The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-05-04


She went over and sat down by Nee
dies bed.
':Now tell me what it is Why, sis
ter, you brighten me looking So"
Pins hesitated s moment and then
she spoke, though it was hard for the
old lips to utter word.
''It's the farming of the town poor,
sister They will be farmed out next
week and they all say Mis- Bruno win
put in the lowest bid"
"Well. what Of it, sisterP faint
nothing to us, thank the Lord. +"
''Sister-the moneys most gone and
don't know where we are turn;
can't beg an my eyes is gettin' so
weak / can't hardly sew, an lots o.
times just fall asleep over those but
ton holesn
"Prissy, you don't mean that we-O,
my Godr'
The sharp old face of Needles fell
back on the pillow with the cry. But
in a moment she had raised herself
again and sat upright TO speak with
energy and decision:
''Prissy, that sha'n be. Now Just
stop your crying and listen to me,
There's those cherry chairs, you can
sell 'em to old johnson and you shall
do it, and there's that silver of mine
and that silk dress. I've had it a good
while, but faint likely I'll ever want
it again. Then there's that apple tree
stand father made. What do we want
of two tablesg Wen sell off these
things, Prissy, and, please the Lord,
1 - \ s. he,
| lowest bidder this year. And, Prissy,
when Mr.. Lee comes along next week
you take out two dozen shirts like we
used to. AIM so far gone that 1 can't
sew yet, and when 1 lie awake nights
with the cough it'll amuse me-"
But, Roxy, suppose we use it all
upp'
''Prissy, don'tyou dare to speak like
| that! Didn't the raven feed the prophet
Elijah? Have you forgot the barrel of
meal and the cruise Of oil that did not
waste nor fail through all the famineP
Read your Bible, sister, and trust the
Lord"
Needles was the stronger willed of
the two, and Pins rested gladly on
/ her word, and took off her bonnet
and shawl and hung them in the press.
But Needles, who had watched her
wistfully, motioned her to come near.
As she stopped over her the sick old
woman threw her arms around her
| sisters neck and drew her down to
/ her in a passionate embrace, and Pins
/ felt the hot tears on her face. Then
she put her away a little and looked
her steadily in the face as she said:
Sister, did you pray to-day that 1
might liveP"
eyes, sister
.'Never do it again, Prissy. Pray
may die soon, for I m afraid, sister. I'm
afraid the meal and the oil won't hold
out through the famine for both of US
and I'd rather you'd have it.
| The days wore on. Needles talked
with the doctor the next time he came
to see her.
Il can't get well, no way, can I, doc
torP''
Il fear mott
''And all you can do is to make me a
| little easier, amt it2'
| Yes"
well then, doctor, think you'd bet
/ ter not come any more. 1 can stand
what I've got to stand, Iguess, and I'll
| do without ease for the rest of the time.
Prissy II pay YOU
And Prissy settled the very reasona-
BILE bill.
There said Needles. exultantly,
as she watched him 60, "now we've
got off the only debt we had and we've
only got TO live"
Only rot to live! Was it ever harder
work to live2 Fifty cents week from
that stream of shirts that poured in
and out. and there was soap and
matches and oil and flour and meat to
get. No fire-wood, thank God! for at
the old home across the way Pins was
| allowed to pick up all the fragments of
| boughs she could find in the old or
chard, and the fragments were many
and they burned little, saving all the
while against the distant winter. But
then there was the rent of their two
little rooms, dollar a month, one-half
of all they earned. And suppose they
should have to have any thing besideP
There came a fit of coughing one
day that shook the thin withered frame
of Needles and left her gasping for
breath. Pins came to her anxiously.
care you worse, sisterP" she asked.
mo, sister, but do suffer So"
Pins laid down the shirt she was
working on, and took down her old
bonnet and shawl from the press.
where be you going, Prissy?'
ITO the DOCTOR" and the shaking
old hands tied the ribbons resolutely.
Il can't stand this, no way. It's worse
than being farmed out, sister," and
she went
The doctor came. There was little
he could do, but that he did, and first
of all he took the needle out of Needles
thin old hand.
From that day on she set herself with
all the force of resolute and loving
nature to die. 1t was pitiful to see
how she chung to Pins and longed to
stay for her sake, even as she felt that
she must make haste to go for that
same dear sake; and the conflict be-
tween longing and steady purpose
weakened the faithful old heart still
more.
''Prissy," said she, when am gone
don't spend much money on me. I'd
rather the town should bury me than
that you should come on the town
finally"
. The slow tears rolled down Pins
cheeks. "PH bury you myself. sister, ="
she said, earnestly, land 1 won't live
. long enough after to trouble the town,
no way"
Needles looked up wistfully: Don't
be long after me. Prissy, for shall be
. lonely without you"