Omaha daily bee., 1885-09-26

Henry upOn his left knee and Lenore
on his right, he shared the remainder
With them, cutting 1t In small pieces
which the children greedily devoured.
After finishing, he said to his wife:
"No, don't give me my coffee now.
I'm going to wash first. You may hel P
me throw out this dirty water, though"
They grasped the handles Of the tub,
and were emptying the water into the
gutter before the door, when johnny
came down, dressed In dry clothes, IN
old faded pair of pants and woolen
blouse, much too large for him, they
having belonged to hls brother. As he
was nolselessly slipping through the
open door his mother stopped him.
"Where are you goingi'
"Nowhere."
"No where2 You're going to gather
dandelions for a salad this evening. Now
liat IN, do you hear me2 IL You don't
bring some home, I'll settle with you"
"All right"
And he went out, his hands In his
pockets, with the gait of an old miner, In
spite Of his ten years. Zaeharie, In o
black wooden shirt with blue stripes, de.
scended next. His father called after
him not TO come homo late, and he went
out, noddlng his head, without replying,
and with a pipe between his teeth.
The tub was again filed with water
and, at o glance from the mother, AlElre,
as was her habit, led the children out to
play before the door. Their father did
not wash himself before the family,
although he considered 1t proper for the
children to paddle around together.
"What are you doing up there2" cried
Mrs. Mshon from the bottom Of the
stairs.
"l'm mending my dress. l tore 1t
yesterday" repliedC lthsrlne.
"Ail right. Don't come down; your
fathers washlng."
Mrs. Mahon placed Fstelle on a chair
and for q wonder, finding herself comfort
able In front of q fire the child was quiet
watching her parents With the bewildered
eyes of a little creature without thought.
After removing his clothes, he plunged
his head into the water, rubbing 1t with
that soft soap which had dlscolored aud
bleached the hair of his face; then
lathering himself all over he stepped into
the tub while his wife stood looking on.
"Ssy now," she began, 81 paw your
look when you came In. You've been
worrying. just think the people at Plo-
laine wouldn't give me q sou Oh! they
were very kind; they gave the little
ones some clothing, and L was ashamed
to ssk for anything more"
She paused an instant to tie Estelle In
her chair, fearing she would fall out.
The father continued rubbing himself,
without, by one question, Fastening this
tale which Interested him, patiently
waiting to be enlightened.
stOf course Maigrat refused. He drove
me from his door like a dog"
He lifted his head, still watching her
In silence. Nothing at Piolalne, moth
Ing from Maigrat, who WAS 1t then2
But she began rolling up her sleeves pre-
paratory to rubbing his back, and taking
up some soft soap she lathered his shout
ders while he braced himself in order to
stand the vigorous strokes.
"Then I went back to Maigrat's. l
pleaded with him, saying 1t wouldn't
do him any harm to be- just. That
bothered him; he tried to get away
from me.
Now she was making his back shine
like her three saucepsns did on Saturday.
using the back and forth movement of
the arm until she became go w!nded that
her words choked her.
"As last, calling me an old crank, he
said we could have bread until Saturday;
and the best Of 1t Is that he lent me a
hundred sous. I bought some butter,
coffee, chicory and even o little hogs
head of cheese of him. Then
1 paid eighteen sous for potatoes. So
you see my morning wasn't lost"
She was wiping him dry, while he,
happy, not thinking of the debt, caught
her up In his arms and kissed her.
''LOave me alone, goosel you're not
dry yet. I'm afraid, though, that Nal.
gratis thinking of something"
She was going to speak of Catherine,
but paused.
What use to make him uneasy2
.'What of ?"
sob! of robbing US. We must watch
him, that's ALL"
When he was thoroughly drY, Mahon
put on o pair of pants. His great
est enjoyment, after his bath, was to sit
for q time with arms and chest bare. In
summer the men would all go outside
after bathing, and, In hpite of the damp
weather, he went to the door for q mo.
ment to call across the garden to another
man, with shoulders equally bsre. Then
appeared at their doors, all smii-
ing from the comfort of q good bowl of
soup and a warm bath. Even the chill
dren, lying upon the pavement, raised
and laughed also ct The hap
piness around them. |,
While drinking his coffee, Mahon told
his wife OF the engineers anger about the
Limbering. He was calm now, and lis
with an approving nod to the wise
of hrs. Mshon, who showed q ,
great amount Of wisdom In these affairs.
She always repeated to him that they :
would gain nothing by opposing the com
pAny.
Finally, abe informed him of the visit
Of Mrs. Hennebsau. I
''Csn / come down2" asked Catherine
rom the head of the stairs.
"Yes, your father Is dry" l.
The young girl had put on her Sunday i
dress, a dark blue poplin, already faded /
worn. o. her head was q very sim {
pie black tulle bonnet. !
"Why, you've dressed yourself up. /
Where are you going2' :
"Im going to Monsson to buy some
ribbon for my bonnet. I've taken off the t
DID one; 1t was too dirty" II
"rhen you've got some money"
"No;" Mcquette promised to lend me :
IN sous. l.
The mother let her go 40 far as the g