The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-07-04

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armchair against the wall and thrust
his hands into his pockets,
''It's her birthday, and give her a
card" Little Nan was saying. "She
said good mornln' when met her on the
stairs, Hain't she sweet? Bet your life
1t was stunnin' card. There was bird
on a tree and the bird was sayin' po'try,
1t said somethin' bout bein' SCARF d
old bird" ..
"By glngerp' exclaimed old Billy,
you've went and done 1t this time"
Then he chuckled, "Didn't you know
she was an old NADIA regular Yankee
schoolma' amp Why didn't you pick out
nice piece bout young love and for
get-me-don't, and all that kind of
thingP"
at was a mighty pretty card and
dirt cheap" answered Little Nan dis
consolately. "She wouldn't think 1 was
pokin' fun at her, would shep" looking
up anxiously.
"Reckon not" said old Eilly, "you
wouldn't find it out If she did. She's
an up and down lady. This 'ere camps
no place for her. There hain't another
one Of her kind to keep her company,
Ought to send for her sister, or cousin.
or somethin'. Don't see what brung
her way out here to keep school,"
Little Nan gazed in the fire with her
large blue eyes.
"She hain't like u.s." she said slowly,
''She hain't a bit like u.s."
The school children were troublesome
the next day. Miss Morrin tried coax
ing, then scolding, and finally was
strongly tempted to resort to corporal
punishment. But she was slight and
frail, and there were some large boys in
the school. On her way home at noon
she decided she was still far from being
fit for a minister's wife. There were
letters from Maine on her table. Old
Mrs, Jones had died at last--she was 90
and there had been church sociable.
Sister Mary had saved enough egg-mon-
ey to buy herself black cashmere dress.
She thought of having it male with q
killed skirt and o polonaise. 1t was a
long time since Mary had bought a new
dress, Miss Morrin remembered. Just
then woman clad in velvet and seal
skin passed the Grand. Six months be-
fore, this same robust female had heen
glad to wash flannel shirts for the min
ers. Her "old man" had just struck II
rich. And down in Maine Sister Mary
was selling eggs and boarding up every
nickle in order to buy herself plain
cashmere dress.
"Please, ma'am," interrupted Littlt
Nan, having knocked again at Miss
Morrin's door, "Will you come ant
look at old Billy? He'stall1in' to himself
and his face is red as the deuce"
"The what2" said Miss Morrin, some
what shocked.
81 said his face was red," repeated
Little Nan innocently.
Miss Morrin silently followed Mar
across the hall to a small room plainly
furnished. Old Billy lay quietly on tht
bed, patchwork quilt over hins anC
his head on dirty pillow. He looked
up as they entered.
"Good mornin'," he said with an eff
fort. SITS so dark l can't see."
'Tll raise the blind" said Miss Nor
rim.
"Then pass" murmured old Billy.
"He thinks he's playin' poker" ex
planned Little Nan, in whisper. "Ht
don't know what he's sayin'. WoulG
you mind sittin' with him while gil
the doctorP"
AS she left the room old Billy put hi
hand on Miss Morrin arm. For nc
ment he was quite himself.
"Please git me pencil and bit of pe,
per-" he said eagerly. "QuickP'
Silently Miss Morrin rose and crossed
the hall to her room. When she re
turned she handed q sheet OF tinted
note-paper and long Faber pencil t.
the sick man.
With an effort old Billy raised hi
head and Miss Morrln piled up the dirt.
pillows behind him. He wrote few
lines feebly; then the pencil dropped
from his hand. He thrust the bit o
paper under the pile Of pillows and drew
the patchwork quilt we'll around hi
shoulders. Still he shivered slightly
"I'm so cold and tired" he murmured
| Then a sweet peace seemed to stea
over his face. His eyes closed and b,
fell gently asleep. But he never wok,
again in this world.
The day of the funeral Little Mar
came to Miss Morrin's room with bas
ket of bright flowers on her arm.
"Will you please help me to fix tn,
fowers?" she asked while the tear
came to her eyes. II want TO make {
wreath for old Billy"
"Sit down." said Miss Morrin kindly
and drew a rocking-chair toward the
fire. Then she turned to her trunk
and, after some search, came back t.
her visitor with a roll of fine wire IL
her hand. Tenderly she lifted the flow
ers. There were red roses, and pinl
and scarlet geraniums, and few sprigi
OF green.
sold Billy liked bright flowers" said
Little Nan. "He used 10 throw 'em tC
me often.
"What do you do at the theatre|'
asked Miss Morrin hesitatively.
"Tm song and dance artistic" an
swered Nan proudly. II sing songs
and dance"
"Do-do ladies attendp''
mo, ma'am; only men,"
Miss Morrin shuddered.
Ia - II 4.