South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-01-23

- =
ltwns when postage Of mps were
three Genie apiece, aud eggs twelve
and Z half cent? = dozen that Ar.
49ggi IS, the proprietor o. The little
6hiry store ut Eikion, sat y: his high
Xxx, ene dreary afternoon, wilh his
lead studiously bent over his h,Ok,
masking ont an account oil ssies.
sFIease. cir suddenly interrupted a
thin, small voice proceeding from the
81 ace in front of the desk, swill you
give me stamp Tot these 'hree eggs,
aud you needn't mind the chsuge'
Mr.. Hugx.us sloxIy lifted his eyss
fnona tils Lix boak, 10 look foe che
small speaker belo them.
1t Mas u mite of a girl, not more
than six years old, who held letter
in one hand and with the other tight.
ly grasped her apron gathered together
tor the safe keeping ut three eggs Is
ing within.
Mr. Higgins senses had been 40 alb
sorbed in the difficulties Of his long
sum in addition, that it was several
moments before he could recall them
aud bring them down to level with
the little head l.Iilng itself eagerly mp
to him, but reaching out his hand
mechanically, he took the letter, and
snpposing he would Immediately take
the eggs also, the little cir! ncautious-
~ opened her apron, when, al -. with
a PIP! pip! PIP! a. though thcy were
kissing each other hazty goodbye,
out rolled the eggs, and with IA smash!
sma h (! smash lay on the floor. IL
medley of gold aud silver, aud ivory
shells!
For one moment the poor little mes
senger stood silent with disnay, aud
then lifting he: distressed ia tn that
OF Mr.. uugyins. she burst into wall
60 p tiiul that the heart OF the stcre-
keeper was touched with compassion.
why, what on earth did you open
your apron for, little gal p said he,
by way of soothipg her.
'To-let - you-get-the eggs.
sobbed the child. Il thought you were
going TO take Them
And 80 d. was,' he answered, but
you ought not to have let go your grip
til | had hold of them. Well, well.
they won't hatch now. that's certa u
he CO liinued with touch at phiioso-
ply in his tone, 'but there's no more
use crying over smashed eggs than
over split milk; YOU OF ght 10 be glad
there were go few OF them, and what
were you asking me to do with them?'
TO give me Il stamp. please, Err
But oh. what will mother do now |!
Tier letter cant 90, and she said it was
to start III once, and go in has'c!'
The sobs grew louder as the little
girl seemed To- realize more and more
the extent Of the disaster
70 60 in haste repeated Mr.. Hug
gino with a smile of superior knowl-
edge. Yes. / see, she has written on
il 'Iu haste, In haste. Well. that
might have lone 81 ne good. verhaps.
nifty years ago, when letters were car.
RED abont the couHtry Oh hnr-eback !;
| doubt il il will hurry up the steam
cars very much Bnt for mercy sake,
little gal. do stop crying! he ejacu
lated 81 dden. y as the deepening soLs
smo:e bis heart anew. aud brought
him back t. the business on hand.
'DIdn't tell You there's no use cry
ing over smashed eggs! SO, look up
now, and tell me what is the great
haste about this particular letter.
oh. | don't know 'zlckly, sir an
sw cred the child tearfuIly, but know
1t ! something very part cular Indeed
and II vii break moihe . heart a.
most TO know it ha-n't gone. You
see, she hal been over 10 Miss Ri,ey's
and she come back with the tears all
running down her cbeeks, and she
hunted rouDd till sbe found this paper
and Il pencil aud wrote the letter with
her hand all m iremDle. But after
IL was al acne up. she just remember.
ed that she hidn't stamp. and ran
a fast as / could to Miss R;lev's. bn
she hadI't ono. nor anv money either
and mother Just sank down aud cried
as il her he ,rt would break and then
sir--wasn't it lucky knew a Stang
Coz three cents, and just thought o.
my old hen, Buff. who was laying
eggs that ] wanted 20 TO hatch. unC
there vas just three in tie nest, bat |
couldn't see mother cry so. aud rar
out aud Brought them in to her. anC
she was 80 caldwell | wIsh yot
could have seen her--aud she said
Thank God FOR the eggs. ,Iess, ate
run as fast az you can, for This Tette
must 90 ia haste, in haste, tia = just
what che said-bLt oh, the eggs ar,
all broken now, aud what will moth
er do
The long story came to an abrup
end With fresh vail of grisf.
well, don't take it so TO beari
child, said Mr.. Buggins with bis gruf
kindliness. There's no great harm
done; the letter can't go till to-mor.