The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-06-18
and her white coat was buttoned quite
down to her ankles.

ion-whatever it was-had not melted
away. She stood there regarding him
Ia the most serious manner, and finally
asked, in a sweet, clear voice: 'Are
you Mr.. Pinch?"
Mr.. Pinch managed to nod his head in
assent. AS vet he was speechless.
"Then am very glad to see you, Mr..
Pinch" went on the sprite, land I've
come to live with YOU"
Who are you?" croaked Simon Pinch
at last.
I'm Midget-Midget Brown. But
suppose now my name will be Midget
Pinch. Observation-Disclosures Pinch. 1t
doesn't sound real good, but I'll get
used TO it, guess"
She nodded gayly at the beetle-browed
old man sitting bolt upright in his chair,
and went on in the most amiable man
ner: "Yes, I've come to live with you
because you are all alone and be-
cause you have lots of money and
haven't very much and I'm always need
ing SO many things. My mamma says
you're dreadful rich and it's shame
you won't help anybody in need and you
can't take it with you when you die.
And papa says your name is Pinch
a-purpose because you pinch everyone.
But thought you couldn't know how
| much needed some things, so thought
I'd come and stay if you would buy
them"
Simon Pinch was beginning to wake
up. His face had not looked so ruddy
before in a long time and his eyes
cleaned alertly beneath their shaggy
brows.
$50 your pa says I'm pincher. does
he, and your ma says I'm miser. Much
obliged, I'm sure"
There was a long pause during which
this incongruous couple sat and curl
ously regarded each other. Then the
small conscienceless tormentor went on
in the friendliest manner:
"You see, Mr. Pinch, my papa hasn't
very much money. He needs new
overcoat this winter and mamma needs
new sacque, but they can't have it
just because there are SO many of us
always wanting things. There's Ted.
He's at college and that costs terrible
lot. And there's Mamie. She's going
to get married as soon as she gets
dresses enough, but they keep wearing
out and wearing out and she can't get
any saved. l guess you know my sis
ter Mamie, don't you? She's the pretty
one with black eyes and curls. She
calls you old Money-bags.'"
Was it the freight which cast glow
on Simon Pinch's withered cheek? Per-
haps so, for he acquiesced. quietly and
the small voice went on:
"And then there's me, and Ben, and
Robb. We wear out an awful lot of
Shoes" (Here a diminutive pair were
thrust disconsolately out in corrobora-
tion.) SIT made me feel awful bad
about papa's overcoat, and lots of other
things, too, and 1 thought: I'll go and
live with Mr.. Pinch. He's rich and can
buy me shoes and things without miss
ing it. And I'm sure he'd like to have
me-"
Mr.. Pinch swung one lean leg off the
other and leaned back in his chair. His
hands relaxed their hold on the arms.
His shaggy brows lifted little and
the wrinkles about his eyes grew
deeper and deeper. His mouth twitched
once, twice, and then this grim old man
burst out into the longest, loudest,
heartiest peal of laughter that ever
startled the echoes in the dull old room.
Again and again, as he glanced at this
funny apparition, he laughed long and
loud, as he had not laughed since he
was boy. Medicine had not done him
SO much good in ten years. And still
the angel sat perched high in her chair
gazing at him with the same calm, un-
ruff1ed look.
At last Simon Pinch brought himself
to order. He drew a small book and
pencil from his pocket and resumed the
subject.
$50 you've come to live with me on
condition buy you some things. Well,
but what things are they first? Let's
hear
IA new overcoat and pipe with a
picture of a lady on it," CALCULATED the
angel, promptly.
"What!' said Mr.. Pinch. "You don't
smoker"
"Of course notp' said Miss Midget,
with some asperity. That's for papa,
you know"
''Oh!" said Mr.. Pinch, II didn't know"
The fierce eyebrows elevated them
selves slightly, but the items were jotted
down without further comment.
And
"a sacque for mamma. sealskin
would be the best, think" 5k
Again the pencil gravely glided along.
And Mamie, blue silk dress and
watch.
For Ted, lot of books. He likes
books. And Ben would like bicycle,
and Robby wants new express wag-
on"
You haven't said what you wanted
for yourself" he reminded her, quietly
"Oh! haven't ~" with much uncon-
cern. "Well, / don't believe / just
know. I'll think about it and tell