Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-07-20

otte was home" she repeated again
anxiously as the two pairs of arms re-
leased her collar.
"It's gay that Aunt Betty wasn't
sick till to-day" said Julian, flipging
down the telegram, and rushing for
his school bag, ''else Charlotte would
not have gone yesterday afternoon.
Then we'd have under her thumb
II shall go around first to your
fathers Office, and give him special
directions about you, on my way to
the train" said their mother. rapidly
writing and counting ber words, II
will go TO Portland on the noon
train"-one, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, niue words-there!
Mir. Stebbins says | never say any
thing in ten words. I'm sure I've
done it now, and in nine"
"Ding--diug!' pealed up over the
staircase.
"Sure aud that bye'll break the
bell !" cried Norah with County-of-
Cork jump.
Dear me!' cried Mrs Stebbins,
fishing out quarter Of a dollar from
the pocket book, "those boys never
can wait minute. Hurry, Norah,
before be rings again" thrusting into
the girls hand the message, the re-
ceipt and the money, the last of
which jingled out of Norah's stiff fist
at the top of the stairs. Mrs. Steb-
bins could hear it roll, humping each
step to drop on the hall floor below,
SO she ran out and called over the
balustrade, "Never mind, Norah; do
stop prowling around. Come get
another quarter. You can find that
afterward"
Chris and Julian nuGged each 9TH
cident.
"Gcod-by, mother" they shouted,
crGmmiDg On their caps, and flying
down stairs Well be good, ;" and
went of with the messenger boy
with whom, as there was no one else
to talk base ball, they engaged in a
lively discussion till the corner was
reached.
Mrs. Stebbins, giving Norah direc-
tiOns to put away the cotton cloth
with the patterns and shears, beside
packing her bag, had very little time
to spare after an interview with the |
cook; and the hasty planning of meals
for at least two days, especially as
that presiding genius of the lower re-
gions had oneeof her off days as re-
garded temper,
Going off, is it?' she cried, throw
ing the knives, handles and all, into
the dish pan.
Mrs Stebbins pretended not to see
tLis, and looked at the clock eyes, |
my aunt is very sick. | must catch |
the twelve O'Clock train. Remember,
Ann, to give them good breakfast
tomorrow morning. Make a ham
omeiette and let the boys have cocoa.
And you'll have to look out for No
rah, Of course"
"Humph!" grunted Ann, determin-
ing to do Just as she pleased about
that, as well as the other things.
"And tell Peter to be careful about
washing the windows, he must take
more pains than yesterday, and ask
Mr. Stebbins about everything. Pm
going to stop at his Office on mrway
to the train, so be will be home early
this afternoon Good-by There's
the car | shall come back day after
tomorrow probably"
The conductor when she asked
him the time, told her twenty-five
minutes to twelve, and as she pulled
out ber own watch triumphantly
pointing with a, at can't be-mne's
quarter past eleven" said, "What
did you ask me for, if you knew,
them" and she had the double salts
faction of seeing every body in the
car smile, while all hopes of stopping
for word at her husbands office,
were at once demolished
"If hadn't sent the telegram I'd
take this train" she lamented to her.
self, while nervously hunting nickel
TO satisfy the irate conductor who
stood before her, impatiently shaking
his fingers. 81 would wait till four
o'clock, but Fanny'll get into q nerv-
Gus fit like as not if Pm not at the
depot, and"-down fell the nickel in
the straw.
The conductor pushed the mass
with his big foot. "I'm not going to
hunt for that; you'll baYe to give me
another"
II see it, volunteered kind heart
ed passenger who being very near
sighted, now squinted frightfully at
the straw. Thereupon all the others
not to be outdone in such disinterest-
ed benevolence bent over and peered
induatriously for the missing nickel,
which with depravity usual in such a
case, cunDingly rolled deeper yet in
the twisting straws.
The conductor pulled the strap,
and flew to the platform to he lp on a
fat woman; when be returned the
poking-over process was at its height,
intense sympathy depicted on each of
the faces bent over the straw.
Hurry up and hand over another
nickel" he demanded Grossly "Gra-
ciousl if that aiu't meanness for you!"
he added with q gratuitious thrust at
the passenger who had offended him.
Pm sure | don't want to be
mean" said Mrs. Stebbins, her face
now of lively red; they said they
just saw it, Here, III give you an
other" trying to find the back breadth
of her dress fof her pocket book again.
"Just saw it," repeated the conduc-
tor, ready to enjoy his privilege Of
conversation where 40 wellbehaved
person ought to answer back. Eyes,
you might see it till doomaday, and
never set your thumb on it. Come."
His large red palm being the prorn-
inent thing before Ms Stebbin's
eyes. she sat thereon fresh nickel,
aud clutching her bag, sat quite erect,
her mind having nothing now to wor
ry over, but fear that she would not
catch her train.
But she old, after running down
every one in her way, who heaved a '
sigh Of relief when they saw fairly
aboard.
Just at this time Mr. Stebbins'
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