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

those cherry chairs, you c1n sell EN- 10
old johnson and You shall do it; and
there's that silver of miuo and that silk
dress. I've had it good while, but faint
likely III ever want it again. Then there 3
that npplo.trce stand father made me.
What do we want of two tables? Well
sell oil all these things, Prissy, and,
please the Lord, we won't be sold for
paupers to the lowest bidder this wear.
And, Prissy, when Mr. Lee comes along
next week you take out two dozen shirts
like we used to. Gin't so far gone that I
can't sew yet, and wnen l lie awake nj ghts
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
EliJaht Have You forgot the barrel Of
meal and the cruise of oil that did not waste
EOr fail through all the famine? Read
your Bible, sister, and trust the Lord. p"
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 watcl ed her wistfully, motioned her
to come near. As she stopped over her
the sick old woman threw her arms
around her sisters ne k and drew her down
to her in n passionate embrace, and Pins
felt the hot tears on her face. Then she
put her away little and looked her stead
lily in the fec as she SAID, Sister, did you
pray day that | might live?'
Yes, sister.
Never 10 it nglin, Prissy Pray | may
die soon, for I'm afraid. sister, I'm afraid
the meal and the oil won hold out through
tho famine for both of us, and Id rather
you 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 l, Doctor"
Il fear not.
And all yo1 can do is TO make me a
little easier, ain t it,"
Yes"
well, then doctor, think you'd better
not come any mo @. | 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 Nee les, cxultantly, MS
sic watched him 90, now we've got oil
the only debt we had ard 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 III and
ont, aud 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 bon hs she
could find in the old orchard, and the fiag-
NETS 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, n
dollar n month, onc-Lalf of al they
olrncd. And SUPPOSE they should have
to have anything beside?
There came lit of coughing one day
that shook the thin withercd frame of
Needles and left her gasping for breath.
Pins came to her nnxiously. Are YOU
worse, sister, she a'ked.
NO, sister, but DO suffer so"
Pins lid down the shirt she was work
ing on, and took down her Old bonnet and
shawl flom the press.
Where be YOU going, Prissy?"
40 the doctor" And the shaking oil
hands tied tho ribbons re- olutely. IL
can't stand this no why. It's worse than
being farmed out, sister" And she went.
The doctor came. There was little he
cOuld do, but that he did, and first of al
he took tie needle out of Needles thin
old hand.
From that day on she set herself witt
all the force of rcsoluto and loving ma
ture to die. 1t was pitiful to see how shC
chung TO Pins and lOnged TO stay for hcl
sake, even MS she felt she must mako haste
to 20 for that Same dear sake; and the
conflict between longing and steady pur.
pose weakened the faithful Old heart still
moe.
"priSgy " sniJ she "wbCn 7 nm con,