Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-01-12

they all say Mis- Bruno win put IN the
lowest bid"
well, what Of II. sister? faint moth
ing to as, thank the Lord
Sister, the moneys most gone and !!
don't know where We are to turn; l cant
beg an my eyes is gettin 80 weak
I can't hardly sew, an lots times
I Just fall asleep over those button 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 mo-
ment she had raised herself ag sin and sat
bolt upright to speak with energy and de-
cision:
4Prissy that sha'n't be. Now just You
stop your crying and listen to me. There's
those cherry chairs, you can sell EN- to
old johnson and you shall do 1t; and
there's that silver of mine and that SILK
dress. I've had it good while, but faint
likely I'll ever want it again. Then there's
that apple-tree stand father made me:
What do we want Of two tables? Wen
sell of all these things, Prissy, and.
please the Lord. We won't be sold Tor
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. amt SO far gone that l
can't sew yet, and when lie awake nights
with the cough it'll amuse me.
But, Roxy, suppose we use it all up!
"Prissy, don't you 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 famine? Read
your Bible, sister, and trust the Lord.
Needless 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 stead
ily in the face as she said, Sister, did you
pray to-day that might live?"
Yes, 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 f.
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, Doctor"
I fear not.
And all you can do is to make me o
little easier, ain it?"
@Yes."
well, then, doctor, I think you'd better
not come any more. I can stand what I've
got to stand, guess, and I'll do without
ease for the rest of the time. Prissy II
pay you"
And Prissy settled the very reasonable
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 a week from
that stream of shirts that poured in and
out, and there was soap and matches and
oil and -four 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 orchard, and the frag-
ments were many and they burned little,
saving all the while against the dis
tant winter. But then there was the
rent of their two little rooms, q
dollar month, one-half Of all they
earned. And suppose they should have
to have anything beside?
There came fit of coughing one day
that shook the thin withered frame of
Needles and left her gasping for breath.
Pins came to her anxiously. Are you
worse. sister," she asked.
No, sister, but do suffer So"
Pins laid down the shirt she was work
ing 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
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 ma
ture to die. It was pitiful to see how she
chung to Pins and longed to stay for her
sake, even as she felt she must make haste
to go for that same dear sake; and the
conflict between longing and steady pur-
pose weakened the faithful old heart still
more.
@Prissy," said she, when I 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.
I'll bury you myself. sister," she said,
"and I 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
you"
NO, sister, but there's my two hus-
bands, Don't you think you'll know emf"
Know 'em? I'd know Silas Wetherell
anywhere set eyes on him, and as for
Amasa Youngs-"
Sister, I hope you don't bear no malice.
Hes dead and gone, you know"
SOIL l be, Prissy, when I see him-if
I do"
Sister,
the Lord is merciful, and I think,
sister, I think he's made heaven big
enough 30 that Amasa and won't see each
other"
well, sister, if it hadn't been for him
dying as he did. getting run over by that
ere train, We couldn't have got along 30