Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-05-03


that ere sewing. What is it, sister?'
Pins old lips trembled and she burst
into tears.
"COme here, Prissy.''
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 a moment and then
she spoke, though it was hard for the
old lips to utter a word.
''It's the farming of the town poor,
sister. They will be farmed out next
week and they all say Mis- Bruno will
put in the lowest bid"
"Well, what of it, sister? faint
nothing to US, thank the Lord"
''Sister-the moneys most gone and
1 don't know where we are turn; 1
can't beg an my eyes is gettin' so
weak 1 can't hardly sew, an lots O.
times just fall asleep over those but
ton holes"
"Prissy. you don't mean that we-O.
my God!"
The sharp old face of Needles fell
back on the pillow with the cry. But
in moment she had raised herself
again and sat upright to speak with
energy and decision:
..Prissy, that sha'n't 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 tables? Wen sell off these
things, Prissy, and, please the Lord,
we won't be sold for paupers to the
lowest bidder this year. And, Prissy.
when Mr.. Lee comes along next week
you take out two dozen shirts like we
used to. ain t so far gone that cant
sew yet, and when 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
ElijahP Have you forgot the barrel of
meal and the cruise of oil that did not
waste nor fail through all the famine?
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 little and looked
her steadily in the face as she said:
Sister. did you pray to-day that 1
might live?"
{ 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 we'll, no way. can I, doc
torP''
81 fear not"
.'And all you can do is to make me n
little easier, amt itp'
Yes"
"Well then, doctor. think you'd bet
ter not come any more. / can stand
what I've got to stand, Iguess, and I'll
do without ease for the rest of the time.
Prissy IL pay YOU
And Prissy settled the very reasona-
BILE bill.
There" said Needles. exultantly,
as she watched him go. ''now we've
got off the only debt we had and we've
only got TO live"
Only got to live! Was it ever harder
work to live? 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, a dollar a month, one-half
of all they earned. And suppose they
should have to have any thing beside?
There came q 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. sister," she asked.
mo, sister. but do suffer so.''
Pins laid down the shirt she was