The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-01-14


though her eyes were misty with unshcd tears.
She was but seventeen years Old. this fifth
Miss Pettibone, plump, brown-eyed girl
with round checks, full, red lips. and pleas
ant voice, which her father had likencd to the
singing of a brook.
''You might turn story-writer, too" said
Gertrude "Everybody said your school com
positions We're Splendid
1t isn't of course that could earn my
bread and butter by writing for the story
papers, returned Nanny, brightly. She paused
moment. ''Abbie, will YOU give me the rent
of the place for Jeannettc'> board?''
mo one would take her for that"
Il woud.' Nanny's full lips closed deter
mine,lly; land will. Poorlttle Jean; it would
nearly kill her to 90 away among strangers.
And Bessie shall stay, too,' she added hastily,
a> if she feared an opposing interruption; land
there shall be a home here for you all, when
ever you choose to come to it,"
The four oldest sisters We're breathless with
astonshment, but Jeannette's eyes shone like
two very bright stars, and Bessie was eXecut-
ing little pirouette in corner of the room.
Nanny herself looked every inch capable of
bearing up, Atlas-ike, the whole world on her
shoulders.
"But how%' asked Miss Abigail, recovering
herself.
"Dr. Greenlan is going abroad" said Nanny,
speaking very distinctly, land he wants to sell
or let his apiary of twenty-five hives; | shall
take thenl-that is one thing. Then | shall
turn our half acre Of land into a strawberry
patc-all hut just enough to raise our own
Vegetables on-and then | shall send the straw
berries to narket-that is another thing"
1T is too late for Strawberries" said Ange-
lima, "and the bees will sting you.'
'You're a regular jobs comforter,' returned
Nanny. with il half-hystcrcal little laugh. Il
will prepare the ground and set my vines this
summer and fall and DR.. Greenlan says he
will show me about managing the bees. In
the meantime, before my income begins to
come in" and Nanny laughed, Il will manage
some way, never fear. Perhaps | may even
borrow Mrs. Johnsons sign.
''WASIIING 4 IERNING DONE HEAR"
There was the light of an earnest purpose in
Nanny'> eyes, and IA look of determination on
her bright face quite at variance with her
playful tone, and the badinage she uttered.
"lou're a trump, Nanny Pcttibone." said
the tall Gertrude, with more force than ee-
gamce, land the rest of Us are selfish nobodes. .
Ii that three dollars won't stretch, I'll pull it
i'll two
"Dop't," said Nanny, merrily; but She
la
squeeze under cover of her rutled apron.
'lt is only that you didn't see it quite as do"
She said. Il believe I've been thinking of this
ever since papa died-and even before; for
asked him one day if | could not try the straw
berries, and perhaps help him a little, poor
papa. But he kissed me, and smoothed nv
hair Nanny's eyes grew humid, ''and asked
me if l didn't get butter enough on my bread"
But suppose you fa?' quered Angelina,
returning to the subject.
Then | shall know | tried,' said Nanny,
briefly. but / shall not. l haven't very
large eyes, Angie; l expect great many draw
backs-at tirst-but | have counted the cost,
many night, as I lay thinking it over, and
am very sure we could live--Jeannie, and Bess
and |, with economy and not too much plum
pudding, on one hundred dollars year, and
DR.. GreenIan tells me that he received more
than twice that sum from the sale of swarms
and honey last YEAR"
'lt wasn't good year for bees either" cri-
ed the irrcpressiblc Gertrude.
''And more,' continued Nanny, ''therc will
be a home here for you, there always has
been"
'Bless you, Nanny" said Miss Abigail, wip-
ing her eyes furtively; but she found a great
deal to say against the project before She final
ly consented to "A trial Of it.
And there We're drawbacks, Nanny found. 1t
was no slight task, that which she had taken
upon herself; and sometimes she almost lost
courage. The house was very lonely when
Abigail had gone to her school, Gertrude and
Bertha to Scovil, and Angelina had assumed
charge of Mr.. Briggs and his household-an
event which shortly happened But she found
plenty of employment for herself, and the
neighbors We're very kind, and took much in
tcrest in having her little venture prove a sue
cess; and great deal of plain sewing found its
way to the cottage, which might, perhaps, have
been done as well and expeditiously at home.
Deacon Parmalee, too, who kept the corner
store, and whose eyes were failing him unac-
countably, sent her good many odd bits of
copying to do-for Nanny wrote a large, round
hand, quite unlike the slim, singular chirogra-
ply now so fashionable
''''Tis plain as print" said the deacon, ''and
! won't be bothered reading my own pot hooks,
when can get such as hers" And he paid
her well.
So they lived through the summer, these
three, in the little no-coored house; and Bessie
did not give up her lessons nor practice. The
bees were assiduously looked after, and Nanny
soon became very expert in the care of these
tiny, intelligent creatures. 1t must have been,
as Gertrude would have expressed it, ''a good
year for bees" for when the fall came, Nannv's
stock had more than doubled, and the whole
number of swarms had made very large
amount of honey.
The autumn brought Miss Abigail home to
spend vacation; Gertrude and Bertha came
too, for little season of rest from their work.
and Nanny's sweet face beamed with pleasure
and grateful pride, as she went over with them
all the account of her summers work.
II have sold fifteen swarms at ten dollars
apiece" said she; land Deacon Parmalee will
take 300 pounds of honey at twenty-five cents
a pound. And the strawberres-Squire Bart
lett gave me all the cuttings | had a mind to
take, Since he threw them away, and Bessie
and put them out with scarcely any cost, ex-
cept of time. JEANNE, well, l shall not tell
you what JEANNE is doing. Oh, girls! Oh,
Abbie. ] am so happy, and proud Of every
thing! If l can do half as well next year,
shall be almost satisfied; though Pm afraid +
shall run ahead of my one hundred dollar limit
And don't think that / forget to be glad that
Bertha has got story accepted, and that Alb
bie's scholars love her dearly, and that Gertie
can ply the goose even more dexterously than
the tailor himself. am glad for us all, not ex-
cepting Angie, for think she enjoys marshall
ing her six bright little Brggses at home and
abroad"