Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-12

it could get sewing to do, and there is
nothing else. It's a hopeless case, /
guess" And, signing heavily. Phrosy
turned to enter the house in answer to a
fretful call from within, but as she did
so her eyes fell upon the clOthes-line in
the side-yard.
ssIn one minute, MOTHER she said,
cheerily (for no matter how down-heart-
ed Phrosy was she never forgot to be
kind and patient with the mother who
had been kind and patient with her for
so many years.. G'Pn just bring Ben's
shirts in as come by-they're all ready
to raw-starch and can iron them by the
supper fire."
How white and clean and sweet they
were! AS Phrosy gathered them into
stiffly-awkward bundle in her arms she
could not help bending her head to in
hale the ''smell of outdoors" (as she
called it) that came from them.
''They smell differently from Chinese
washing" she thought. There's one
thing certain-poor as we are, Ben's
shirts are always the incest done up in
town. and then as that thought passed
through her mind it left an inspiration
behind it.
That night after supper when Ben
was resting himself from his days labor
by ''puttering" around the chicken
house and backyard generally, and Mrs.
Miller was chatting with a neighbor
who had opportunity dropped in, Phro-
sy, pleading an errand at the store,
slipped away from them all and proceed
ed to put her inspiration to the test of
practically.
sit might be good idea,' said kindly
Mrs. Jenkins, to whom she had gone in
her emergency, s'but there's so many O.
them plaguey Chinese around that it
brings prices down dreadful, and most
folks don't care how thing is done so it
is done cheap"
''But my things don't smell of opium
averred Phrosy. stoutly, there must be
some one who would rather pay little
high her and have things nice"
''Such folks is scarcer than diamonds
in dust heaps" was the sententious re-
ply. 81 would myself, of course, but
old Ma'am Gilman has kind of got a
mortgage on me, and though she's failing
dreadful and don't send things home fit
to be seen some weeks, l kinder can't go
back on her all at once"
''Of course not" assented Phrosy, I'M
hesitatingly, ''that isn't what 1 want at
all. But-see here-you ask Joe to in
quire around up to Loren's mill and do
believe he'll find something for me.
don't dare to say word to Ben or he'd
fly all to pieces-nor you needn't tell
Joe who it is that wants the things
just let him say some one who'll do
them the best they can be done and
needs the money"
Cali right said Mrs. jenkins, ssI'll
keep it as still as mice, whether it turns
out we'll or not. You come by to-mor-
row night and I'll tell you the verdict
And SO, full of hopes and fears and fond
| imaginings, Phrosy went home.
The next night Mrs. Jenkins met her
with her broad face beaming. Eve got
six for you," she said, delightedly, land
six times two bits is dollar and half!
you are in luck, Phrosy! faint one of
the mill hands either, but a young fellow
that has bought out the old Bradbury
ranch. He's been up to the city for the
last week and more and come home with
about a carload of dirty things-it's
been that hot up there, Joe says, that
you can't keep nothing decent two min
utes, and old Mrs. Bulgal that cooks ur
| there don't know beans about doing up
so the grist naturally comes to your mill
and I'm glad of it for one"
| ''And L for two" answered Phrosy
| gleefully, and then with light and
thankful heart she took possession OF
her somewhat bulky bundle and went
merrily hon1eward.
The next day six white and antit
shirts futtered upon the miller's clothes
line-the next day-stiff and shiny anC
odorous only of Heavens pure breezes-
they went to their owner, and Jot
brought back to his mother in return
the silver which looked to Phfos,
brighter and better than silver eve
looked before. He brought somethin.
else, too-an overgrown bundle of shirt
which had evidently seen sorrow ant
had not lived the lives that aristocrati
white shirts ought to live.
These belong to the mill boys" h
explained; ''they got sight at tn
others and nothing to do but they mus
send these down-they're pretty har
lot" (meaning the shirts and not tn
mill boys), but 1 guess your old woma
can get 'em clean, mother"
And his mother, chuckling little a
|
the bundle and informed her son tina
any thing of the kind was welcome unit
further orders.
That week, in the neighbors' estims
ton, Ben Miller fairly blossomed wit
shirts, for the number of those usefr
and ornamental garments that hung o
the Miller's line was something abst
lutely unprecedented.
Thirteen shirts for one poor worl
, ing-man is the worst l ever Leard!' a.
. severated the woman next door, who's
propinquity gave her, in her own est
nation, right to criticise the Miller
with more frankness than manners
2 Il wouldn't slave myself to death ft
. the sake of Ben's vanity if l was h
sister,"
8 But Phrosy smiled serenely.
:, Il don't call Ben over vain myself
!, she answered, land I'm sure l am NJ
q shaving myself to death or near it fl
v any one, and as long as I'm satisfied
! don't see what difference the size of N
A washings ought to make to any OF
q else" And with this the officious al
y would-be inqulsitive neighbor was force
= to retire discounted.
l. Phrosy went to the picnic under MI
| jenkins protecting wing Zone of MI