Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-11-29

Qe1ecteC pie OF nlchleS ana small cnange
into her old black pocket book with gh
which was far from festive.
The wind gave mournful little chirrup
as it came around the corner of the old
house, and Miss Mandy shivered and drew
her faded shawl close around her
RHEUMATIC shoulders as she replied: MY,
my, Serena, to think of US coming down
to bread and milk for Thanksgiving
dinner. declare it's enough to make the
bones ofthe Buells rattle in their graves
if they knew of it.'
''We'll hope they don't, said Miss Serena,
as she rose to put her money in the bureau
drawer, right hand corner, and tucked IN
der a pile of innocent looking handker-
chiefs. Father Buell. thought he was
leaving us provided for life when he made
that will. and here we are so poor that it's
q temptation to think of selling the cat"
''Selling the catr' echoed Miss Mandy, in
a shrill tone of surprise. ''Sell Thomas
Jefferson! You must be crazy, Serena, and,
besides, who's buying cats.'
Captain Thompson offered me a dollar
for him yesterday. He had heard what a
splendid mouser he is, and his big house
up there is just overrun with mice"
1--WE might rent him or lend him for an &C
commodation, but sell him, 'Lecta's Thomas
Jefferson, n0p' and Miss Mandy's foot
tapped down empha.ically On the bare
floor.
Some kind soul had given them gaily-
braided rug which they laid in the warm
est corner by the stove, lowering over it as
they sat in their rocking chairs to knit on
unusually cold days; still it was a very
poor apology for the warmth and comfort
of a carpet.
'.Poor 'Lectar said Miss Serena. "Well,
she's where she don't need any Thanksgiv-
ing dinner" and her eyes wandered to-
ward the window through which could be
seen the tops of tall shafts of marble out
lined against the wintry horizon. 1t was
the village burial ground and only six
weeks before Electa, the youngest of the
sisters, had been laid to rest there.
81 wonder If the mansions in Heaven
have carpets and nice furniture; 1 do hope
SO, and that there'll be something like lace
curtains, for have always wanted some
real lace curtains, and I've never seen any
yet that just suited my idea" and Miss
Mandy's eyes rested disapprovingly on the
windows. the well worn and faded shades
of which conveyed no impression of
beauty to her mind. She had a weakness
for lace, and in the childishness of age
might easily have been extravagant in
gratifying her tastes had she the oppor-
tunity. But I never expect to have them
now this side o. Heaven"
La, 4AdHuys nOW yOu uO tdlhs anu III 81
Serena shook her head reprovingly, las if
the Lord would spend His time making
lace curtains, or as if there is any thing
real in them.'
"Well. and why shouldn't there be,
Serena Buell9 Isn't this world just full of
poor folks, who have never had the chance
to use the sparkling diamonds or the gilt
tering gold, and all the beautiful things
He has furnished material for and given
people the understanding to make; and
why shouldn't they have their chance after
their hard work and their pinching and
scrimping is overf'
Miss Serena stared at her sister in
amazement, the idea was so entirely novel
that she had no words in which to combat
it even If she had the desire. Her eyes
fell after a moment, and she meekly raised
q stick of wood and added it to the wan
ing fire.
al do hope" she said, reflectively, ''that
there'n be water in Heaven, for Eve al
ways longed for sea voyage and I'm
never so perfectly happy as when looking
of on sheet of water; such a soothing.
restful feeling comes over me, Mandy.
can't explain why, but it's nature and
can't help it. !"
.a.Of course there'll be water there,'
replied Miss Mandy, briskly. She had
cherished these oddly unorthodox ideas for
some time, but in secret. fearing her SIS
ter would laugh at them Doesn't it
tell In Revelation about the River OF
Life, and if there's green fields why
shouldn't there be lakes and rivers, too.
But do say, Serena, what foolish Great
ures we were. when we had the means OF
gratifying these innocent likings, that
we went on boarding and boarding just
like all the family before US, until we
had nothing to hoard0
1T was the Buell. blood in as" and
Miss Serena shook her head mournfully.
4.But if 1 was to live my life over again
I'd have trip to Europe out OF the
Buell. savings before any body'd get
chance to swindle us out of them"
"There's no lack of lace curtains in
Russell Osborne's grand house, and he!
had his trip to Europe, - said Miss Mandy.
.If I had to 20 with his conscience I
saouls sxpe:t to sink the boat before i