Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

me, Mis- Mason? / am thinkin' as how I'll
| visit my kin folks in Iowy now that the rates is
down, an you can go for So, an I'm beginnin'
| to git my clothes ready
You go to Iowa, Maggier' exclaimed Mrs.
Mason, while in her establishment she came
within hairs breadth Of letting slip the ances-
| trail blue pitcher which she cherished as the
| apple OF her eye and which she was at that
moment washing.
.Yes'm," mildly responded Maggie. '.for you
see'm M" continued she feeling the silent incre-
dulity in the mistress tone. and evidently desir-
| ing to Withstand it with potent argument, ..you
see m, as how gifts 80 cents q week here, an
30 cents at Mis- Parker's, so in two weeks I'd
have % an Uncle Mike ia going to give me the
other dollar, an then l could CO." concluded
this humble logician, with near an approach
to triumphant ring in her voice as that patient
organ was capable of assuming.
Yes, Will give you the petticoat," smiled
Mrs. Mason, land valise in which TO carry the
clothing you take with you" As in her minds
eye she saw into a corner Of the attic where
reposed an ancient carpet bag which in the
eternal fitness of things seemed to match with
this quaint and dilapidated little maiden.
But not until see that you are really ready
to start, she added.
Thank you M" responded Maggie in q per-
functory way, gift from the long training in
begging to which she. in common with her
brethren. had been sehooled, having ceased TO
be considered anything more less than a
birthright
''Well. who ever heard of such a wild scheme
being actually entertainedi' thought Mrs. Ma
son. while she watched Maggie's gawky four
teen-year-old form betake itself across the grove
which separated the Maso4s home from the
unique abode of Mr.. Mulcalfey, his better half
(better four-fifths would more accurately de-
scribe that lady's behemoth-like proportions)
and their four progeny, of which our heroine
WAS the eldest
Eli, Mag" called out a nondescript object,
which, upon closer inspection. proved 10 be
Katy, one of The younger Mulcahey olive
branches, Mis- jackson wants you to mind
her baby this afternoon the while she goes to
her grandnlaw's funeral
Another twinty-five cints to buy me a red
neck ribbon to wear when 1 go to Iowy."
thought Maggie, as she emerged from between
the rows of tobacco plants TINT fiGnhed the
trance to the shnnty. structure, by the way.
which clearly proved to the most skeptical the
great truths of evolution, since it had grown
by dint OF board here and a prop there and a
space left for door yonder, from what was
primarily very dirty tent pitched on lti-
gated suburban lot to its present remarkable
architectural proportions, consisting OF two
rooms innocent of flooring and furnished after
the bizarre fashion only possible to those
householders who beg and steal their domestic
belongings.
Here, Maggie, child exclaimed the blear-
cgcu mOtucI anu ulSIfSSS OF ,He CstaDusQ-
ment Il thinks a sup of beer would cool the
likes OF me day like this, take the tin cints
oonder the pail and go fetch me some-besides
the petaty bugs is Sittin' way tho best of your
paw If he loafs around this way much longer"
pointing to greasy bundle occupying corner
of the ''froont room and that stirred as if
feebly interested at being thus made the sub
iect of conversation. An thinks he'd better
have some beer TO sober up on. An you.
Katy, go dig some petatys for dinner asin the
time Maggie gifts back" And thus having dis
patched her agents in their various directions
NAV (for such was the Mulcahey rendering of
the maternal appellation) betook herself
monument OF fat and laziless, to the shade Of
tree adjacent to her domicile to await the de-
velopment of the plans she had set in motion.
Il couldn't git here a mint sooner Mis-
Jackson" explained Maggie two hours later as
she entered that ladys sitting room, where her
woud-be employer sat waiting, bonnet on, and
baby in arms, the arrival of this general utility
maid.
you SEEM" she went on, ''as how Mis- Ma
son had such sight of scrubbin 70 do this
mornin'. an l never got through till this blessed
mint, an / come right over as coon as Katy toll
me thout even stoppin' to eat bite"
Thus artfully killing two birds with one stone
tickling her palate with lunch unknown to the
menu of the Mulcahey household and conceal
ing the latest evidence of ''maw's' bibulous
tendency, Maggie assumed the guardianship of
the jackson baby, who wept throughout the
long hot afternoon as if the obsequy of not one
great grandmother but all his ancestors was be-
ing unitedly observed.
His detection. though, was in no wise dispir-
| iting to his attendant. The idea of the trip to
"Iowy" shimmering before her mental eyes like
celestial vision, interrupted now and then it
IL true, by glimpses OF "maw' obtained through
/ the trees az that dame sat in the shade of the
Mulcahey back yard entertaining female
friend of Hibernian extraction, whose residence
hat
classically known as 1.-The Bottoms" and whose
arrival, with its attendant necessity for more of
the beverage which both cheers and inebriates,
had been the true cause of Maggie's delay in
assuming her present duty.
Il kinder hate to leave maw," medtated
Maggie, as the cackle which served Madame
Mulcahey in place Of laugh foated to the
daughters ears-apropos of which cachination
observing neighbors ayerred that its owners
face, rs well, bore a resemblance to that of a
hen, and that the voice and face together gave
ample proof, as did their shanty of evolution
from lower forms.
''She's awful good to me-" continued Maggie,
musing, and discriminating in her mental in
Election as she suddenly became aware of
paws" presence in the group, where he sat
smoking pipe-of peace, let US hope-with the
guest, Mrs. Flanagan.
For be it know and proclaimed, since Mrs
Mulcahey could ill afford to have left I'M
credited even negative virtue, that Whatever
were her other departures from conventionality
she was at least guiltless of the use of tobacco,
and, in truth, Maggie's favorable opinion of
'maw' was built chiefly on the fact that this
relative refrained through aversion to exercise
from certain activities-such as ingenious and
violent modes Of Juvenile punishment-in which
paw" being less numbered with fat and lazi-
ness, frequently INDUCED, and, inasmuch as
Maggie was no analist, sins of omission. which
were ~ numerous as the seashore sands in
"maw's" composition, were classed in her
youthful category of virtues.
why, Maggie, what is the trouble?" ex-
claimed Mrs. Mason ON the following morning
''Are you sick?' questioned she, a. Maggie
dragged her thin length around the kitchen,
apparently in a very unhappy mood.
Nom, amt SICK" replied Maggie, "but
paw foun' out las night that had the quarter
got mindin' Mis- Jackson's baby, an he TUX
1t away from me an made Katie git him some
whisky with 1t. didn't git the whisky for
him, though" continued she with o ring in her
voice which indicated, not consciousness of an
evil deed refrained from through love of right,
but rather malicious delight in being at least
able to thWart paws plan in its entirety.
HE tried to make me, but I put out and he
after me. / run to that place where they
graded the street down and Jest jumped OF
an made for Mis- Murphy's That jump was
too much for paw an SO he went back, con-
cluded Maggie as she mingled few tears of
rage with the dish water.
We'll, You will soon replace that loss," said
I'm xrl,f h. 49,