Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-04-11

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 in
stead of the music for which she longed.
She had earnestly desired porch built,
OH which she might sit and rest in tie
cool of the day, but a porch, it was
argued, would pluck brand or so from
the burning, and thus fain was she
obliged to sacrifice her desires.
After Mr.. King had returned to the
postotfice, and she had done up her sup
pr dishes, Ms King sat down to rest
and think.
Slowly there was born an idea in her
brain which grew and grew until it as
sumed the healthful proportions of an
earnest resolve.
She would furnish her parlor herself.
In her girlhood she had learned the
taiIor's trade, and had been quite skill
full 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 longing eyes.
Having made her decision, she set to
work 1t soon was rumored in Podunky
that Mis- King had begun tailoring"
and the news caused quite a stir in the
little hamlet. Orders began to come in.
and early and late the whr of Mis-
Kings machine might be heard, and
high above its clatter rose her shrill,
cracked voice as she quavered forth the
,f 70 ta
40 think Of a home over there!
BY the side of the river of light"
Weeks passed by, and little roll of
bills in Mis- Kings bureau drawer begin
to be of pretentious size,
One afternoon as she was finishing a
vest and thinking she must lay aside her
work ard begin supper shadow fell
across the kitchen steps, and voice
said:
"Howdy, Aunt Alcimy?"
She looked up at the tall, gawlly lai
of II. her nephew. Pen Huling, and
answ cred good natured'y:
First rate, Ben. How do you do?"
90, well enough" said the boy, as
he dropped listlessly down in the door
way and gaz ii off 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 crop;," said the lad with sud-
den energy; then catching his aunt's re-
lrovi eye, lie added: I'm sorry,
Aunt Alcimy. l know hadn't ought
to speak like that, but Pm SICK of the
sound If the word It's nolhin' but
CROPS. crops, work, work, drudge,
drudge, from mornin' till night, week i'll
an week out. No let up, no chance, no
hope. Fathers leen promisin' these
two years that should go to Beldonia
Normal for term or two anyway, but
to day he told me couldn't go. An to
crown that, he's took my colt-mine,
lie repeated fercely, that he gave me
an that I've brought up and took such
care of, an sold it an kept the money.
Why, what he got for it would have
given me one term at the Normal, and
vet he tells me he can't afford to let me
60"
Here his voice broke and he stared
resolutely at the far away hills, but
under the shade of his battered straw
hat Mis- King could see the big tears
slowly DIR, down his thin cheeks.
"Oh, wall, she said kindly, "mebbe
in another year ye can go"
But he interrupted her.
"Aunt Alcimy, he said, as he looked
straight at her with his dead mothers
eyes, "you don't know what it is to
want thing awfully; to lie awake
nights plannin' about it; to almost get
it an then have it snatched right out of
your hand. P"
"You don't know what it is to want a
thing awfully-"
Mis- King gave a little start. then
slowly went to her bedroom and, thrust
ing her hand in nnder pile of freshly
ironed linen, touched and drew out
roll Of bills.
Going back she stopped and touched
her nephew on the shoulder, and as he
looked up with the traces of tears yet on
his cheeks she said:
Here. Ben, take this. ts'll pay for
year at B .ldonia.
"Why-why-what," stammered the
boy, as he stared at the money in
daz d fashion. 20, Aunt Alcimy, how
good you be! But ye're robbin' yer
self"
mo, no, said Mis- King, with queer
little laugh; mo, hadn't no special use
for it. Its-t's just some l happened
to have by me; yes, that's it; take it
take it, Ben.
Mis- King set -srself diligently to
work again. Many night she toiled
while her husband slept the sleep of the
sanctified Once more the little hoard
of bills grew to decent proportions, and
in her minds eye she began to see her
future parlor in all its spIendor.
One evening rs she worked and sung
the widow Bean came in for a neigh
borly call.
The widow was the most popular
news vender in Podunky. If anything
new OF startling occurred she rose to
the occas sion and went forth to enlight N
those no sat in darkness. To-night
ler bonnet strings fairly bristIed with
imp"rtaGce. She had weighty news.
ID eiful sudden, Mis- Deacon Mudge's
death, she observed.
"Y s." assented Mis- King.
"Have ye seen the corpse?" asked the
caller.
"Nn, Tn so drove. These here are
the deacon's mouruin' lants. an have
got to scratch gravel to git them done