The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-04
LITTLE MANS FORTUNE.
TExchanPe,l

Exchange.l
 @Come in," called Miss Morrin, in her pleasant voice.
 So the door opened and Little Nan, song and dance artiste, appeared on the threshold.
 Her thick red hair was twisted in a
 tight knot on the top of her head, row of curlpapers fringed her forehead, little dabs of powder were left on her cheeks, her calico Mother Hubbard was faded, and there was long rent in her skirt. She came timidly into the room and laid a large white envelope down on the table.
 "It's fur you." she said, quickly turn ing away. heard you tellin' Mrs. Spratt twas ysur birthday" Then the door closed upon Little Nan. Miss Morrin laid down Emerson and took up the attractive white envelope. It contained birthday card-a very pretty card. On one side were landscape and solitary bird on tho branch of a tree, and on the other were printed the follow ing verses:
 There's gloom without, but there's cheer within,
 Rollicking shout and rattling dia. They kiss, good luck with rare good will
 Each lucky Jack has darling Jill. It's trifing hard Gas think you Il see1 On lonely, scarr'd old bird like me. "A lonely, scarr'd old bird like me p repeated Miss Morrin to herself. Yes, am getting to be an old bird. am thirty-6ve today, and James is thirty eight. We are both growing old, and are DO nearer being m arried than we were ten years ago. Twenty five is rather late in life to enter upon a long engagement. But would rather wait for James than marry a millionaire. Dear James He thinks it is his duty to stay in Maine and preach to those poor, uneducated people, when he might be pastor of a rich church. with salary large enough to support us all. Of course, it is his first duty to care for his mother and sister. Unfortunately l am poor, too. wish had few hun drsd dollars to buy claim or grub-stake some poor prespsctor. If was a man would take a pick and go up on the mountains and dig; but being woman, all can do is to wait wonder what made that child give mo this card. never spoke to her until this morning. They say she dances at the theatre" and with a shudder at the thought Miss Nor rim went on reading Emerson. Down stairs in tho office of the Grand hotel old Billy was smoking his pipe He wore long boots that came to his knees, corduroy pants and a flannel shirt. His broad-brimmed tslt hat was tipped over his eyes He had tilted his armchair against the wall, and thrust his hands into his pockets.
 It's her birthday and give her card," Little Nan was saying. {" She said good mornin' when l met her on the stairs. Hain't she sweet2 Bet your life l It was a stunnin' card. There was . bird On tree and the bird was sayin' po'try. It said something bout bein' scarr'd old bird"
 By gingerl' exclaimed old Billy, @youve weat and done it this time" ]" Then he chucklsd. "Didnt you know she was an old maid-a regular Yankee school-ma'am Why didn't you pick out nice piece bout young love and
 forget-me- don'ts, and all that kind O
 1, was a mighty pretty card and dirt cheap" answered Little Nan, diseonso- lately. "She wouldn't think was pokin'
 fun at her. would she ?" looking up. anx- I iously.
 Reckon not" said old Billy; &PDu
 wouldn't find 1t out if she did. She's an up-and-down lady. This 'ers camps no place for her. There naint another one of her kind to keep her company. Ought
 to send fur her sister, or cousin, or some
 thin. Don't sec what brung her way
 out here to keep school"
 Little Nan gazed in the fire with her
 large blue eyes.
 "She hain't like us," she said slowly.
 She haint a bit like us"
 The school children were troublesome
 the next day. Miss Morrin tried coax
 ing, then scolding, and finally was strong
 y tempted to resort to corporal punish
 ment. But she was slight and frail, and
 these were some large boys in the school.
 On her way home at noon she decided
 she was still far from being fit for . min
 ister's wife. There were letters from
 Maine on her table. Old Mrs. Jones died
 at last-she was ninety sy-thfee-and there
 had been a church sociable. Sister Mary
 had saved enough egg-moaey to buy her
 elf black cashmere dress. She thought
 Of having it made with a kilted skirt and
 poaonaise. It was long time since
 Mary had bought a new dress, Miss Nor
 m remembered. Just then . woman
 dad in velvet and sealskin passed the
 Gfand. Six months before, this same