Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-04
MEG'S FORTUNE.
The Old Saying "A Whistling Cir"
 Etc, Proved False.

Meg sat in her favorite spot on the cliff. Huge rocks made a shady wall back of her, and before her spread out the sea with the waves dancing in the morning sunshine She was looking out across the water; her hands were clasped around her knee, and her large hat was tied firmly under her chin to keep the strong breeze from blow | ing 1t away. Meg was buried in deep thought, so deep that she did not even hear the shouts of the children playing on the beach below her or the sound of the foot steps coming up the cliff from the rocky path which led to the hotel.
 At last a soft voice called her to herself, | and turning, she found her cozy corner | besieged by young lady with an umbrella I and sketching materials. This was Miss Van Coor, one of the rich young ladies from | the large hotel on the beach, which was | filled every summer with guests from the | ueighboring cities.
 | The young ladies held special charm for Meg. They often came to the little brown | house, where Mrs. Hail washed their dainty muslins and laces and meudcd rents in the | delicate fabrics. Meg, too, was willing | little maid-of all-work, and was often pressed into service. Somc of them raved about botany, and they trotted patiently | through the woods and fields gathering | flowers, digging roots or carrying the long l lln cases WHICH uc!u lleir SpeClIleHS. EouS sold them innumcrabie bouquets and Der ries, and always accompanied them on their walking tours. Meg loved to be with | them, but she loved most of all the noon | light nights, when she and Bob slipped | down to the hotel and watched the dancing 2 from a leaf-shaded corner Then the music seemed to come straight from Heaven, and the young ladies seemed like the beautiful princesses in the fairy tales as they floated I ,l,l i,, md r. Ir,C with gems. Then little brown-eyed Meg, standing back in the shadow, forgot her self, and in imagination became one of the beautiful prlnceSSeS herself and joined in the gayety with all her heart till Bob S sleepy yawns brought her back to earth again.
 This morning, however, Meg's thoughts were of very serious nature. She was wrestling with problem which had puzzled many older brains than hers. Miss Van Coor noticed the thoughtful look on her face; after she had settled herself to sketch, using Meg in her old position as q model, she led Meg tc conIde in her. Then Meg. who did nothing by halves, poured out her troubles to the sympathetic listener There must be some way found for her tC earn money. Bob father mad been lost al sea, and Bob would have to take his place as the head of the family pretty soon. He could not go to school for lack of books and suitable clothing, and every cent was needed to feed the little ones. Meg eX plained that Bob was not her own brother Her father and mother had been passen gers on vessel which had been burned il mid-ccean. She and her mother had beer rescued, but the shock had proved too much for her mother and she d.cd, leaving hel tiny babe i'll the arms of honest John Hall who was sailor on the vessel. She hac always lived with the Halls; no traces ot any relatives had ever been found and Mar garet Lorne had grown up as Meg Hall Now the time had come when Meg felt she could no longer be burden on her klnC foster-mother, but what could a girl O. fourteen do!
 Miss Van Coor had stopped sketching ant was rubbing the ends of her pencil up anG down her forehead in a perpleXed way.
 ''There surely must be some way for vol Ito earn money, Meg" she said, in her sof l voice that sounded to Meg like the low clear notes of a flute. "Can't you sew O. do houseworl, or something of that sort?'
 "No," said Meg; 'no one would pay me fo sewing or housework; I'm too little"
 "Perhaps you could paint or sing,' vent ured Miss Van Coor.
 ''I'm afraid not" answered Meg, hope lessly II can't do any thing but whistle, she added, smiling, ''and Aunt Hall say: whistling girls always come to some bat end''
 "Can you whistler asked Miss Van Coor s'whistle some for me now, Mcg.'
 Meg obediently began towhistle a low, sof tune, with many trills and variations whicl she had often heard the band at the hote play, and Miss Van Coor listening ill won der at the clear musical tones was strucl with an idea which soon became well de l fined plan in her energetlC brain.
 "That is just the thing!' she exclaimed when Meg had finished. Trust in me Meg, and Bob shall have his books afte all''
 Then she walked holne with Meg and un folded her plan to Mrs. Hall. There was t | be an entertainment for the benefit of th' free Kindergarten in the city, and Mis- Van Coor was one of tie ladies who hat it in charge. It was her plan to have Mes take part in the entertainment and whistle Meg and Mrs Hall laughed at the idea but Miss Van Coor was in earnest, ant | she pleaded so successfully that Mrs. Hal consented to allow Meg to go to the cit, l whenever Miss Van Coor should send he l word.
 About four weeks after this Meg was ol her way to Boston. She didn't feel like tn same old Meg in the pretty little travelin: suit of gray, with neat little gray turbal ornamented with scarlet wing, kid boots l and, for the first time in her life, kit | gloves. All this was due to Miss Van Coor l who had fitted her out from top to toe. | From the time she stepped off the trail and was seated in the large, comfortabl carriage, Meg's head was ill whirl. 1 was all so new to her, the streets with thei tall blocks of stores, the row after row 0 houses, and above all the people. She ha'