The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-09-03


1 wouldn't say so. And if she
didn't talk TO Dave, as we all walk
ed along. Just as she would have
talked to her own. brother.
And everything Dave could say
was, that all the hands had a fash
ion of going into Seavy's sand they'd
laugh at him if he didn't too. Be
sides, it was real dull, cold work in
the factory, In his room, anyway,
and 4 tip two or three times a
day sort of warmed and livened 'em
up, and didn't do bit of harm, as
he could see. He could stop any
time he'd amind to, he said.
That's just what they all say at
first, you know; but, somehow they
haven't a mind to. That's what
Florry told him; and her voice
trembled when she said she wished
he would stop, for his own sake,
and poor old aunty's.
But Dave kind of blushed, and
stammered, and didn't say much Of
anything, though he looked as if he
wished Florry would mi0d her own
affairs. And that was all that came
of it, then; because the next day |
saw Dave Tucker and other hands
run out Of the factory into Seavy's
saloon and drink, | looked in the
window. When l told Florry of it,
she shut her lips till you could only
see the least little line of red. That
meant something.
1t WAS that very morning that ia
ther had given Florry fifty dollars
to buy her winter cloak and hat;
and I'd heard her tell mother what
a dandy old market or something
of that sort she could buy with it.
She likes frills and furbelows as
well as the next one, my sister
Florry does, and l reckoned that
fifty dollars was as good as spent.
But it wasn't. At the dinner ia
BILE, that day, Florry asked father if
she could do what she had a mind
to do with it, and make her old
cloak last her. Certainly my
DEAR" and he lhoked forty Interro-
cation points at Florry, and waited
for he to tell him what she intended
to do with the money. He knew
she would, and so she did. First,
she told whot she'd been trying to
do, and how she couldn't seem to
make much Roadway, and what
Dave Tucker said, and all, her
cheeks growing redder all the while.
And then she said:
with your permission, sir, l
think would like to open a coffee
house. There is a little building
on the other side of the factory l
can get, am sure, and oh, sir"
She said great deal more. l
don't know there's any use in my
telling it all here. But know that
fathers eyes got so dim he couldn't
see the way to his mouth, because
he tried twice to put a piece of
mince pie 10 1t, and put it down IN
his plate. And II just bluhbered
right out, once. Bnt mother-we!l,
that was when she said Florry was
destined to bring disgrace on the
family name with her doings."
q don't think So" said father; 81
think So" And when he
pushed back from the table, he
looked straight across at Florry.
"Do what you can, my DEAR" said
he. "God knows the need grows
stronger every day; and 1 think the
work is for just such hands as
yours. And If you want help"
"Oh, thank you, sir" cried Flor
ry. But she didn't look at mother.
She just went up and kissed her
without saying a word.
Well, and so the coffee house was
what somebody or other calls a
'sforegone conclusion" We got the
little building without any trouble;
it had been Miss Doolittle's MILL
merry shop, but she got married and
left it empty. Florry hired a car
penter one day, and 1 helped all I
could, and it wasn't long before the
little place was cosy enough
Didn't Florry sparkle at NE, though,
when the last nail was in.
"You dear boy" said she; just as
though it wasn't all her doings-
the neat little tables, and curtains,
and the shiny little stove, and every
thing. ''Now, with a bit of assist
ance from public sentiment"
Florry laughed, but she was dead |
in earnest all the same. 1 knew
what she meant, we'll enough. She
meant, if people aided US we'd eli |
their drive Mr.. Seavy out or reform
him.
But people didn't side with US
not altogether. A good many
didn't side either way, and that's
the worst kind. I'd rather folks
would come right square against
me, than to say they don't care;
wouldn't you?
1t made quite a stir, though, and
a number of the hands that brought
their dinners came in at noon to get
hot coffee to drink with them.
Dave Tucker came IN, but he look
sheepish; and they all did
as if they were afraid Of being
laughed at, you know.
So it wasn't really a success, af-
ter all. And l knew the reason.
And told Florry what l thought.
We wanted hackers.
eff Mr.. Cripps-'' said 1; and a
flash went over Florry Poore's face
that minute.
"Mr. Cripps-willr' said she.
l didn't believe Mr.. CIipps could
help it myself, when L looked at my
sister Florry's bright, pretty, deter
mined face. But hung back lit
tie, all the same. l didn't see the
sense Of pitching right into him
such a crusty-looking old chap
too!
But Florry said we'd gone too far
to retreat now, and / wouldn't show
the white feather if she wouldn't
no, sir! She she took the cast iron
no, ''iron clad pledge that she'd