The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-10-10

ShS Hdd "lollSd ioi al vi gan di
instrument she called it, for in he
youth Alcina Burrows had played
the wheezy melodeon in the villag,
church, and had loved the strain:
she coaxed from it. But her lore
had proved to her by mathematical
calculation that the price of the
organ would keep them provided
many years with weekly religious
paper. Therefore poor Mis- King
had yielded and was fain to content
her hungry soul with the blatant fan
fare of lions Trumpet instead OF the
music for which she longed. She
had earnestly desired a porch built,
on which she might sit and rest in
the cool OF the day, but porch, il
was argued, would pluck a brand OF
SO from the burning, and thus fain
was she obliged to sacrifice her
desires.
After NJ. King had returned tc
the post-oftice, and she had done up
her supper dishes, Mis- King sai
down to rest and think.
Slowly there was born an idea in
her brain which grew and grew until
it assumed the healthful proportions
of an earnest resolve.
She would furnish her parlor her
self. In her girlhood she had
learned the tailors trade, and had
been quite sklIlful in handling the
goose
She owned a machine and made
her husbands clothes. There was
no tailor in Podunky-a vista OF
possibilities opened out before long
ing eyes.
Having made her decision, she
set to work. 1t soon was rumored
in Podunky that Mis- King had be-
gun tailoring, and the news caused
quite a stir in the little hamlet.
Orders began to come in, and early
and late the whlr OF Mis- King S
machine might be heard, and high
above its clatter rose her shrlll,
cracked voice as she quavered forth
the strains Of her tavolite hymn--
40 think OF home over there!
BY the side of the river OF light"
Weeks passed by, and little roll
of bills IN Mis- King bureau drawer
began to be Of pretentious size.
One afternoon as she was finishing
a vest and thinking she must lay
aside her work and begin supper, a
shadow fell across the kitchen steps,
and a voice said
Howdy, Aunt Alciny'
She looked up at the tall, gawky
lad of seventeen, her nephew, Ben
Huling, and answered good-natur.
edly:
First-rate, Ben. How do you do?
Oh, we'll enough, said the boy as
he dropped listlessly down in the
doorway, and gazed Oft to the hills
that shut in Podunky and that were
fast growing red in the rays of the
setting sun.
How's crops lookin'' asked his
aunt.
Damn crops, sal d the lad with
sudden energy then catching his
aunt's reproving eye, he added
l I'm sorry, Aunt Alciny, | know |
hadn't ought to speak like that, but
Pm sick Of the sound of the word.
It's nothin' but crops, crops, work,
wo-k. drudge, drudge, from mornin'
till night, week in an week out No
let up, no chance, no hope. Father S
been promisin' these two years that
| should 60 to Beldonia N rmal for
a term or two anyway, but to day he
tod me l couldn't go. An to crown
that, he's took my colt-mine, he
repeated hercely, that he gave me
an that I've brought up ard took
such care of, an sold it an kept the
money. Why, what he got for il
would have given me one term al
tn Normal, and yet he tells me he
can't afford to let me go"
Here his voice broke and he
stared resolutely, at the far away
hills, but under the shade OF his
battered straw hat, Mis- King coulc
see big tears slowly drop down hi:
thin cheeks.
Oh, well, she said, kindly, mebbe
in another year he can go
But he interrupted her.
Aunt Alciny, he said, as he looked
straight at her with his deac
mothers eyes, you don't kno wha
it is to want thing awfully TO liz
awake nights plannin' about it tc
almost get it an then have itsnatchec
right out of your hand.
You don't know what it is tc
want thing awfully-
Mis- King gave little start, theI
slowly went to her bedroom and
thrusting her hand in under pile o
freshly ironed linen, touched ane
drew out roll of bills.
Going back she stopped anc
touched her nephew on the shoulder
and as he looked up with traces O
tears vet on his cheeks she said:
Here, Ben, take this. It'll pay
for year at Beldonia.
Why-why-what, stammered th'
boy, as he stared at the money in
dazed fashion. O Aunt Alciny, hov
good you be d! But ye're robbin
yerselt-
No, no, said Mis- King, with
queer little laugh ; no, hadn't t,
special use for it. It's-it's just som
. l happened to have by me; yes
that's 1t take it-take it-Ben.
, Mis- King set herself diligently t