Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-07-14

:
brown house that they all gathered
around Mrs. Milham as She looked it all
over on the outside, with many specula-
tions as to whom it had come from. and
at last cut away the end of the envelope
and drew it forth.
"Read it out, read it out, mamma !"
chorused the three excited children; and
so their mother began, slowly and won
deringly:
"BLrE CORNERS, August 8, IS.
RESPECTED NIECE BETsEY' (Who on earth
can it be from :)-sThis is TO inform you that
my late housekeeper, Cynthia Brown, departed
tins life three weeks last Wednesday. Heing
III sore need OF some one to I'LL her place, and
nearing from mutual friends that you were in
reduced circumstances, l would be pleased to
visit you next week-Saturday if agreeable
and see II satisfactory arrangements can be
made between us. | hear that you have three
children, but hope to be able to endure them,
unless too noisy and Iude. Respectfully yours,
"'HARwooD PATTERSON
"Well, of all the things!" said Mrs.
Milham, as she came to the end of the
page; ''this really looks like a special
prOvidence."
"WhO is it, mammal What does he
wantl" cried the children, wild with Gu
riosity as their mother sat back in her
chair, deep in thought.
1t did seem as if these children, with
their bright, earnest faces and affection
ate ways, would be anything but a
drawback to any ones happiness. Yet
it was with much misgiving that Mrs.
Milham surveyed them and meditated
upon the effect of their entrance into
Mr.. Harwood Patterson's peculiar
household establishment.
"WLo is it, childrenl Why, it's your
great-uncle Patterson, your fathers un-
Gle, that lives in Blue Corners, up
North. He's an old bachelor, rich, but
very queer. He has always lived alone,
with nobody but housekeeper, in a
great big house. never saw him but
just once-right after your father and I
were married. He seemed then to take
quite fancy to me; talked to me more
than he was accustomed, folks said. So
now his old hOusekeeper is dead, and he
wants me to go live with him and keep
house for him! And it all depends on
whether he takes notion to you, chill
dren. Ho is coming to see us next
week. Will you be very quiet and LADY,
like and good-natured, so that he will
be willing to have you go back home
with himl'
"Oh, yes, yes!" cried the children.
"We'll be dgfm dood, said Bess, tho
youngest.
II guess you'd better look out for
yourself, Miss Bess," said Garry. 81
guess if you get one of your naughty
screaming spells, Uncle Patterson will
leave you behind"
"Hc won't, neither retortsd Bess.
But these symptoms of an outbreak
were quickly dispelled by Mrs. Milham.
"There, there What a bad way to
begin! Garry, don't you tease Bess
about that, now. All of you had better
keep practicing to be quiet aud good all
the week, so that you'll be perfect in it
next Sunday"
1t did seem providence that the let
ter came just at the time it did to this
family. Mrs. Milham was widow with
these three little girls; the oldest eleven
years old, the youngest four. For two
years she had been struggling on, trying
to make both ends meet-to pay her rent
and bring up her children respectfully.
But it was hard fight with these three
hungry mouths to feed and these grow
ing bodies to clothe, and the outlook for
the coming fall and winter was very dis
Warm clothes were vet to
be bought, and woodshed and potato bin
TO be filled, aud it was hard to lay by
from the small wages that she
was able to earn by her daily work. And
now there was chance for an sssy and
situation where her children
might be warmed and fed and clothed
and get a good education, And yet,
from what she knew and had heard of
this old uncle, all depended on the way
in which he might be first impressed by
those children. They were, plainly. the
only doubtful point in his mind. "But
Ill never give them up" said Mrs. Mil
ham to herself. "Ill starve myself first,
and Uncle Patterson can keep house for
himself. But oh If l can only &c. them
to keep quiet and not offend him! It's |
the first time. really. that-I ever wished
they dldn't have quite 90 much life in !
them. Goodness only knows what they |
won't take it into their heads to do and !