The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-12-27
THE LITTLE WALPS HOME.

She was only wee bit Of Hoosiel
girl, and yet she looked for all the world
like little witch as she fitted in the
sunshine hither and thithor about the
old Indiana farm.
Ii was the only home that Peg had
ever known-and right well she ~
know it, every nook and corner. From
the time she could walk alone, until she
was ten years old, Peg, in her snowy
pinafore and big sunbonnet, had carried
dads morning lunch to him, and found
the new-laid eggs for mother on her way
back.
How the child enjoyed the little frame
house with its white walls and green
blinds, and the monster barn with the
great haymows! How she revelled In
the orchard and the pasture How she
loved the woods, with their wealth Of
ferns and wildaowersl Yes, her young
affections wore ali conferred in the old
farm, OF which the hay and the horses,
the hens aud the flowers, were to her as
necessary TO make it loyable as we're
mother and dad.
And always in her little brown hands
Peg carried sweet flowers, until the
neighbors considered the daisy, apple
blossom and mignonette as much a part
and parcel Of the child, as her own. long,
wavy golden hair.
But one day there came a cloud. and
sudden end to Pegs happy ohild-nfe.
Dad died, and then it was found that,
owing to business reyerses and the in.
dorsement of a false friends note, the
old horn sstead was heavily mortgaged.
Mother and Peg had to leave the farm
to those who we're almost STRANGERS.
while they went out into the great heart
less and busy world to earn a living.
They drifted to Chicago, where mother
made scant enough wages with the
needle, which she could ply so skilfulIy.
But poor mother, although she tried
to work and be cheerful for the sake OF
her little daughter, was sick at heart.
She yearned for the old home the old
times and the old faces.
By the time Peg was twelve years old,
the girl had TO seek work in a psper-box
factory, to exc out the living, which
grew soantier as mothers health became
poorer; and in another year little Peg
was the breadwinner for two.
When Peg was fifteen she felt like IN
old woman-old in trouble, and dlsap-
pointmeut, and heartaches. Perhaps il
she had not been simple country girl,
she might nave made some friend among
the neighborsi but neither she normoth-
er thought the more respectable folks
very neighborly, while those who were
willing TO visit them were certainly not
desirable aoquaintances.
So when, five years after they went TO
Chicago, mothers tired and broken heart
stopped beating. Peg was quite alone
ainid the thousands Of the big and bust
ling city,
And Peg was not very strong other.
She was such a little bit OF "a thing and
she found 1t hard work to keep up with
the stout and healthy girls who worked
beside her al the factory. When mother
died she felt worse, and grew homesick
for the old Indiana farm. The factory
work seemed harder than ever
One Saturday afternoon, when the
hands were paid, the foreman told Peg
that they would require her services no
longer
Pm sorry, my girl" he said, but
you can't do the work You ought 20
take a rest"
Peg looked at the meagre sum OF
money in her hand, and wondered how
long she could rest with such reserve
fund, and no work in view. Poor Peg {
An through the following week the
weary child wandered up and down the
streets OF the great Western city, seeking
work and finding none.
By Saturday evening her money was
ell gone, and there was no more coming
to her 6he hadn't felt Ike going back
to her dingy room, She wandered aim
lessly about, up one street and down
another.
1t was late in the spring, and Il was
nearly eight O'Clock before it grew dark.
About that time she saw lights in small
church
IL was Saturday night prayer-meet-
ing and the singing caught Pegs ear
She wandered into the vestibule, and
scarcely knowing what she did, threw
herself into the one chair which she found
there.
The people (not many) were singing,
and Peg recognized the hymn as an o,d
tavorite which they used 10 sing At the
crossroads church la Indiana.
Every word Of the hymn, and each nsse
Of the tune went TO the girls heart.
At heard tho voice OF Jesus say,
Come unto me and raati
Lay down, t1ou weary onei lay down."