The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-07-27
A LUCKY LETTER.

~ ~ ~ AGINoA "a bhtegAGA
toast, fragrant Oolong, honey and
preserves; no comfortable repast Of
cold fowl, tongue, ported meats and
biscuithot from the oven!
When Saba called it "tea" she mere
ly used a conventionalism. It was only
a scanty meal of bakers bread, with a
pot Of cheap butter, o little smoked
beef, which had been brought from the
corner grocer's in a brown-papef owe
and some milk and water, blue and
tasteless for Saba and her two cousins
found it necessary to economic very
strictly indeed.
Saba worked for an upholsterer. All
day long she stitched pillow-ticks and
tufted mattresses in a dark little room,
where there was a prevailing smell Of
rancid ge~ese-feathers.
Her cousin, Helen, stood behind the
counter Of a milliner's shop on the
Bowery; and little Kate-the youngest
of the three-was packer" in a fancy
store. and could do up more neat paper
parcels in a given time than you would
believe possible.
They were all three pallid and color
less, like plants that had grown in a
cellar. They all three had a certain
lanquor Of manner, and spoke in low,
suppressed voices.
They lived together in this one room
with a little alcoye running out Of it.
because it was the cheapest mode Of
existence, and because their scanty
! eeflings, dubbed together, could be
laid out to more advantage than if ex-
pended singly. Moreover, to these
poor homeless girls, there was a feeling
in being together.
Il don't feel hungry" said Helen
with a grimace.
aTm so tired of bread and butter"
sighed little Kate. "Oh, iii could only
have some Of the stewed grapes that
ulDbuGt uhNl W MNhG+ ~
"Oh, that reminds me-, said Saba,
taking a letter off the mantle. I've
heard from old Mrs. Pinkney. She
wants us to buy a fashionable bonnet
for her-yelEet, with q long plume-if
we can get it fori8 dollar and a half;
and to look out for q bargain III crimson
marino for Louisa James winter frock.
She wants the very best quality and cant
20 higher than thirty seven cents ayard.
And she wishes to know if we are ac-
quainted with anybody in the business
who viii 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.
aMerino for thirty-seyen cents a
yard" cried little Kate. aAnd a hat Of
velvet for q dollar aud a half. Does the
woman expect impossibilities 2"
aBut that isn't al, " said Saba. "Un-
Gle John IL very poor. She thinks his
relations ought to look after him.
"Uncle Johnlp said Kate.
"Poorl" echoed Helen.
@But what has become Of ell his
money9n said little Kate, ~intently knit
ting her brows,
"Im sure / don't know" said Saba.
Mrs. Pinkney doesn't 60 into particu-
lars. ALI the rest Of tie letter IS about
the sewing society, and the chicken
cholera which has carried off SO many
Of her fowls. 2
He mnst have been persuaded into
investingi III some Of those dreadful min
ing stocksI y said little Kate.
"But. girls said Saba, what are
we to do2"
Precisely what he has always done
to us" said Helen. Let him alone
"No, no, Helent" pleaded little Kate.
Don't talk SO. Remember he is the
only uncle we've got. He was our moth
er,s brother"
"And what has he ever done for rs z"
retorted Helen, bitterly.
"That don't signify reasoned Saba.
He is old and feeble. and he needs our
care. That is enough"
Saba is right urged little Kate.
@Uncle John mustn't belief to die alone =
sBrt what can We do r. said Helen.
s'We can't bring him hereig
@No, said Saba. 1T would break
his heart to take him away from the
pine forests, We must 40 to him.
Ard Ill ssarve together 7" said Hell
en-. Il don't see thatthht would be much
or an improvement on the present stnte
III thingS.n
"Lssfen, |" said Saba, lifting an author.
itative fore-dnger. From 4 trifine
seniority in years and somewhat greater
experiences ID the world Of work, Saba
} had become quite IN oracle ia the trio.
tive been considering il, / can dc
I the homework Tor Uncle John"
! ftYes, said Helen.
1Of course, said little Kate. @And
III be hasn't been obliged to sell the COW
We can perhaps have real creamy milk,
ana nov and then a little cottage-cheese
Oh. pouldn't that be splendidae
Helen could make bonnets for TIL
farmers wives, . suggested Saka. teIhl
women ont there know what q pretty