South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-03-09

clear. making every object visible.
why wonder | haven't thought
OF It before, che exclaimed aloud.
Thought of what p said her mo-
Their. who, it seemed, was also awake.
"A plan. dear mother. which seeWs
to me full Of promise. cant sell
Toms horse, dear old feliowi I am
sure Tom wouldn't want me Co, sod
~ I walked up just nov it occurred to
me how Ne could keep him. What's
the use Of having health and strength
If you can't put them TO some ac-
count?
what are you thinking of. my
dear ? her mother asked. Il don't
see how We can keep Dobbin. II
costs us something every day. though
fortunately the hay is not all gone.
1t looks dark ahead. don't see
what We are going TO do
But ! do, said Phebe; At least I
! see what l am going to do. I'll 60
over aud talk with Jenny about il,
poor girl. and I think it will meet
with her approval. I don't know
what you will say. bnt as lay thinks
ing things over it occurred TO me that
am perfectly acquainted with Toms
route. having gone with him often
when was younger. and SO why not
start out on tho business myself p
oh. Phebe y exclaimed her moth.
or. in distressed voice. you could
not; it's mans business
But l don't see why l couldn't
make it woman's business. It's
not hard. and l am young and strong
and b, alLby. Then we could keep
Dobbin. and in time could make as
much money as Tom
| i nev,r heard Of such a thing
feebly demonstrated tue mother.
That may be. but il We want to
Se p the children together aud have
a homc, l don't see any other way.
At all events, I'll try it if you only
say may
Well. you must do as you think
best; only it seems to me so strange,
80 kind Of unna'u ral.' murmured her
mother. to think of your going from
house 10 house with tin" are> out 10
tue country too.
Every body knows Toms wagon,
and they used cfLener to me out to
him., said Phehe. fHo las made
himself reputation, and, although
IL will be new, and perhaps for time
little awkward. don't see any 9th.
er way open. 1t would kill me 10
sew, can't keep school, AMI we must
have food to eat and clothes TO wear.
In a few years little Jimmy can trke
the business if We can only uake q
living till then
The news ran through the village
like wild fire when Phebe Palmer set
her resolute little face busine ssward
behind old Dobbin. Some praisCd
and some cOnd mned.
It's lucky she's so LONELY sighed
an old crone.
'Homelyv spoke up Toms be-
trothed with teors in her eyes Phebe
Palmer is as beautiful rs an an.
GEL
AND Phebe must have been beau
tiful certainly TO the angels as she so
bravely took up tue burden she had
set herself TO bear. 1t seemed almost
as II Tom were with her. guiding and
helping her. though without words or
visible presence. And certainly q
greater than he helped her TO bear
the burden.
Dearly me? and yon have taken
Mr.. Palmer's business p said wo-
man who, at the sight Of the na,ty
red and white wagon which had bee
TOMS pride, came out to the road.
side. We'll, I'm sure You have got
good courage; but we'll all lend you
helping hand. Mr.. Palmer wa,
great favorite with everybody that
knew him. and sad enough it was to
bear Of bis taking off in such cruel.
hard way. Why bless your little
heart she added, wiping her eyes
with her check apron, well buy twice
as much for his sake
And so they did. Everybody was
kind, Al this house she must have
q cup OF coffec-her brother always
did-at that bite Of luncheon, and
1t seemed as IL every body made their
purchases as large as 20 sible for
Toms sake.
Pbehe found IL hard days work.
She confessed TO herself that IL was
picassnter in the sunny kitchen at |
home, helping her mother With The
bousework. But then IN this par
ticular case choiSe was not left to /
her she felt thankful, as she put
Dobbin In the sIsbie, with plenty of
help from childish fingers, that she
had been able TO take upon her slen.
der shoulders the burden poor Tom
had put down forever.
Il have demonstrated that / am Of
some practical use,' she said. az che
counted her gains. Il shall let Dot.
bin rest for day or two. 30 that /
can alternate the two kinds of work
for a woman's best place is home,
after ALL
Pbebe kept The business going but
a few months, however, for an honest,
ambitious young man bough' it, slip.
ulaling for Phebe re- well-he even
thought she vas beautiful.
So the OLD Homestead IL in as pros
porous a condition as when Tom was
"at the fore" with his strong arms
and loving heart. /