Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-08-14

Have you got on Your winter
hannels? asked Aunt Pratt. for n
was now November
"Flannels? guess not. Haven't
got any"
why, Lofty"
"Well, poor folks can't have every.
thing. la got to have winter suit.
and there was such lovely one at
the Boston store: a satin petticoat. |
with drapery of ,amel's hair-imitn.
ton, ! mean, but awfully prctty-and
q real splendid basque with satin
vest anu gilt buttons; only $40. | !
tell you, Aunt Pratt. it was a swell
and no mistake; but couldn't afford
soft flannels after that"
sis it thick Dress" queried Aunt
Pratt.
mo, not so very: not so thick as
this shop dress; but don mind that
l amt cold-blooded.'
"And your shoes. are they Thick"
"Oh, they're Just cheap boots;
thick soles do cost SO. My best ones
are French kid with lovely high heels.
They can't have thick solos,
And have you got II warm petit
coat?'
Mercy! l don't want to be oil
bumped up with things. I've got an
old felt skirt and a striped cambria
for every day, and four white ones,
trimmed with cdging.'
Aunt Pratt shook her head.
"A hole in the bag! A hole in the
Bag she said sadly.
"Why, what upon'-but a fit OF
coughing stopped the words and left
Dotty's chest so sore she did not fin
ish her question.
She was SO i'll that night doctor
was sent fora young man round the
corner, just bngnning practice, there
fore cheaper than a man of expert
ence. He at once proceeded to blister
his patient and give her anthony.
Low delirium set in, and for six weeks
Lofty was unable to leave her bed,
and for II month more she could not
go to work. Bills came in to twice
the amount Of the blue dress's price,
and could not be paid.
ooh, what hole in the bag!' sigh
ed Aunt Pratt.
When Lofty was little better, her
father came in one noon with hand
bill given to him in the street-a
flaming advertisement of the BLACK
Crook" performance.
Say, Lou, don't you want to go
to this tonight? It's month O.
Sundays since we've had a lark; let's
go" he said, tossing the play bill in
to his wife's lap.
sob, pa" screamed Idalla, "take
me. Oh, do! Now won't your
"N'me too," screamed Davy, who
had u hoarse cold.
"Oh, shut rp!" snapped Potter. 81
don't want two babies taggin' atmy
heels. Somebody's got to stay witt
Lott
"Why; there's Aunt Pratt" sale
Ida.
maybe she like togo; would yo,
Aunty? asked Potter, blandly. HI
had mind to keep the right side o
a woman with "means."
"Me said the old lady with a sterl
reproof in her voice and face. mi
go to such place? No indeed!
J "Well, we'll! everybody to thei
mind. l like bit of fun first rate
now and then. We go quite con
siderable, first and last; n body mus
be mused."
80, father!' put in Mrs. Potter
, urged by the whispered teasing an
cross faces of Ida and Davy, "do tax
them children along! Ida hasn't bee
nowhere since Lott was took sick
and Davy's only a boy. Let hin
! have a good time while he can; hi
, troubles will come fast enough befor
long. Now, do let 'em 60"
swell, l guess they can. Lot
! won't want 'em ifAunt Pratt's here.
So at night he came home with fou
, tickets to the performance, q bag {
peanuts and paper OF candy, an
: they set out to enjoy themselves
Tom had announced at noon that h
: was "goin' to take his girl"
J; Aunt Prattgroaned in spirit. "Al
n other hole in the bag, and big one!
she said to herself.
: When would the doctOrs's bill an
!, the debts at the drug store and tt
: grocer's ever he paid?
Y Aunt Pratt had always lived in Il
!. country and been honest. She had !,
\ experience of the class who crowd o,
t theaters, minstrel show halls and CT
d cuses, who buy cheap tinery and e
, pensive. poor beer and bad butte
r but never pay their rent or lay
one penny in all their lives.
~ As spring came on Aunt Pra
L. noticed one day that Potter look
: disguised with his dinner, and Lot
!; left hers untasted. No wonder! Au
y Pratt could not eat it herself. T
IL potatoes were poor and boiled to
watery. insipid mass: the calves liv
'e fried to a black, leathery substan'
le the bread old and dry, and I
q turnips rank and unsavory.
10 81 say, Pal" exclaimed Tom, "we
:, oil gettin' spring poor. Idon't ca
-. 20 n hang for my vittles. Let's have