Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-02-02
PINS AND NEEDLESS

i'rcvercnt Youth of the town dubbed them
There was a comical fitness in tho name
Both were so Thin that You wondered as
Non gazed; neither was ever guilty of
donning crinolinc or hustle and both, con-
sequently, tapered down to the feet i'll n
way stongly suggestive Of coming to n
Toint But Pins woe black poke bon
net, which being very full, gave her n
little top or head while Needles, blue eyed
Needles, was smaller in the head than
olseW here, even, and that clear. sharp eye
of hers that looked up at you demanded
imperatiyely TO be threaded right away.
Pins had been married twice and had
had cataract which had been relieved by
tie etiolts of the church. Likewise her
last husband had been run over by train
thus furnishing her the sum of $500
four hundred OF which had been kindly
appropriated by the relative who had aided
her ii getting it ON the RAILROAD com
pany. Hers had been an eveutful life
But Needles hal never had an adventure
She hal live with Pins always through
all her troubles, and being the weaker
physically, rs she was the stronger men
tally, OF the two, had been taken caro- Of
by her younger sister, who loved and cher
i>hed her tenderly. The two supported
themselves by making button hol IS in n
cataract of shirts that poured into their
little room every Wednesday and out
again the following Tuesday.
Fifty cents n dozen for finishing of 'em
off amt much when You come TO look at il, "
said Pins, "foy there's eleven button holes
and six buttons and the gussets to every
shirt, but it's better'n nothing" and they
got along.
SO thin, so worn, so patient, so cheer
full and accomplishing! SO the twain
lived on through long years like tive
beams of pale, Wintry sunshine, or like
two withered, shrunken apples on bare
bough.
1t was one day in Lent, and Pins, who
had been to the weekly service, was com
ing down the church hill slowly, when tive
women just ahead of her stopped abruptly
at the si9n-l GARD.
Look at that" said one, and she read
it out: Sealed proposals will be received
by the so!octmen of the town of W fo
the keeping of the town poor for the yeaI
beginning May |, lSS-. All proposals
Will be opened at the Town house. Mon.
day, April 10, and the contract awarded to
the lowest bidder, amt that shnme?"
IF women ever do vote in this towr
that's one of the things they'll change
anyhow. Who got EN- this YEAR,
Mrs. Bruno, and guess she'll put in the
lowest bid"
The Lord have mercy on I'm, then"
The two moved on ms they oke, and
Pins, who had paused involuntarly be
hind them and heard all they said, moved
on, too But her poor old heart was beat
ing so fast and loud TINT she could
scarcely breathe, though she pulled the
old green veil she wore down over Ler face
As though the mild spring air was all too
sharp for her. Under the great old elm
trees, that mnke tn lovely walk fol
which W i so famous, she went
looking out ac:o the binding April sun
shine, seeing nothing, thinking only of
that cluel notice For Needles was SICK
and had been ailing for n year now, aud
tho money was almost gone, aud unless
the Lord in his lie cy intcrfered and took
her home they must both go on the town
and be sold with tho rest of the town pau
pers. The poor Old he 1T beat faster and
the thin old hands tremb oil as she hurried
on. She had wasteltime today going up
to the Lent service; she would not do II
again, and now she must hurry home and
work on those shirts. Perhaps she might
even finish them and do little tape weav-
ing for Mrs. Curtis to c lrn n few more cents.
She came into the little room where
Needles lay on her cot, and Needles looked
up at her What's the matter, sister
You look SO white and peaked"
Nothing, sister. nothing" But she sat
down as she spoke and caught up her
sewing.
There now" said Needle, you amt
took off your hat nor shawl, an there You
be settin' hight TO work at that ere sewing.
What is it sister,"
Pins old lips trembled and she burst into
telrs.
Come here, Pr.ssy."
She went over and sat down by Needles
bed.
Now tell me what it is. Why, sister,
You brighten me looking so.
Pins heeitIte moment, anil then
she spoke, though it was hard for the old
lips to utter n word.
Its the farmin of the town poor, sister
They will be farmed out next week. and
they all say Mis- Bruno will put in the
lowest bid"
We'll, what of it, sister? faint moth
ing to us, thank the Lord"
Sister, the moneys most gone and l
don't know where We are TO turn; l cant
beg an my eyes is gettin' so weak
l can't hardly sew, an lots o times
Just fall asleep over those button holes.
"Prissy, you don't mean that we-O,
my Cod"
The sharp old face of Needles fell back
on the pillow with the cry. But in a mo-
ment she had raised herself ag lin and sat
bolt upright to speak with energy and de-
cis;on:
"Prissy, that sha'n't be. Now Just you
cton vour cryinO and Listen IN ma Tbera' G