Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-01-12

a. INV cents. Nineteen cents : vssks =
wasn't much to live on, but she did 4.
Easily, too, - her appetite began to ian
her. and soon she begaa to lay BY cut Of
that LITTLE sum something moro for -
burying. She couldn't eat the coarss food
she bought. and day after day Z little
bread and butter and cup Of tea Was alj
she took. But worst of all was the lone
illness. She missed her go! Again and
again she would start up in the nioht
thinking she heard her call. and chem
would lay herself back on her drearv
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 the
food tasted! It 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 neal-tlme;
dent she, wife?" And she hurried home
in an agony Of shame. She never went
again.
That same day one Of the selectmen, q
kindly natured man, though with rough
exterior, overlook her as she walked, and
involuntarily she 81 oke to him about that
which was always in her thoughts. How
does Mis- Bruno make out with the town
poor, Squirrel"
There's complaints, Mis- Youngs,
there's complaints. But paupers amt
wish We hadn't had to give them to Mis-
Bruno"
Does she give any outside help, Squire?"
mo, Mis- Youngs, she don't, aud 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 q little town help to
keep her of the town." as our New En-
CHAMBERS put it. But now it was useless.
There was nothing left. She must die.
The days wore on. It was the third day
after that the old storekeeper said to the
Squire's daughter as he handed her her
mail: Miss Mary, do you know how old
Mis- Youngs is getting along?"
why, nicely, guess. never heard of
her wanting anything.
well, she was up here this morning for
q pound of crackers, and she looked SO
white and faint I tried to make her sit
down. You know my wife always sends
me down hot lunch and it came Just
then. happened to look up, and saw
her eye it SO wistful-like when my little
Mary spread it out that I sent Mary off
quick, and then said, Come, Mis- Youngs,
sit down here and take lunch with me. I've
got enough here for dozen, and it's
lonely eating by ones self. Besides,
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, must
be going, and she was off. I 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."
20, 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 o~n selfish
happiness, had never dreamed Of it. I'm
asmuch Us We did it not"-how could she
not have known? How long the way wasl
Yet truly she had never SO flown over it
even to meet her lover.
At the house she filled little basket
with dainty things, fresh laid eggs and
new buttee, 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 little fire in the old stove, and she
went to the cupboard to make herself some
tea. But there was 80 little tea left in the
caddy she looked at it and then she put it
back. They mustn't find it empty" she
said, and she sat down in the old arm
chair.
There's wood in the box" she said
gently to herself, and crackers and tea in
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 in
the corner and took out her savings-bank
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 in
the old chair and fell asleep.
Miss Prissyl Miss Prissy! o, Miss
Prissy, wake up! I've got something for
you! Won't you speak to me? It's Mary,
Mary. Don't you know me? Mary you
used to give the ginger-cakes to. Miss
Prissy! Dear Miss Prissy!"
1t is useless, Miss Mary; she will never
wake again. But what is it that is saying,
"Inasmuch as ye did 1t not?"
@We therefore commit her body to the
grave, in the hope of glorious resurrec-
tion;" but all through the burial service
rang those words, -Inasmuch as ye did it
not was a-hungered and ye gave me no
meat" And the answer of the town,
Sealed proposals for the keeping of the
town poor, the contract to be awarded to
the lowest bidder"