The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-04-06
ALUCKY MISTAKE.


ef, was i'm d heavy perturbed condi-
ton of mind. Mrs. lockwood, one
of her poorest customers, had Just
told her that she was in the direst
need of $500, and unless it could be
got she would have to give up her
Ii. tie home and seeS another. Mrs.
RockEnod had b5en rich mans
daughter, but her marriage had
offended her father and when he died
he left all his money to his second
wife.
The good-hearted little dressmaker
thought it very hard that the step
mother should have an income o
$4,000 year, while poor Mrs.
lockwood was about be turned
out OF doors because she needed $500.
Now, the step-mother, Mrs. Canine,
was also customer of Miss Morgan,
and when she called there the next
day she put in good word tor Mrs.
lockwood.
81 saw you going into Mrs. Rock
woods yesterday" the lady herself
began, when the dressmakerwas try
ing on an elegant costume. "How
are they getting on.
ats Il hard struggle to make both
ends meet" said the other, shaking
her head.
"Well, of course Pm sorry" Paul
inc added. ''Dut as you make your
bed, why, so must you lie. She of
Tended her pa, and he left her nothing
and me ALL | couldn't help that.
And I've my dear boy ut college just
at the age he needs so much money.
| told him should send him q pres
ent that was worth while this
Christmas. He can't come home
it's too far you know. And | shall
give him $500. OF course, his ex-
penses are all attended to, but he
must have Il little swing. There it
is, ali in one note. / shall resister it
this afternoon.
Give hundred dollars!" said Miss
Morgan exactly the amount of the
mortgage the Rockwood's house is
to be sold for"
care they really going to lose their
house," asked the stepmother.
"What thriftlessness! Well, | shall
send the children Il little Christmas
present all the same. | shall send
them So. for / have a silly way of be-
ing generous to the undeserving."
Miss Morgan bent over her work.
"You that have all her fathers
fortune," she thought; you who came
between the parent and child so that
he disinherited her. Oh! for shame!
for shame''
She stitched away, heneedle flying
through the velvet. She fitted the
broad shoulders and the well-laced
waist. She gathered the lace into
GRACEFUL falls, and she thought OF
Mrs. lockwood all the while.
Itwas about 4 o'clock in the after
noon that Mrs. Canine drew her desk
toward her, and took out two sheets
of paper. On one she wrote:
"My Darling Son: Here is your Christmas
box / send it with my best love and wishes.
Study hard and make me very proud OF
you. YOUR MAMMA.
The other sheet held these words:
my Dear Georgina: Inclosed you will
fnd Christmas git for the children. Spend
it care ully. add this warning because you
really are not economical and prudent by
nature you know. Make the best use of it.
1t is really quite little sum, when you think
of it as you should. Affectionately your
| stapmother. JANE CANINE"
These two notes lay on the table.
Upon the first, a $500 note; on the
last, n $5 bill: and Mrs. Canine had
carefully directed two envelopes,
when, opening her penknife hurriedly,
she cut q great cash across her
| thumb.
"Come help me Miss Morgan" she
said. "Please put these notes into
the envelopes with the money. That
for Louis must be sent tonight.
can register them as / come from the
doctors; for the thumb must be seen
too hate scars on my hands.
Miss Morgan ran to the desk, bent
over it, and in a moment had sealed
the notes.
Then the lady, slipping them into
her pocket, hurried them to the doe
tors and was just in time to register
her letters at the station on the way
home.
A few DAYS after Mrs. Canine was
in receipt of two notes, one from hel
son, which ran thus:
"Dear Mamma: Unless you have TIN
queerest possible iiea of my wants you mus
have made mistake. Did you send I'M
S.? Yours in establishment,
| 'LoUIs CANINE"
The other began:
Dear, Kind Mammal What u load vol
have taken off my heart. That $500 ha
saved our home and poor Edwards reason
believe. Five hundred thousand never di'
more good. You ever grateful Etepdaughter
"GEoRGlNA RoCKwooD."
Mrs. Canine, having read thes'
letters, sat for awhile like on petri
| fed. She saw that the money she in
tended for Louis must have gone tt
Georgina, and vice versa, but it wal
too late to help it now. She sup
posed that the pain of her wounded
| finger had made her stupid. 1t wa'
done as we do most stupid things-il
a hurry. Of course she should sent
| five other hundred to Louis. AS TO
Georgina, she could not be made tt
give up her prize at this date. Ant
Mrs. Canine resolved toplay the gen
erous and affectionate parent.
She went about for week boast
ing that she had paid off the mort
cages on poor Georgina's house; ant
as Georgina was too grateful to hid
the fact, Mrs. Canine gained goo
deal of credit for kind feeling to he
stepdaughter among their mutua
friends. Many people were surprised
none more SO than little Miss MOI
gan.
sI'm SO glad" she often said to he