Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-04

of fifty cents. Nineteen cents week! It
wasn't much to live on, but she did it.
Easily, too as her appetite began to fail
her, and soon she began to lay by out OF
that little sum something more for her
buryinp. She couldn't eat the coarse food
she bought. and day after day little
bread and butter and a cup of tea was all
she took. But worst of all was the lone
illness. She missed her SO! Again and
again she would start up in the night
thinking she heard her call, and then
would lay herself back on her dreary
pillow. not to cry. for she was over seventy,
and the old shed few tears, but to remem-
Der.
She took to going about little now,
stopping at the houses of bygone friends,
and she would be often asked to stay to
dinner or tea with them. How good tho
food tasted! 1t would be easier to wait for
death she fancied if she could always have
food like that. But one day she overheard
the good man of the house remark, "Prissy
always happens around about meal time;
don't she. wife," And she hurried home
in an agony of shame. She nevei went
again.
That same day one Of the selectien, a
kindly natured man, though with rough
exterior. overlook her as she walked, and
involuntarily she spoke to him about that
which was always in her thoughts. "How
does Mis- Bruno make out with the town
poor, Squire?"
"There's complaints. Mis- u lungs,
there's complaints. But paupers amt
easy to satisfy no way you can fix. it, 1
wish we hadn't had to give them to Mis-
Bruno"
Does she give any outside help, Sauire?"
mo. Mis- Youngs, she don't, end it's
come mighty hard on some of EN-.
The last faint hope was gone. She had
thought that. perhaps. she might humble
herself to ask for little town help to
keep her off the town." as ourNew En-
CHAMBERS put it. But now it was useless.
There was nothing left. She must die.
The days wore on. 1t was the third day
after that the old storekeeper sid to the
Squirrels daughter as he handed her her
mail: Miss Mary, do YOU know how old
Mis- Youngs is getting along?"
why, nicely, guess. I never heard Of
her wanting anything.
well, she was up here this morning for
a pound of crackers, and she looked SO
white and faint tried to make her sit
down. You know my wife always sends
me down hot lunch and it came just
then. I happened to look ur, and 1 saw
her eye it SO wistful-like when my little
quick, and then said, Come, Mis- Youngs,
sit down here and take lunch with me. I've
got enough here for q dozen, and it's
lonely eating by ones self. Besides, l
want to talk over old times with you. just
minute I thought she was going to do it
when there came steps on the bridge and
she Strengthened herself up stiff as poker,
and said, THANK you. Mr.. Curtis, 1 must
be going, and she was OFF. 1 looked out,
and there was Mis- Bruno coming with old
Jack behind her. Miss Mary, I'm afraid
that woman is suffering and afraid Of the
poor-house.
40, Mr.. Curtis!" Miss Mary did not wait
for anything more: She flew home. Old
Prissy Youngs suffering. starving it might
be, and she, absorbed in her own selfish
happiness, had never dreamed of it. en-
not have known? How long the way was
Yet truly she had never so flown over ii
even to meet her lover.
At the house she filed little basket
with dainty things, fresh laid eggs and
new butter, wine and jelly and little
chicken broth and delicate bread, and then
she started.
Pins had gone home with her crackers
and sat down in the little room. There
was a little fire in the old stove, and she
Went to the cupboard to make herself some
tea. But there was SO little tea left in tEV
back. They mustn't find it empty she
oh of oil
chair.
"There's wood in the box" she sai6
gently to herself, and crackers and tea il
the pantry, and nobody need ever know but
what ! had enough always, an there's ten
cents in my purse too She laughed &
feeble laugh of gladness.
Then she went to the old hair trunk ii
the corner and took out her savings -banl
book. Ten dollars there still! She
scrawled feebly on an old piece of paper
For my burying," and laid it with the
book on the table: then she sat down il
the old chair and fell asleep.
Miss Prissy! Miss Plissy! O. Mis-.
Prissy. wake up, I've got Something 70
you! Won't you speak to me? It's Mary
Mary. Don't you know me? Mary yo,
used to give the ginger-cakes to. Mis-
Prissy! Dear Miss Prissy!"
It is useless. Miss Mary; she will neve
wake again. But what is it that is saying
! "Inaslnuch as We did 1T not?"
ave therefore commit her body to tn
grave, in the hope of glorious resurrec
ton but all through the burial service
rang those words, "Inasmuch as We did i
mott was a-hungered and We gave me n
meat. And the answer of the town
Sealed proposals for the keeping of til
town poor, the contract to be awarded t
the lowest bidder"
!
An Old.Time Georgia Constructing
We heard a fatherly old gentleman
telling his recollections of the corn