Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-03-13
A LUCKY LETTER.

lea Is ready,glrls, said Saba Thorn
"Teaw
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 a conyentiopalism. 1t
was only a seanty meal Of bakers
bread, with a pot of cheap butter, a
little smoked beef, which had been
brought from the corner grocers 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 adark little room,
where there was a prevailing smell of
rancid geese-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 ana 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 a little alcove running out of it,
because it was the cheapest mode of
existence, and because their soant earn-
ings. dubbed together. could be laid
out to better advantage than il OK.
pended singly. Moreover, to these
poor, homeless girls, there was home
feeling in being together.
q don't feel hungry" said Helen,
with grimace.
Il am so tired of bread and butter~
sighed little Kate. "Oh, if l could only
have some of the stewed grapes that
mother used to maker'
"Oh, that reminds me" said Saba,
taking letter off the mantle. "I've
heard from old Mrs. Pinkney. She
wants US to buy a fashionable bonnet
for her-garnet velvet, with a long
plume-if we can get it for a dollar
and half and to look out for a bar
gain in crimson merino for Louisa
James winter frock. She wants the
very best quality, and she can't 90
higher than thirty-seven cents a yard.
And she wishes to know if we are ac-
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 cents a
yard" cried little Kate. "And hat,
Of velvet, for a dollar and balf. Does
hewoman expectimpossibilities? ?"
But that isn't all" said Saba.
Uncle John is very poor. She thinks
ais relations ought to look after him.
Uncle John" said Kate.
"Poor! echoed Helen.
But what has become OF all his
money ? said little Kate, intently knit
ting her brows.
I'm sure l don't know" said Saba.
Mrs. Pinkney doesn't go into particu-
'ars. All the rest of the letter is about
the sewing society, and the chicken
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 are
we to do?'
Precisely what he has always done
10 us, said Helen. Let him alone"
NO, no. Helen~ pleaded little Kate
Don't talk so, Remember, he is the
only uncle we have got. He was our
mothers brother"
And what has he ever done for
US p retorted Helen, bitterly.
THAT don't signify" reasoned Saba.
"He is old and feeble. He needs our
care. That is enough"
Saba is right" urged little Kate.
Uncle John mustn't be left to die
alone"
But what can we do?' said Helen.
I'VE can't bring him herer'
NO" said Saba. at would break
his heart to take him away from the
pine forests. We must go to him."
"And all starve together?" said Hell
en-. 81 don't see that that would be
much of an improvement on the pres
ent state of things"
Listen" said Saba, lifting an au-
thoritative fore-6nger, From a tri-
fling seniority in years, and somewhat
greater experience In the world OF