The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-05-04
PINS AND NEEDLES.
How They Managed to 'Keep OF
the Town

"Pins and Needles, " that was what
the .irreverent youth of the town
dubbed them. There was comical
fitness in the name. Both were so
thin that you wondered as you gazed;
neither was ever guilty of dOnning
crinoline or hustle, and both, conse-
quently, tapered down to the feet in a
way strongly suggestive of coming to
a point. But Pins wore black poke
bonnet, which, being very full, gave
her little top or head, while Needles,
blue-eyed needles, was smaller in the
head than elsewhere even, and that
clear sharp eye of hers that looked up
at you demanded imperatively to be
threaded right away.
Pins had been married twice and
had had an ailment which had been
relieved by the efforts of the church.
Likewise, her last husband had been
run over by n train-thus furnishing
her the sum of five hundred dollars,
four hundred of which had been kind
~ appropriated by the relative who
had aided her in getting it from the
railroad company. Hers had been an
eventful life. But Needles had never
had an adventure. She had lived with
Pins always through all her troubles.
and being the weaker physically, as
she was the stronger mentally, of the
two, had been taken care of by her
younger sister, who loved and cher
ished her tenderly. The two supported
themselves by making button-hOles in
n cataract of shirts that poured into
their little room every Wednesday
and out again the following Tuesday.
Fifty cents dozen for finishing of
'em off amt much when you come to
look ut it." said Pins, ''for there S
eleven button-holes and six buttons
and the gussets to every shirt, but it's
better'n nothing" and they got along.
So thin, 50 worn, so patient, so
cheerful and accomplishing So the
twain lived on through long years like
two beams of pale, wintry sunshine, or
like two withered, shrunken apples on
bare bough.
1t was one day in Lent, and Pins,
who had been to the weekly service,
was coming down the church hill
Blowly, when two women just ahead
of her stopped abruptly at the sign
board.
Look at that" said one, and she
read it out: Sealed proposals win be
received by the selectmen of the town
of W for the keeping of the Town
Poor for the year beginning May l,
1SS-. All proposals will be opened
at the town house, Monday. April 10,
and the contract awarded to the lowest
- Oh
If women ever do vote in this
town that's one of the things they'll
change anyhow. Who's got 'em this
yearP"
Mrs. Bruno. and guess she'll put in
the lowest bid. "
THE Lord have mercy on 'em then.
The two moved on as they spoke,
and Pins, who had paused invOluntar-
ily behind them and heard all they
said, moved on too. But her poor old
heart was beating 80 fast and loud that
she could scarcely breathe, though she
pulled the old green vail she wore
down over her face, as though the
mild, spring air was all too sharp for
her. Under the great old elm trees,
that make that lovely walk for which
W is so famous, she went. looking
out across the binding April sunshine,
seeing nothing, thinking only OF
that cruel notice. For Needles
was sick and had been aiIng
for year now, and the money
was almost gone, and unless
che Lord in His mercy interfered and
took her home they must both go on
the town and be sold with the rest OF
the town paupers. The poor old heari
heat faster and the thin old hands
trembled as she hurried ons She had
wasted time to-day going up to the
Lent service, she would not do it again,
and now she must hurry home again
and work on those shirts. Perhaps she
MIGHT even finish them and do little
tame weaving for Mrs Curtis to earn a
few more cents.
She came into the little room where
Needles lay on her cot, and Needles
looked ND at her. whats the matter,
sisterP You look so white and peaked -
"Nothing. sister, nothing" But she
sat down as she spoke and caught ur
her sewing.
There now" said Needles, you