Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-04-16
MATTE VAN WYCK'S STORY.
BY HETTIE J. POTTER.

The fire burned low in the little home
of the Van Wycks; nothing was heard
but the ticking of the clock and the
purring of the old gray cat. The night
was frosty without, the tall pine trees
cast their long shadows across the snow (;
everything seemed tranquil to Matte
Van Wyck as she looked out OF the
window, then going back to the stove,
stirred the scanty fire.
The Van Wycks were very well-to-
do few years back, Mr.. Van Wyck
having had quite property left him ;
but being an easy.going man and not
property gradually slipped through his
hands; and after selling his farm and
paying his debts, left him but little.
He decided to go West, and finally
drifted up into Northern town, buying
little home which took nearly all he
had. He worked hard in the pineries
and kept his family supplied from day
to day; but from severe exposure, con-
tracted hard cold and died, leaving
his wife and four children to the mer-
cies of o northern winter
The oldest child, Matte, was bright,
energetic little girl of Is. She was at
tending school, but would have to give
it up for while at least, and stay at
home to help her mother, who by TAX
ing in sewing had kept the wolf from
the door ever since her fathers death.
Matte had sat up later than usual to
do her sums, and now, with her chin
resting on her hands, sat looking in
tently into the fire, wondering what
and she gave it up for the night, and,
locking up the house, took her light
and trotted off to bed.
The next day was Sunday. After
the frugal breakfast, the dishes were
washed and the house put to rights.
Mrs. Van Wyck got the children ready
for Sunday-school, combed their hair,
made them look as neatly as possible,
all except johnnie, who was sturdy
little fellow with black eyes and red
cheeks. He had played hard and
stubbed out his boots, so he would have
to stay at home for while till Provi-
dence or Santa Claus sent him some
new ones. He made up quite lip, and
big tear rolled down his cheek as he
looked out of the window after his sis
tiers; but "he must dry his eyes and be
q good little boy" his mother said, "for
some day he would be a man, and take
care of them all.
Johnnie caught the idea at once,
climbed down from the window and
busted himself helping his mother by
bringing in wood, and in various ways
and was very happy. The day passed
quietly and pleasantly; the children
came home each with fresh new book.
In the evening, as they were seated
around the table reading, Matte broke
the silence by saying:
Mother, wish 1 could write a
story. When we wore at the
library to-day heard Lusie Foster
telling Gertie Manning that she had an
aunt in Boston who wrote stories and
made lots of money. Now if i could
only do something like that how nice it
would be-"
"You might try, Matte" her mother
do till we've tried"
IF only knew what TO write about. :"
Write about your home, brother and
sisters" Mrs. Van Wyck suggested.
Matte was quite imbued with the
idea, and went and got paper and pen
Gil. If she could only make some
money, all herself, buy some new boots
for Johnnie, some mittens for Amy /;
and Christmas would soon be here, and
how nice it would be to surprise them
all.
She sat down and began. 1t was not
an easy task, but she kept diligently at
it all the spare time she had, her
mother being busy at the machine from
early morning till late at night.
The close of the term was near at
hand, and in three weeks-the holidays.
Matte looked pretty sober; she told
her mother she had written about her
home, but she thought the story need
cd brighter side, and was afraid she
would have to give 1t up. Her mother
told her she had good beginning, and
not to worry any way, as she was a
great help to her, and as soon as she
could, would send her to school again.
Matte took her books and trudged to
school with heavy heart She had
planned so many little surprises with
the money she would get, that to fail
with her story was bitter disappoint-
ment; but she studied hard and had
her lessons. One day she noticed an
unusual excitement among some of her
schoolmates, and overheard one little
girl saying to another shat Oracle
Thornton was going to give birthday
party the next evening"" Matte thought
no more about it, till on her way homo
bright thought struck her; she
walked more briskly and rushed into
the house. exclaiming, "Oh, mother
Oracle Thornton is going TO give party
tomorrow evening, and If 1 could only
60" Her mother looked OF her in
amazement, and said: "Why, Matte,
don't believe you want TO go. Oracle
Thornton belongs TO q certain little
set who are wealthy and dress nicely
like herself" "But don't mean TO go