Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-06-05
old LADY PINGREE.
Glory of Honest Pride and Self.
Sacrifice.

Sacrlnco.
/. was almost dark at half past four.
,ncv Pingrec stood staring out at one
her front windows. Not a person
| passing on the wide country road;
|, one came up the old brick walk be-
[ren the dry phlox bushes to the
hue.
/ was the same picture out there
,cb the old woman had looked at
Er1reds of times before in winter twi-
hts like this. The interest in it had
"a away with the expectation of new
lreIooments in it which she had
lin her youth. Nature to Nancy
prrec had never been anything but a
TING to life.
When she had first gone to the Win
w she had said: II wish l could see
melody comm that belonged to me-"
Then she simply stood thinking. The
\, graceful, leatlcss trees arching
Ter the quiet snowy road, and the
mspe of clear yellow western sky
rough them, the whole landscape be-
Re her. with all the old lights Of her
/ Inning on it, became a mirror in
lch she saw herself reflected.
She started finally, and went across
room with a long shamble. She was
ne in one hip; but, for all that, there
5 a certain poor majesty in her car
&c. Her rusty black dress hung in
aight long folds, and trailed a little.
E held her head erect, and wore an
/ black lace turban. She had made
turban herself, with no pattern. 1t
Is a direct outcome of her own indi-
l%uality; perchcd on the top OF her
s old head, it really was-Nancy
gree.
Eae took down a plaid shawl which
hanging in a little side entry,
med it over her head, and opened
outer door into the clear twilight.
FHght from the door, on this side
the old house, an avenue of pine
Is led to a hen-coop. Whatever
rstic idea had been in the head of
aey's grandfather, Abraham Pin
;, when he had set out these trees,
bad come to this.
Nancy went down between the windy
hes, over the crusty snow, to the
ge0cp. She came back with two
S; in her hand. They've done
ty well to-day" said she to her
When she was in the house again
stood shivering for a little while
er her sitting-room air-tight stove.
E still held the eggs. A question
come up, the answer to which was
Ftns her a struggle.
i'd have ON one Sled 6aifed for Sa'D supper 9as, l
fder feel the need of it, too; 1 'ain't
anything hearty TODAY. An I
ld have the other one fried with a
lie slice of salt pork for breakfast.
ems to ME l should RELY relish it.
pose Mis- Stevens would admire to
Y an egg for supper. Jenny
PIT had any work this week, an I
v she amt been out anywhere
guy anything to-day. 1 should
lN her mother would actilly go faint
lctlmes, without meat an egg an
n hearty things. She's nothin' but
p an bone anyway. I've a good
M to kerry her one of these eggs.
GN!d ef | didn't feel as eff [ RELY
ted it myself"
NE poor soul stood there looking at
e5Ss, Finally she put the smaller
II Il cupboard beside the chimney,
vent out Of the sitting-room into
front nal with the larger one. She
Ayeu stiihy up the stairs, which were
oI1 winding ones. Then she
'VAea at a door on the landing.
\ IN n, pretty-faced young woman
4gult' Nancy protlered the egg She
u Il stately manner of extending her
.'sre a new-laid egg I thought
mother might relish for her sup
Jenny" said she.
"s young woman's sharp. pretty
rev red. "Oh, thank you, Miss
i5ee; but don't think mother
,r ~ II, l am afraid-you will rob
Si'cy held herwide mouth stiff, only
h. u'is II a crack when she spoke.
nIj I9t plenty for myself, plenty.
S MUM use this one before it spilled,
1o r'i 81 | KEEP it. l thought p'r'aps
pn m".o 60 good for your mothers
but '' put you can do just as you like
"v Young woman accepted the egg,
/, leseIved thanks, then, and Nancy
SsIlly back downstairs.
I"ess CT Jenny Stevens hadn't
/ tt H"e egg, it would have been the
WIZ IA ever offered her." sale
lon "til she was in her sitting-room
,c n . see how she ever got the ides
: %Guls to have that I'm so awful
me made herself a u of tea, anl
,Ner m''e OF bread and butter for hcl
", she had resolved to save he,
I'm = Until morning. Then she sal
q. 'SI me evening with her knit
,or sn Il knitted a good many stock
b. IN d trends family. That frient
NV ~ the side door presently