
II Declare" said he, tsthem gals
has Taught me a lesson! I don't need to
be took good care Of in my old age; but
/ swan to goodness it would be a kind
of pleasant to have three gals around
lookin' arter the old man. Tn a mind
to try it.
II would if l were you" said Israel
Penfield.
So when Saba, Helen, and little Kate
arrived Uncle John received them with
q warm welcome.
"Nieces." he said, II amt poor, no I
amt likely to be; but I'm glad to see
you. I'm glad to know that there's
any n in the world that cares enough
about the old man to come and look ar
ter him without no expectation of be-
in paid for it. It sort O. shores up my
confidence in human natur'. Come in
come in! There's plenty of room for
you all in the old farm house. Come
in and welcomed"
The three girls looked at each other.
Ought we to stay?" they asked each
other.
Yes whispered little Kate. .'There
are two red cows in the field. I saw
them!"
"And the air smells so sweet" said
pale Helen.
"And Uncle John spoke as if he was
really glad to see u.s." said Saba. "Oh,
yes let us stay"
Nor did any of the contracting parties
ever regret the misunderstanding which
brought them SO ~curiously together.
Little Kate went back to the city, at
ter q year or two, to marry the druggists
clerk, who was now setting up in a
small way for himself, and had come
down to the country after the daisy
faced girl who had ono attracted his
attention.