Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-06-14
TWO SHIPS
That, By Joining Company, Came
Prosperously In.

Two girls in the kitchen of a plain,
old-fashioned house were busy sewing.
the elder rapidly running q machine,
the younger trimming a straw hat with
odds and ends of ribbons, which she
tried in vain to coax into some appear
ance of freshness.
How does it look. MattieP" she
asked anxiously, holding it off lit
tie, and slowing turning it around.
Matte looked up from her machine
without stopping its quick motion,
turned one comprehensive glance upon
the hat, and said, impulsively: "Like
last years birds nest"
''Oh, dearr' said Dolly, flushing all
over her pretty, worried face, and
tossing the poor little hat into a corner.
What is the use. any wayP We may
as we'll give up and go to the poor
house first as last"
"rll never give up. first or last"
said Matte. Somewhere and some
how know there must be something
better for us, and we are sure to find
it sooner or later; but in the meantime
can't afford to waste any of my
strength in pretending. Our clothes
are old and shabby and dingy, and it's
of no use trying to make them look
any thing else"
Dolly gave sigh that touched Mat
ties heart.
'.Poor little Dolly! It's too bad for
you; you're so sweet and pretty and
patient Just wait till my ship comes
in,
''An' you shall haze shler,
An wear o goold ring"
Dolly smiled family.
THAT was what father always said
when we wanted any thing. 1 used to
believe in that ship as much as 1 be-
lieved in next year, and sometimes l
indulge myself in dreaming about it
now. and fancying what it will bring
u.s."
Matte set the last stitches with lips
compressed, and began folding the
coarse shirts on which she was workin g
into compact pile.
care they tinIshed?" asked Dolly.
mo; I'll sew on the buttons to-
night; I'm going out to look for our
ship"
Matte put on a hat older and more
openly ugly than Dolly's, and walked
down the street with her firm, rapid
tread. Once she turned to look back
at the small, brown house that was the
only inheritance her father had left to
his wife and girls-a fortune that
seemed infinitely smaller now that the
mother had gone also, after a
protracted sickness that had con-
sumed the last dollar from
~ .l a
garden. The coarse sewing, with
which the girls managed to keep soul
and body together. was certainly better
than nothing. and was considered a re-
spectacle resource; but, at best, it was
working with starvation swinging 8
merciless lash over their heads.
She went where many a poor soul has
gone with perplexities that seemed no.
body's business-to the minister. No
doubt in that penurious, poverty
stricken community the good inan had
perplexities of his own. buro that only
helped him to sympathize with other
people, and few households held any
secrets from him. The old huusekeeper.
knitting On the porch. welcomed Mat
tie kindly. The minister was away;
'SOne 10 OOuIH <AusinS 70 IoHu d ~
neral" but she was looking for him
every minute.
Matte went to the study, and turned
YEARLY from the rows of solemn old
books to find refreshment in the papers
upon the table that seemed so much
more modern and human. There was
a story that looked tempting with its
spicy bits of conversation, but this was
Chapter Xxx. Then there was sermon,
an exposition of the Sunday school les
son. letters from travellers, answers to
miscellaneous queries. household hints