Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-04
A LUCKY LETTER.
"Tea is ready, girls" said Saba Thorn

"Tea Is ready, girls sad SABA Ihorn.
"Tea"
1t was no luxurious repast of but
tered toast, fragrant Oolong, honey
and preserves; no comfortable repast
of cold fowl, tongue, potted meats and
biscuit hot from the oven!
When Saba Thorn called it "tea,"
she merely used a conventionalism. 1t
was only a scanty meal of bakers
bread, with a pot Of cheap butter, Il
little smoked beef, which had been
brought from the corner grocer's in Il
brown-paper cover, and some milk and
water, blue and t;,steless; for Saba
and her two cousins found it necessary
to economize very strictly indeed.
Saba worked for an upholstery. All
day long she stitched pillow-ticks and
tufted mattresses in adark little room,
where there was aprevailing smell of
rancid geeSe-feathers.
Her cousin, Helen, stool behind the
counter Of milliner's shop on the
BOwery: and little Kate--the young
est Of the three-was "packer' in a
fancy store, anN could do up more neat
paper parcels in given time than
you would believe possible.
They were all three pallid and col
orless, like plants that had grown in a
cellar. They all three had certain
languor of manner and spoke in low,
suppressed voices.
They lived together in this one room
with little alcove running out of it,
because it was the cheapest mode of
existence and because their scant earn
ings, dubbed together, could be laid
out to better advantage than if eX.
pended singly. Moreover, to these
poor, homeless girls, there was home
feeling in being together.
II don't feel hungry" said Helen
with grimace.
81 am so tired Of bread and butter"
sighed little Kate. ooh, if could only
have some of the stewed grapes that
mother used to make"
! "Oh, that reminds me-" said Saba,
taking letter off the mantle. "Ivt
heard from old Mrs. Pinkney. She
wants us to buy fashionable bonnet
for her-garnet velvet with long
plume--if we can get it for dollar
and half; and to look out for a bar
gain in crimson merino for Louisa
James winter frock. She wants the
very best quality, and she can't &C
higher than thirty-seven cents yard
And she wishes to know if we are ac.
quainted 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.
"Merino for thirty-Seven cents q
yardw cried little Kate. "And a hat
of velvet, for dollar and bali. Does
hewoman expectimpossibilities?" 2"
"But that isn't ALL" said Saba.
Uncle John is very poor She thinks
his relations ought to look after him. "
"Uncle John" said Kate.
"Poorp' echoed Helen.
"But what has become of all his
money! said little Kate, intently knit.
ing her brows.
I'm sure 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"
"IIe must have been persuaded into
investing in some of those dreadful
mining stocks" said little Kate.
"But, girls" said Saba, "what art
we to do?"
"precisely what he has always done
to u.s. said Helen. "Let him alone"
"No, no. Helen" pleaded little Kate
Don't talk so. Remember, he is the
only uncle we have got, lie was oul
mothers brother"
"And what has he ever done fol
us?' retorted Helen, bitterly.
"That don't signify" reasoned Saba
ale is old and feeble. lie needs ouI
care. That is enough"
"Saba is right" urged little Kate
"Uncle John mustn't be left to di,
alone"
But what can we do?" said Helen
I'VE can't bring him hele.'
"No," said Saba. at would breal
ais heart to take him away from tn
pine forests. We must go to him."
"And all starve together?' said IIel
en-. 81 don't see that that would b
much of an improvement on the pres
cnt state of things"
Listen" said Saba, lifting an an
thoritative fore-Gnger. From n tri
fling seniority in yearsand somcwha
crentrr eynerienco in the world O