St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-04-04
IN HASTE.
An Important Letter, Three Bro.
ken Eggs and a Telegram.

three cents apiece, and eggs twelve and
and half cents dozen, that Mr..
Huggins. the proprietor of the little
country store at Elkton, sat at his high
desk one dreary afternoon, with his
head studiousy bent over his book,
making out an account of sales.
''Please SIR" suddenly interrupted a
thin, small voice proceeding from the
space in front of the desk, Twill you
give me a stamp for these three eggs,
and you needn't mind the change"
Mr.. Higgins slowly lifted his eyes
from the big book, to look for the small
speaker below them.
Ii was mite of girl, not more than
six years old, who held letter in one
hand and with the other tightly grasped
her apron gathered together for the
safe keeping of three eggs lying within.
Mr.. Higgins senses had been so abb
sorbed in the difficulties of his long sum
in addition, that it was several moments
before he could recall them and bring
them down to level with the little
head lifting itself eagerly up to him;
but reaching out his hand mechanically,
he took the letter, and supposing he
would Immediately take the eggs also,
the little girl incautiously opened her
apron, when, alas, with pip! pip! pip!
as though they we're kissing each other a
hasty good-by, out rolled the eggs,
and with smash! smash! smash!
lay on the floor. a medley of gold and
silver and ivory. SheliSi
For one moment the poor little mes
senger stood silent with dismay, and
then lifting her distressed face to that of
Mr.. Higgins, she burst into a wall so
pitiful that the heart of the store-keeper
vast ouched with compassion.
s.Why, what on earth did you open
your apron for. little gale" said he, by
way of soothing her.
ITO Jet you-get - the eggs, -
sobbed the child. Il thought you were
going to take Them"
s.And so Iwas," he answered, ''but
you ought not to have let 60 your grip
till / had hold of them. Well. well,
they won't hatch now, that's certain, -
he continued, with touch of philoso-
ply in his tone, 8. but there's nc
more use crying over smashed eggs
than over split milk; you ought to be
glad there are so few of them; and
what were you asking me to do with
them?"
ITO give me stamp, please, sir.
But oh, what will mother do now! Her
letter can't go and she said it was to
start at once and go in haste!"
The sobs grew louder as the little girl
seemed to realize more and more the
extent Of the disaster.
ITO go in haste" repeated Mr.. Hug
gins, with smile of superior knowl-
edge. s.Yes, see, she has written on
it in haste, in haste Well, that might
have done some good, perhaps, fifty
wears AGO, when letters were carried
about the country on horseback; Idoub'
if it will hurry up the steam ears very
much. But for mercy sake. little gal
do stop cryingr' he calculated sudden
ly as the deepening sobs smote his
heart anew and brought him back te
the business on hand. Didn't ! tel
YOU there's no use crying over smashed
eggs. So. look ,rp now and tell me wha,
is the great haste about this particular
letter?n
20, I don't know 'zackly, sir, an
swered the child, tearfully. ''but know
it is something very particular indeed
and will break mothers heart a most e
know it hasn't gone You see, she hao
been over to Miss Riley's and she come
back with the tears all running dowI
her cheeks, and she hunted round tli
she found this paper and pencil, anc
wrote the letter with her hand all IN
tremble. But after it was all done up
she just remembered that she hadn't
stamp. andI ran as fast rs / could tt
Miss Riley's. but she hadn't one mol
any money either, and mother just sanf
down and cried as if her heart woult
break. and then, sir-wasn't it lucky
l knew stamp cost three cents, and
just thought of my old hen. Buff, WHIT
was laying eggs that I wanted so t.
hatch. and there was Just three in the
nest. but couldn't see mother CRY so
and l ran out and brought them in t
her, and she was 50 glad-well, I wish
yon could have seen her-and she said
Thank God for the eggs, Jess, and rur
as fast as You can, for this letter mus,
go in haste. IN haste. that's Just wha
she said-but oh, the eggs are all broker
now. and what will mother DOR
The long story came to an abrupt enc
with fresh wall of grief.
We'll, don't. take it SO to heart
child" said Mr.. Huggins with his gruf
kindliness. There's no great harm
Hlnnn. fho lafkAr can't ~ &sIt - r>-.-