Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-01

ground outlining itself against the sky. Suddenly Mrs. Burns. who was washing dishes in the kitchen, heard her begin to sing quaint old English ballad as the night came down and she sat there alone in the irelight of the keeping room. Her voice, a rich soprano, seemed to rise and fill the house like incense and then float out under the kindling stars.
 Well. never did" said she, laying down the plate she had just washed, eff she ain't a-singin like all possessed, and l thought she'd be as lonesome as cat in strange garret come night. When spoke to her about takin Miss Crab the school teacher, to board and goin halves with her on the profits, she wouldn't hear to it nohow. l guess she thinks she's too good to associate with Miss Grab, but for girl that's come down of her high horse to be as poor as Jobs turkey and is going to peddle garding sass round Littlefield it don't comport.
 Mrs. Burns was totally indifferent to the fact that her sentences would not parse by any of MT. Lindley Murray's ingenious rules The principle of social equality had been attacked on Scrabble Hill and she felt she had perfect right to be aggrieved.
 Now, Mahaly," said Burns, who was eating his supper at a side table by the light of kerosene lamp, "don't prised she wouldn't low to take that biggest gossips and little tattles in the township"
 "Oh. knew you'd take up for her." snapped Mrs. Burns: but she needn't expect me to tend that imcumbater. hate the very sight of the thing. She's put in two dozen aigs, and has hung thermometer and fixed the hot water pipes, and she thinks I'll fuss with the thing and coax them chicks out of the shell"
 Let her go her length, returned John, with his mouth full of cold potato. Bingham is comin tomorrer to build chicken house It's all dumb goldarn nonsense and a useless sQuanderin of money. but if she wants it she'll have it sure if it breaks her neck. Faint we that shall suffer Mahaly, keep your eye peeled Mebbe she'll git sick of the f whole business before long and conclude to get married"
 As Agnes sat by the fire in the keeping room, where the embers had grown a glowing red and the shadows deep rich brown, there came timid knock on the panel of the outer door that opened directly to the free air and little foot path trickling down through the grass to the lonely highway. When Agnes opened | the door enough daylight still fingered to show the form of young girl who | stood on the door stone with small i bundle in her hand tied up in a yellow cotton handkerchief. She was an over grown child of twelve or fourteen, with reddish locks. a thin, freckled face, a nose painfully inclined to tilt heaven ward. a broad mouth full of irregular teeth, and small, pointed chin. She was dressed in an old ragged straw hat and faded pink calico gown, with bit of soiled blue ribbon tied round the waist in what was intended for a coquettish bow Her flat chest was adorned with a green glass breastpin; her thin, scrawny brown arms protruded from elbow sleeves, and her hands were covered with dirty cotton gloves three sizes too large and out at the fingers.
 What do you wish?" said Agnes, as she stood there in the glimmering, un- certain light eying the strange figure on the doorstep before her
 ''l want to see Miss Ransom"
 Il am she"
 Well. never did." The girl drew in her breath sharply and let her promi nent light blue eyes roam all over Miss Ransom's face and figure, as fashiona- hln Hl,A form of a rival.
 Come in" said Agnes gently, and tell me why you wished to speak with me-"
 The girl entered like an automaton, and Agnes closed the door and lighted lamp at the chimney. Her visitor sat down on the nearest chair, tucked her feet as far under it as she could. protruded her bony knees and with her mouth open followed with kind of feline att tentiveness every movement the young lady made. Agnes came and sat down near her. The girl was still painfully abashed, but she warmed under an en- couraging smile.
 "Well, now. why did you come here. and what is your nameT"
 "They call me Phemy Spence, but don't know bout it's bein my real name guess l haint got none was raised on the poor farm, and Miss Blodgett took me to mind baby and do chorin. She agreed to give me three months schoolin every year and to keep me clothed up decent, and hain't been to school a day nor had a new rag, only her old duds made over. and the baby was an awful : heavy load, and l hurt my back a-car. : ryin him, and she slapped me if l made 8 complaint, and sometimes she took a big stick to me, and had mostly pork scraps and mush to eat, so thought I'd
 light out of there."
 This narrative was given in 8 monot onous, dull tone, without stop or accent the words running together in a com