The Penn's Grove record., 1886-07-17
LOTTIE'S SURPRISE.

1t had blown a perfect hurricane all
day, and early in the afternoon the ram
had commenced to fall, increasing il
violence until at 6 O'Clock, when Lottit
started home, the streets were muddy
and the wind fiercer than ever
"Oh, how good home will lookl" she
said to herself, pulling her coat collar
up about her ears, aud tu3kin5
her music-roll securely under hel
arm. "How happy 1 ought to be that
1 have it to go to, even il it ls'only 4
little room all by myself. What dc
poor girls do who have none, no work
no homeland no Robertl"
Then she laughed shyly to herself
and blushed-a happy, rosy blush down
Inside the coat collar, and walked faster
than ever.
Home was quite q distance, but
her Ueet steps carried her quickly there,
and the hall deor had flown open
In response to her latch-key, when,
from somewhere in the darkness near,
a voice came-a tremulous, pleading
voice:
"Pity-oh. for the love of God, p.th
uaein
"Who are your Where are your
asked Lottie, startled, and stopping
right where the hall.light shone IN her
face and dazzled her eyes.
"Here," and from the shadow behind
the door rose a woman's figure
woman that the next moment also
stood in the light. showing a wrinkled,
aged face and snew-white hair, covered
with a tattered bit of shawl, 81 am
starving, and maybe dying. If you
have any pity, give me some food and
some kind of shelter" she said, with a
desperate sort of famished eagerness.
"I will-oh, I will Come in" cried
Lottie, her voice quivering, and her
eyes shining with the generous pity
that flooded her young heart. 81 have
no place l can take you to but my room
on the top floor. Can you climb the
stairsp"
"For warmth and food9 Yes, yes:
lead the way" cried the woman,
eagerly, looking at the girl with trem-
bling delight burning in her hollow
eyes. ST a follow anywhere"
But she was aged and weak, and the
four long flights Of stairs were slowly
accomplished, Lottie assisting her CON-
panion as well as the narrow staircase
would allow, and going very slowly.
"This is my room" she exclaimed at
last, throwing open the door and lead
ing the painting woman in "Sit down
here, and in two minutes the fire will
be alight. Are you very tlred?"
Thn xrranrx, xr-nponn nNstId np1u nod %
she sank into the chair Lottle gave,
while her young hostess flew about the
room.
Everything was most exqulsitely
neat, and the little CRATE, brushed and
polished, was already laid for the fire,
and, at a touch from Lottie's match,
blazed and cracked with amazing
brightness.
sis not that lovely?" she cried,
turning to her strange visitor. "Now
you will soon be warm, and in a
few minutes 1 will make you a cup of
tea. Move nearer, won't your"
Apparently speeches. with grateful
amaze and delight. the woman did
as bid, throwing off her wet, tattered
shawl, and holding her wrinkled hands
over the blaze, while her eager eyes
still followed every move Lottie made.
~ am my own housekeeper you see, u
continued the girl gaily, as If wishing
to make her visitor less timid and more
at home. "Here is my little Kitchen
and with a merry laugh she threw open
the door of a large closet, showing
within two neatly-papered shelves OF
dishes and tins, while on a small table
below stood a little ~single-burner OIL
stove. Here l bake and BREW" she
went on, lighting the single wick
and quickly putting some water to boil
In a diminutive tea-kettle; ''and /
am just as happy and independent
as al be. How do you like itP"
Like It'll" echoed the woman. ''Does
1t not lock like heaven to me? But are
you all alonep"
Eyes. all alone. 1 have not a re'a-
tive in the world that / know Of" said
Lottie, taking off and hanging up
her things, o that she had all things
started. 81 would be very lonesome If
I had the time, but 1 havn't."
Then you work-you too are poorI''
cried the woman as though the sur
roundings were to her suggestive of
wealth and ease,
"Oh, yes, I am poor; and yet 1 am
rich, for l have health and strength and
good work." said Lottie, with a world
OF thankfulness thrilling her blithe
voice. SIN the morning / am up early,
and arrange my room and fire, and
have my little breakfast; then l am
away all day as a nursery-governess
and music teacher in a great house in
the city. / never have time to be lone
some, and / am very happy"
The woman turned her eyes to
the fire again, and as she steadily
and silently watched the dancing flames,
Lottie seized the opportunity of looking
at her closely, when the woman turned,
almost sharply.
you were studying me. What
do you Think"
"Oh-why-I-I was w~ondering--it
you had always been so poor" SIAM
mered Lottie, honest but embarrassed.
The woman laughed, and not unmu-
sically.