The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-01-10
BRAVE LITTLE TRUDE.

derlrude May Is my slSter'ln.law, |
Bright little fairy of 10, with pair of
eyes like stars, and merry, thrifty way
about her calculated to make man for
get that this is n hard. work.a day world
iull OF vexation and disappointment.
When Annie and I were married we
took Gertrude to live with US; l could
not bear the thought of the lovely girl
going to meet the world in oD,s menial
occupation, and Annie was thankful to
have her sister with her.
Gertruie-'' ruUr' we alwnys cgIIeu
the dear child--paid her way, assure
you.
After the birth of Baby Grace she took
the entire management Of the household
upon her young shoulders. and though
We never kept servant my wife scarcely
knew what it was to haye care in the
world.
So We went on for couple of years
as happy RS birds in nest, making
much OF the blessings we had. thinking
little or nothing OF cur prIvatioDs.
Alas, I never dreamed that our first
reverse would come to US through me.
Yet, was l to be blamed?
Ever bard worker, one particularly
hot GUNNER bad double duty TO per-
form at the bank, and overtaxed my
ability
remember falling with dull crash
beneath my desk one day, and 1t was
Ks ere was conscious that lay at
home in my own bed, carefully tended
by Annie and Trude.
l had been stricken down with brain
fever, and the doctor had said the strug-
gle back to health and strength would be
long and serious, Tor my system was
wholly debl.itatcd 10y overwork.
After about six weeks, and l had been
declared out Of danger, l awoke one
evening, after taking a lcng nap, to fnd
the room deep in twilight and very 81
Isn't.
Ii lay come time in drowsy state, wher
suddenly / was aroused by the unmis
taxable sound OF sob close by me, fol
lowed by the low, earnest voice OF Irude
Don't cry, Annie, DEAR she said
soothiugly, you'll wake him"
"Oh, but, Trude, what are We 10 dor
faltered my wife.
ave shall pull through all right, dear
never iearw was the brave reply.
"But every cent Of the morey is gone
There's months rent due, aud no eli
OF little outstanding bills. Besides, th
doctor won't be coming much longer,an
then. of course, therell be his bill"
Heaven help me! her words alnos
killed me!
But even then little Trude was equa
to the occasion,
1--WE must make some money, Annie,
she said firmly.
How" iu despair.
ut is the height of the blackberry SCI
sou, and the fruit is unusually fine.
shall go out at five o'clock to-morro
morning, pick several quarts, and st
$ every one Of them at the hotels belo
II noon. shall do the same as long rs Il
g berries last; you will then see wheth
70 we'can make little money or uot!"
9, could have arisen and fallen at b
feet in worship of her heroismi but po
4 Annie took life mors seriously s
y seemed proof against Truds's hopeiV
"a ness.
4 oh, that could never succeed" S
SSi sighed,
y, "Well, I'm going to try, anyway "
N the undaunted rejoinder.
After short pause Annie said, So
} denly;
"Trude, we are in desperate stra
why couldn't you write to Gerald d.
ton aud ask him to lend us some none.
"Annieg'
"Wtll, he Was in love with you bef'
mother died; be is very rich, and
positive you would have been bis "