The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-23
REBECCA'S PLAN.

II wouldn't mind losing the money, -
said gentle Mrs. Orme, ''if it wasn't for
Clan's music" And she wiped a tear
Or two from the eyes that were still blue
and bright.
"Well, | would. then, " said Rebccca,
who stood in the middle of the kitchen
floor, brandishing her china towel as if
1t was an aggressive weapon of warfare
Nobody wants to see their little savings
made ducks and brakes of. If you had
cook my advice, Mrs. Orine, YOU never
would have give it to your city cousin
to invest, but KEEP it in the county bank,
where it Is safe and sound even if it
didn't draw such a high interest. But
you always was foolish about money"
At this Clara Orme fired up, as dove
might resent the attack of some warlike
hawk on the maternal nest.
"Rebecca,' said she, ''be silent! You
shall not speak so to mamma"
We'll. isn't it the truthl" said Re-
becca.
Mamma" don't mind her." pleaded
Clara, putting both arms around the
gentle widows neck, and laying her vel.
vet cheek against the flushed forehead.
"Let the music go. After all, What does
little money signify3"
"Chid, you speak like baby" said
Mrs. Orme. 'Money means great deal
more than you think"
But nevertheless she was instinctively
comforted by tho magnetic touch OF her
child's cheek, the coaxing sweetness of
her voice. And although Rebecca, the
"hired help still stood there scolding,
the sting had all gone out of her reproofs
Rebecca had lived with them since Clara
was baby. 1t was her way to scold
And in spite of the sweet sophistry OF
Claras excuses Mrs. Orme admitted to
herself that Rebecca was more than half
right. She never should have given
that thousand dollars to her cousin, the
city broker, to invest in South Central
Pacific when South Central Pacific was
running up to such a dazzling figure that
everybody fastened to share its splendors.
'What goes up must come down" her
old uncle Lemuel had always said. and
she should have known that South Cen
trail Pacific wasn't sound" But there
was no use crying for spilled milk. The
money was gone in the South Central
Pacific collapse, and all the city cousins
regrets couldn't bring it back And
after all they didn't mind little economy,
if only it wasn't for Clara's musical edu,
cation; the lessons from Madam Oueschi
would have to be stopped now, and how
could Clara ever expect to be a prea,
pianist if"
But Just then the kitchen door swung
omen. and little Bell came in carrvin6o
her apron full of wild grapes, with 4
plorv of late sunshine around her and 4
fringe of blue asters stuck like deer
amethyst plumes in the shabby ribbon OF
her old straw hat
"Oh, mother, mother" she cried,
breathlesslv, ''see what have rot And
there is a CITY lady down at old Mrs
Nickelsa's buvipp ali those funny wooden
chairs that Peleg was lust going TO snlit
IN into kindlinG wood, and the broken
clock too, and the spinning wheel mr.
garrett"
Mrs. Ormc and Rebecca looked at each
other with sudden Frightening of theil
eyes
sOld furniture, ehr said Rebecca
"And Won was a-talkin' of sellin, vourr
at auction, to 90 up to town, and be-
near the woman that gives lessons to ON
Clara. 1t amt nowavs likely thcy'd
fetch much at q vendoo sale. Amt fiji,
good chance for you. Mrs. Orme?n
"Ye-es, | suppose SO, said the meek
widow, with doubtful fiutter at hel
heart. "Put on your hat, Rebecca, and
90 down to Mrs. Nickelsa's and see what
YOU can do"
Mammal" cried Clara, "surely YOU
never will sell the old chairs and bed
stcads!"