The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-05
A LUCKY LETTER.
"Tea is ready, girls" said Saba Thorn.

"Tea isready, girls" said Saba Thorn.
"T'eo!"
1t was no luxurious repast of but
tered toast. fragrant Oolong, honey
and preserves; no comfortable repast
of cold fowl, tongue, potted meats and
biscuit hot from the oven!
When Saba Thorn called it "tea,"
she merely used conventionalism. 1t
was only a scanty meal of bakers
bread. with pot of cheap butter, a
little smoked beef, 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 economize very strictly indeed.
Saba worked for an upholstery. All
day long she stitched pillow-ticks and
tufted mattresses in a dark little room,
where there was prevailing smell OF
rancid gee5e-feathers,
Her cousin, Helen, stood behind the
counter of milliner's shop on the
Bowery: and little Kate-the young
est of the three-was packer in a
fancy store, and could do up more neat
paper parcels in given time than
you would believe possible.
They were all three pallid and col
orless, like plants that had grown in a
cellar. They all three had certain
languor of manner, and spoke in low
suppressed voices.
They lived together in this one room
with little alcove running out of it
because it was the cheapest mode o1
existence, and because their scant earn.
ings, dubbed together. could be laii
out to better advantage than if ex
pended singly. Moreover, to these
poor, homeless girls, there was a home
feeling in being together.
81 don't feel hungry" said Helen
with a grimace.
81 am so tired of bread and butter,'
sighed little Kate. "Oh, if could onl,
have some of the stewed grapes thai
mother used to make"
"Oh, that reminds me-" said Saba
taking letter off the mantle. "rv.
heard from old Mrs. Pinkney. Sht
wants US to buy fashionable bonnet
for her-garnet velvet, with a lons
plume--if we can get it for a dollal
and half; and to look out for a bar
gain in crimson merino for Louiss
James winter frock. She wants tht
very best quality, and she can't gc
higher than thirty-seven cents yard
And she wishes to know if we are &C
quainted with anybody in the business
who will dye over her pea-green silk
skirt at half-price.
Helen shrugged her shoulders.
"She must think we have plenty Of
time to execute her commissions, >
said she.
"Merino for thirty-seven cents q
yard!" cried little Kate. "And a hat
of velvet, for dollar and bali. Does
hewoman expectjmpossibilties 2"
"But that isn't ALL" said Saba
Uncle John is very poor. She thinks
his relations ought to look after him. u
"Uncle John!" said Kate.
"Poorp' echoed Helen.
| "But what has become of all his
money!" said little Kate, intently knit
ing her brows.
I'm sure don't know" said Saba
"Mrs. Pinkney doesn't go into particu
lars. All the rest of the letter is about
the sewing society, and the CHECKER
cholera, which has carried off so many
Of her fowls"
"He must have been persuaded into
investing in some Of those dreadful
mining stocks" said little Kate
"But, girls" said Saba, "what arr
we to do?"
Precisely what he has always done
to us, said Helen. Let him alone"
"No, no, Helen" pleaded little Kate
Don't talk so. Remember, he is tn,
only uncle we have got. He was oul
mothers brother"
"And what has he ever done fol
us?" retorted Helen, bitterly.
"That don't signify" reasoned Saba
"He is old and feeble. He needs oul
care. That is enough"
"Saba is right" urged little Kate
"Uncle John mustn't be left to di
alone"
But what can we do?" said Helen
I'VE can't bring him he,er'
NO" said Saba. at would breal
his heart to take him away from th
pine forests. We must go to him."
"And all starve together?" said He
en-. 81 don't see that that would b
much of an improvement on the pres
ent state of things"
Listen said Saba, lifting an al
thoritative fore-fnger. From a tr
fling seniority in years,and a somewha
greater experience in the world c
| work. Saba had beeome nuite an oracI