Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-06-05
A LUCKY LETTER,

"Tea is ready, girls, said Saba Thorn
"Tea"
1t was no luxurious repast Of buttered
Toast, fragrant Oolong, honey and
preserves; no comfortable repast of
cold fowl, tongue, pottel meats and
biscuithot from the oven
When Saba called it ftea" she mere
1y used {. conven tionalism. It was only
x scanty meal of bakers bread, with
pot Of cheap butter, q little smoked
beef, winch had been brought from the
corner grocer's in brown paper cover.
and some milk and water, blue and
tasteless; for Saba and her two cousins
found it necessary to econom1ze very
strictly indeed.
Saba worked for an upholsterer. All
day long she stitched pillow-ticks and
tinted mattresses in dark little room,
where there was a prevailing smell Of
rancid geese fe ahlers.
Her cousin, Helen, stood behind the
counter of milliner's shop on the
Bowery; and little Kate-the youngest
of the three was packer" in fancy
store. and could do up more neat paper
parcels in given time than you would
believe possible.
They were all three pallid and color
less, like plants that had grown in a
cellar. They all three had certain
lanquor of manner, and spoke in low,
suppressed voices.
They lived together in this ono room
VIII little alcove running out of it,
because it was the cheapest mode of
existence, and because their scanty
earnings, dubbed together, could be
laid out to more advantage than if ex-
pended singly. Moreover, to these
poor homeless girls, there was feeling
in being together.
II don't feel hungry y" said Helen
with q grimace.
I'm 50 tired of bread and butter!"
l L
have some of the stewed grapes that
mother used to make!"
"Oh, that reminds me-" said Saba,
taking a letter off the mantle. tive
heard from old Mrs. Pinkney. She
wants us to buy fashionable bonnet
for her--velvet, with a long plume--if
we can get it for q dollar and a half;
and to look out for bargain in crimson
marino for Louisa James winter frock.
She wants the very best quality and can't
go higher than thirty seven cents yard.
And she wishes to know if we are ac-
qu,sinted with anybody in the business
who will dye over her pea-green silk
skirt at half-price."
Helen shrugged her shoulders.
"She must think we have plenty of
time to execute her commissions, said
she.
"NIerino for thirty-seven cents n
yard !" cried little Kite. "And a hat of
velvet for dollar and half Does the
woman expect impossibilities ?"
"But that isn't all" said Saba. Gun
clio John is very poor. She thinks his
relations ought TO look after him."
OuClS cOuH: Sdl1A AhuO'
"Poor!" echoed Helen.
"But what has become of all his
money!" said little Kate, intently knit
ting her brows,
"I'm sure I don't know" said Saba.
"Mrs. Pinkney doesn't go into particu-
lars. All the rest of the letter is about
the sewing society, and the chicken
cholera which has carried off so many
of her fowls"
He must have been persuaded into
investing in some of those dreadful min
ing stocks!" said little Kate.
"But, girls" said Saba, "what are
we to do?" ~ '..> ,.. 3:
Precisely what he has always done
10 u.s. said Helen. "Let him alone"
Y "No, no, Helen!'' pleaded little Kate.
Don't talk so. Remember he is the
only uncle we've got. He was our moth
e7's brother" sg - -. T y
4 sand what has he ever done for us ?"
X brted Helen, bitterly. .5
ss "That don't signify" reasoned Saba.
He is old and feeble, and he needs our
care. That is enough" 5s.
Saba is right" urged little Kate.
4"Uncle John mustn't be left to die alone"
.sBut what can we do 2" said Helen.
eve can't bring him here!
mo- said Saba. It would break
his heart to take him away from the
pine forests. We must 60 to him.
'ssAaAnil all starve together 3" said Hell
en-. II don't se4 that that would be much
Of an Improvement on the present state
Of things. !" 81
q listen, & said Saba, lifting an author
itatiye fore finger. From 3 trifing
seniority in ysars and solnewhat greater
experiences in the world OF work, Saba
had become quite m oracle ~ the trio.
i've been considering il. can do
che housework. for Uncle John" b
es, sid Helen. va
..Of course, said little Kate. And
6 ia hasn't been obliged TO sel the COW,
Re en- perhaps have real creamy milk