The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-06

when he had completed the purchase of
railroad, "I've agreed to take a mo-
chine. I'm to pay for it as fast as can,
an the mans to give me slip every
time I pay in ten cents, or do job for
him, an want you to keep 'em for me.
Here's the first one. BE awful careful of
it, and don't you let mother know the
first thing of what's going on. You
wont, now, will you"
"No, ! WON'T" answered less, wonder
ing, tho, as she promised, if it would
be possible for her to keep such great
secret to herself "Say. maybe l can
do something to help, Tim! Next time
mother sends ME to carry work home
I'm going to ask if there amt some job
I can do for the folks. Won't it be
nice if we can get machine for mother2
She was wishing yesterday that she had
onc"
"She shall have one," said Tim. "rll
stick to it till l pay for one"
"How long do you s'pose, it'll take?"
asked Jess.
"Uh, don't know. A good while,
sure" answered Tim. "But we'll have
it some time. I mean business"
1.-TWO more slips" said Tim to Jessie,
next night. as they "went into consulta-
tion" in the hall. That makes three.
Onlv hundred and forty seven more to
get" with chuckle. "rll tell you what,
Jess, I kecp an eye out for extra Jobs
nova days"
"Only hundred an forty-six more to
get" said Jessie, proudly producing .
slip from her pocket. 'Tve earned
something to-day as we'll as you. Got
ten cents for taking care of the machine
mans baby. They live upstairs over
the shop, an he says I may come twice
week an help his wife. The baby's
awful cross, hut I don't mind that 8
longs I'm Ee'p1ng pay for the machine"
"Hooray." cried Tom, tlinging up his
old cap in delight. Were in luck,
amt we? But mother'll mistrust some
thin if you keep goiu' to take care of
the baby; won't she"
II told her was going to have some
thing for it sometime" said Jessie.
"She thinks l like to 60"
II do wonder what those children are
doing" thought Mrs. Wylie, more than
once, as the weeks went by. "They're
trying to keep something from me, I
know; they look so knowing and mystic
rious, and hold so many secret meetings
in the hall. But it isn't any mischief,
Pm sure, and won't ask them to tell
me if they don t want to. Ill find out
some time"
As the days passed into weeks the pre-
cious slips increased in number. Some
times they came in slowly, then there
would be ''streak Of luck, and dozen
would come in O week. They were
counted over and over, till some of them
began to show sigus of wearing out.
Jess kept them in an old cigar-box,
hidden away under the stairs. Often in
the night she woke up to wonder if they
were safe from burglars. She went to
see if they were there the first thing
every morning.
"What if we should lose them3" she
often said to herself, with catch in her
breath. at the bare idea. "Wouldu't
Tim feel just awful if we were to fail
now"
How the boy aud girl worked to make
a success of their undertaking! They
went about on the alert for 'jobs;" and
because their hearts were in their work
they succeeded beyond what they had
dared ho. e for. They did whatever was
given them to do faithfully and we'll, and
won the respect Of those who emp Dyed
them in consequence. Some OF the men
and women who gave them jobs found
out what they were working for and gave
them extra obs to encourage them and
help thom along 81 like to do it, " said
one of their employers, because they're
wiling to work and earn their money.
They don't beg for it. and when they have
anything to do they don't half do it, a:
some children would. What they dc
they do as it ought to be done"
From this you see that while Jess anC
Tim were making a success of their un.
dertaking financially they were working
up good reputation for themselves.
Perhaps the proudest day their lives
will ever hold came when the last slip was
added to the number in the old cigar-box,
four months after they had begun tc
collect them.
"Oh, Tim, it's paid for, isn't it?" cried
less. in kind of solemn way.
eyes. it's paid for" answered Tim,
drawing great breath of relief.
Ian we ring it home tomorrow
asked Jess.
"You Just bet it'll be brought home
Tomorrow" said Tim. "$ay, Jess, what
do you s'posc mother III say?'
81 don't KNOW" answered less; "bu,
I wouldn't wonder if she cricd."
"rve brought the slips, SIR" said Tim,
to the machine man, bright and early
next morning. "Count 'em, an you'll
find there's hundred an fifty of 'em"
That's business" said the man
you've done we'll. You've got thu
sand. You'll get along. you will. Yes,
there'sa hundred an fifty. Now wha'
machine III you have, young MANI"
"I want the best one you've got fo;
the price" said Tim. 81 want somethin
that runs easy, an does good wor.:. II
let YOU pick it out for me-"
"All right" said the machine man.
"Here's one now that's leetle extry-
got more drawers an such things, you
see, than most of 'em. I'll warrant it o.
good as the day it come from the factory.
You can't get one for any more none.
thatll do better work."
"Til take it," said Tim. "Will you
lend me your wheelbarrow to take il
home withl'
THE idea," laughed the man, "'c
takin' that machine home on a wheel
barrcr. I'll send my man round with il
right away. He's got the horse hltched
up by this time. Ioucan ride along au
chow him WHARF you live -