Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-03-19
TINS SUNDAY DINNER.

TINS SUNDAY DINNER.
"Aint them beauties, now?" Old
Duncan Brown held up pair of bronze
-inr,s in his rough. toil-stained hand, and
eazrh at them admiringly.
The only other occupant of the dingy
shoe shop. slckly looking boy of 10,
glanced up from his work.
who he they for, Mr.. Brown" he
asked. There amt many folks around
here as wears shoes like them. :"
"Them be for the squire's darter up on
the hill. They're for a birthday present,
and was to be done Saturday night
prompt. Well. there they be now. and
np they 60 onto the shelf till sent for
Ms he spoke he wrapped the dainty
little shoes in fine paper, packed them in
d. beat box and set them on a shelf.
Shell feel fine in them. said the boy.
The squire he always must hev the
hest OF everything for Nellie. Bout tn"
siz,. Of Sissy. she he. Them shoes'd look
nice on Siss. She's purity girl
The boy nodded in response to this
show of parental pride.
"Tl ey'd pay a lot fer such pair down
to the store at the cros-In. wouldn't
thew" he asked, still thinking of tho
bronze shoes.
"Thev don't have that kind there. all
hand d-scwed and little gilt buttons. Wish
| could sell EN- to EN-. and have the
money. Mother and med have a good
dinner one day in the year.
The boy was only an apprentice. He
livcd in a tumhle-down cottage at the end
,L the village with his widowed mother.
duncan Brown had male shoes for the
village folk for many day. The new
shoe store at the crossing had somewhat
l,.ssened his patronage, but he scorned to
consider it as a rival.
There he plenty as will stand by the
old man till he quits work, he used to
..ay.
Duncan had married late in life. and
was old enough to be the grandfather of
the blue-eyed, golden-haired fairy who
called him papa, and had frightened his
home for eight years.
Dinner is most ready. papa; come and
get ready Come, Tim"
She came dancing into the room like
ray of sunlight.
Old Duncan Brown caught her in his
arms and tossed her until she shrieked
with laughter.
Does Sissy want to see something
purity"
He took down the box from the shelf
and let her open it.
"O-o-h! for me, papa"
mo, pet, them's fer little girl jest
about your size, Nellie Barclay. You'll
have some like 'em some day"
Sissy gave happy laugh.
Next Christmas, papa3 Let's go to
dinner, it's getting all cold.
Dinner over, Mr.. Brown got out over.
coat, muffier. and mittens.
81 be going down to the crossin, Mary,
and won't be back till supper. You kin
go right home, Tim, and tell your mother
you've been such good boy l thought
you needed half holiday. Sure ye be
here bright and early Monday morning. =
When Duncan and Tim had both gone,
Mrs. Brown lay down in her darkened
room to sleep off a troublesome head,
ache.
The afternoon was little dull for
Sissy with no one but the cat to talk to,
She was glad when about four o'clock a
little playmate called on her.
Nellie Murray, come right in. I'm all
alone. Did you bring your doll?"
Il can't stay but a minute, Sissy.
Mamma sent me to get my shoes. Mr.,
Brown said they would be done to day.
Yes, they are. said Sissy. In get
them for you. Papa showed them to me,
and he said they were for Nellie some.
body; of course that's you. They're SC
cunning. Nellie, all brown with little gil:
buttons.
NcIlie's brown eyes sparkled. Hen
clothes were always of the pIainest, and
her shoes stout leather, made to wear,
for her father had hard work to feed and
cln'he his six children.
With the aid of chair. the box Mr..
Grown had packed 50 carefully wa.
dragged from the shelf, and Nrllic's
plump little arms closed about it,
"Oh Sissy. Trey 'r- for a surprise.
Mamma didn't tell me but what they
were old black ones | never had any
other l.. Il. | mustn't "n.n them. III
get 80 interested ! cou!dm'r put them VI
again. and laughing n"rrily the little
mnii Kissed her friend Suoihy and ran
Gurlly home.
>i-sv WAS sound asleep in her bed wh":
Mr. Grown cam, home in the evening".
it,, MAS seat Il at Tia" tn pI''. ,;Ih put t. at
t"ri his on = iu,g supp ~, wii'n II sharf
i ir,Ttutr 1T the ,'mr.
,;q,ir' I.r'lN', boy for pair q:
-h"r~ that w.re to be ready hisrvcning,'
c..,!." Il v.:c;. uut of the darkness.