The Press., 1891-12-03

queer shadow flickered and wayered up the wall. The room was delicately scented with apple blooms and lilacs that crowded a blue jar on the chimney piece. As she sat there idly dreaming her thoughts reverted to the young pho tographer Phemy had seen in the morn ing, and by singular association of ideas she remembered that Percy Fallon was an enthusiastic devotee of the cam era But Percy was thousands of miles away across the sea. and there was no oc- casion to think of him or to begin to hum his favorite song there in the twilight To drive him quite out of her head she lighted tho lamp and proposed to give Phemy her first lesson in reading. It was the be business. very slow and tedious to both teacher and learner.
 At last Phemy. sitting on . stool at Miss Ransom's feet. heaved a great sigh If l.could only learn to read with my fingers and toes. miss! But my head never was of much account-a kind of empty pumpkin shell,
 'sIt's . very good head. but you haven't learned how to use it. said Agnes. and the joints and hinges are little rusty. We shall soon get them oiled. Do you know how to sewY' She had brought down the drapery parcels procured that morning in Littlefield and her work basket
 Phemy shook her head. and said with transparent candor. Fl can't sew fit to be seen. Miss Blodget said my sewin looked as If 1t was done with erowbar.'
 Agnes meantime had opened one of tho paper parcels, and revealed roll of pretty blue gingham and some white cambric '.This is to make you frock and some aprons. Phemy, You are ragged and dirty and l don't suppose you have change of clothes-r
 Phelny clasped her hands and gave a prolonged "Ohl' with her shaggy head bowed as if in kind of dumb ecstacy. Then suddenly she prostrated herself on the floor like an Indian fakir before his idol, and began to shed kisses on the hem of Agnes dress.
 "Get up.," said the latter sharply, "and try to behave yourself"
 Phemy arose with meekness and con- triton. 'l forgot" said she humbly. 'l won't do SO no more if it makes you mad
 ''lt don't make me mad. as you say" Agnes returned, coloring. "and. by tho way. that is very unpleasant word-it is foolish and silly and absurd: may say almost wicked"
 Phemy looked as if she were trying to swallow something big and hard that had lodged in her throat. ''l never had . dress like that, she said, half sobbing; never no new thing, only old clos as was made over-dark, humbly stuff. Miss Maple, at the poor farm, give me two shimmys. They was sight too big for me, but now they are all wore out, flannel petticut."
 "You will have new underclothes,' said A9nes, "and want you to learn to sew on them. Sit down now and look at this fashion book to sec how you would like to have your frock made. and then you must take your needle and learn how to hem and backstitch and fell on a bit of cloth"
 Phemy seized the fashion book in tremble of eagerness, and with her el- bows on her knees and her fingers run through her thick hair. began to gloat on tho slim waisted ladies who looked so naughty and proud in their bewildering hats and gowns. She devoured them with her eyes. and at last uttered a great sigh of joy.
 "Well," said Agnes. who had waited patiently, have you settled how you would like to have 1t nader
 "l guess, miss, with long tail to it. 8 long tail is so hevingly."
 But you can't have a long tail. Phemy; you are little girl Such gowns are worn by ladies only when they go into evening company"
 "Well, said Phemy. laying by the book with a look of intense disappoint- ment. ..if can't have long tail don't care much how it's made
 Mrs. Burns. an hour later. peeped in through crack of the door and saw Agnes sewing on the blue gingha m and Phemy at her feet, her whole body tense with energy as she pricked her forehnger to the consistency of a nutmeg grater trying to make seam on bit of cotton cloth.
 "Did you ever," said she when she re- turned to the kitchen, where John was smoking a cob pipe by the kitchen chim- ney preparatory to bed. She's took that poor, frowsy girl right in to her heart, and was too stuck up to have Miss Crab to board.
 "Let her have it out with the poor hus' girl, said he sleepily. ''She wouldn't take no advice from us, and l don't pro pose to throw away any: but guess she'll find out, if she lives long enough. that you can't make silk puts cut of 8 sows ear
 Gro be continued.)
 It was Ben Johnson, we believe, who, T.