The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-07-10
TWO TEN-DOLLAR BILLS,
The Turning Point in the Fortunes
of the Merwins.

The Turning Point In the Fortunes
of the Merwins.
Its no use, Maggie, I'm clean dis
couraged." Margaret Merwin looked
anxiously at her husband as he sat on
the piazza, his elbows on his knees and
his face in his hands. She knew there
was some new trouble, and she hardly
dared ask what it was.
These two had married eight years
before. poor in worldly goods but rich
in courage, health and love. 1t had
seemed an easy task then to pro-
vide for their family and pay for farm;
now the courage was almost gone, the
health was going, Margaret feared, and
it was all they could do to keep up the
interest on the mortgage.
Dams invalid mother had lived with
them three years, and doctors bills
count up fast After her death they
took Baby Molly and moved out to the
rich West" but rust one year, mildew
the next, and insects third, destroyed
the crop on which they depended, and
the end of five years found them no
better off than VIXEN they came there.
girl of six, and her cradle was filled by
baby jamie. happy, contented little
chap, with his mothers blue eyes, soft
rings of yellow hair around his face and
mouth forever dimpling into laugh.
Margaret had borne the discourage
ment best. Her CHEEKY, trustful nature
carried her through hard places where
her husband grew desperate or gave up
in despair. Dan sat still ON the piazza,
staring modify from under his hat-brim
alta pair of yellow butterflies circling
and turning in the sunshine before him.
At last he rose, and with his clenched
hand pressed hard against the piazza
post, said, in dry, expressionless tone:
''Worthing won't let that run any Ion
ger. He says he must have the money
inside the month";" and, turning, he left
the yard. Margaret sank down on a
chair with a little groan. How was that
grocer's bill of fifteen dollars ever to be
paid? Down the road, some rods beyond
the house. was an apple orchard, now
fragrant with pink and white blossoms.
From one of the largest trees Dan had
hung swing, and here Molly was to be
found. She was handsome little
creature, with big black eyes and
wealth of dark hair-the very picture of
her father, people said.
But if she had her fathers face she
did not have his temperament; more
sunny, wholesome, contented nature it
would be hard to find.
She was already great help to her
mother and could rouse her father from
his moody detection when all else
failed. The neighbors had no children,
but she was never lonely. Children
live an inner life of which grown
people lever dream, for they never tell
the fancies, realities to them, which
entertain or frighten them. as the case
may be. With the latter kind Molly
had little to do, as she swayed back
ward and forward, her bare, brown
little feet just brushing the tops of the
grass, as happy as the birds and bees
and blossoms that were her companions.
"Can you get me drink of water,
'sis?"
Molly looked up. A man was leaning
ON the fence among the green apple
'boughs. He was an old man, short and
thick-set, with bushy shock of iron
gray hair and sharp, restless eyes. He
wore very shabby clothes and torn
felt hat-altogether strange figure co
appear thus suddenly in the midst of
the spring freshness.
But Molly was not frightened. She
looked up at him with smile and an
severed his question with a ready "Oh,
yes, STRIP Stopping the swing with
little run, she jumped down and started
toward the house, but turned and said:
''Perhaps you'd rather have milk?"
"Well, believe l would" was the
answer.
Molly crept through the fence and
Joined the old man in the road. you'll
have to go up to the house," she said,
land mamma will get you some.'
But when they reached the house
there was no one there but baby jamie,
asleep in his cradle.
''Never mind" said Molly, Il can get
the milk
The old man sat down, looking all
about the tidy kitchen with his sharp,
restless eyes. When Molly brought the
milk he drank it slowly, seeming to be
in no hurry, and still looking about
him.
"What's your name?" he asked alb.
ruptly.
'Molly Merwin," she replied, with
her words.
"And what's your fathers name?"
Daniel Merwin, sir.''
''Ah, I've heard of him; what's in that
cradle?"
my little brother; don't you want to
see him?" And stepping lightly to the
cradle Molly lifted the mosquito net
ting, which kept the flies from disturb
ing the baby, who lay there with his
yellow hair clinging in damp rings
about his forehead. one .dimpled fist
tucked under his chin and the other
hand lying with pink. upturned palm
on the pillow. The old man looked in,
nodded several times, chuckled softly,
and returning to his seat finished his
milk in silence. As he set the glass
down, Come here" he said, land tell
me more about yourself"
When Margaret returned from short
errand to neignbor's she was surprised
and little frightened to see the strange
visitor seated in her kitchen with
Molly standing between his knees,
looking up at him, and chatting away
as il she had known him all his life.
!. He glanced up as Margaret entered
with agrim chuckle at sight of her dis
mayed fsce. -"
Standing up he said: "I'u have to b