Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-07-28
A FRIEND IN NEED.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

"AIothcr, mother! there's one CT the
fine ladies from the hotel settin' in the
best room a-.askin fora drink o water.
And she says she wants it drIwel right
outcn the old wei; and how can 1t wh,u
the buckets brokc!"
Little Bonnie Bliss had not the least
idcahow picturesque he looked, with
his trou,er; rollc,l above the knc.s, and
hilclcd up by string and a nail, and
the ragged edges of his hat-brim cast
ng irregular shadows on his sunburned
face.
Mrs. bliss hurricdy took her arms out
of the wash tub, anil wiped the silver
fringes Of soap suds with the roller
towel.
Oh, dear" she sighed, ~ wish the
fine ladies' would select any other than
wash day morning to make their visits"
But the next instant her hospitab!c
heart stung her for the reflection.
"Ruu, Benny" she said, land let the
tin pail down the wcll-aud be careful,
for there's tir!lin OF butter hanging
there to coo-anl pour the water into
the spec!llcd pitchcr-thc one without
the cracked spout, dcar-and bring it in,
with the glass tumbler"
(Which tumblcr. mother 7"
"0a, dear, there isn't but onc!"
sighed Mrs. Bliss, hurricdly trying on a
clean gingham apron to conceal the de-
ticicncics of her wcl!-worn wasll-day
gown. 'Thc other was cracked against
the edge of the sink this morn ny And
be sure it's clean and bright, Benny,
there's dear"
THUS speaking, Mrs. Bliss lifted the
boiler of clothes eff the stove, to make
sure Of no mishap in her absence, shut
tine door to keep out buff hen with
six buff chicks, who were maraudiug
around the step, and hurric,I into the
gcntecl gloom of the "bcst room, J"
where the grccn-papcl shades were
ullcd down, and yesterdays bunch Of
cinnamon roses was whitening in no.
handled milk-juy.
Mrs. Sewer sat there, in a dress Of
pale lilac muslin, loored here and there
with ribbons of a deeper shalc, an i'm
mcnsc japanese fan in her hand, and a
prevailing scert Of Graugipanni surround
ing her as with an atmosphere.
No greater contrast could haze been
presented than that between this butter
fly of languid leisure and tho poor little
working bee who stood opposite her, in
the calico dress, and the face flushed
with homcy exercise.
$50 sorry 10 trouble you'll" smiled
Mira. Sewer "But my poor throat was
rarchcd, and the well under the button
bal.-trecs did look so refreshing"
ooh, it's no troubled" said Mrs. Bliss,
with moro politcncss than truth. "NIy
boy viii bring You a drink directly.
Here lie comes now"
And Master Benny made his appear
ancc with pitcher Of cool water i'll one
hand and the one remaining family
tumbcr in the other.
'.Is it out of that dear, old-time wcl?'
lisp,l Mr.. Sewer
,sYcs'm!' sail Benny, eagerly. 81
drawcd it myself. The buckets broke,
bat ! let down /. tin-lxlil. The buffers
gone hcadIong down the well, mother,
fir"
'I!usl', BENNY" said Mrs. Bliss, con-
cealing l.cr anguish us Lest she might
under an exterior OF forced calmncs<.
Delicious! CALCULATED the visitor,
setting down the ;unJcr. Like liquid
diamonds frozen into GOODNESS. All, by~
the, WAY, ma'am, Pyc been looking nj
that dear Cd family Bible of yours !" as
her caprcious glance fell on Il pon'lcr-
, aus ru,scl-bauud voIum. which 2icd
the post OF honor on the cherry wood
table beneath the gilt.framed looking
glass.
Mrs. Bliss flushed with pardonablc
pride.
"Yc-," said she, sit has been in our
family for over seventy years. 1t
belonged to my poor husbands grand
father"
81 am rather an enthusiast on the
subject of family bib5.s," simpcred Mrs.
S.vier, who was one of those ladies wiz
are always posing to imaginary au-
dienccs. 'In fact, Pm making u co..
lection of them. And if you don't mind
parting with it, I'll give you five dollars
for this one"
Mrs. Bliss recoiled little, asif some.
thing had struck her.
"Oi, I couldn'tl" said she. at
belonged to my poor husbands grand.
father, and"
eyes, SO you snid before" Mrs.
Sewer fastened to observe. ''But,
seeing that the binding is in good pre-
| seryation and the dates are unimpeach-
ILL I5o,,+ vivid ,ay;,o +on dollors {,