The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-01-11

Just because tnere are - many OF Us al
ways 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
she can't get any saved. / guess you
know my sister Mamie, don't you She's
the pretty one, with black eyes and
dark cGrls- She calls you "old Money
blgsr'
Was it the i-elight which cast a glow
on Simeon Pinch's withered cheek
Perhaps so. for he seqniesced quietly,
and the small voice went on:
And then there's me, and Ben. and
Rob. We wear ont an awful lot of
shoes"
Here a diminutive pair were thrust
disconsolately ont in corroboration.)
at made me feel azful bad about my
papas overcoat, and the lots of other
things, too, and thought: "I'lI go and
live with Mr. Pinch. He's rich and can
buy me shoes and things without missing
it. And I'm sure he'd ike TO have me"
Mr.. Pinch swung one lean leg Off the
other and leaned back In bis chair. His
hands relaxed their hold on the arms.
His shaggy brows lifted little and the
wrinkles about the eyes grew deeper and
deeper. His mouth twitchei once, twice,
and then this grim old man burzt out
into the longest, loudest, hea-tiest peal
of laughter that ever startled the echoes
N 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, unruiEied look.
At last Simeon Pinch brought himself
to order lie drew a small book and pen
Gil from his pocket and resumed the sub
ject.
So you've come to live with me on
condition buy you ONE things. Well,
bat what things are they first? Let's
hear"
a new overcoat and a pipe with
picture OF a lady on it," ejacuIsted the
angel, promptly.
What" said Mr.. Pinch. -'You don't
smoker"
OF course notr saia Miss Midget,
with some asperity. "That's for papa,
you know"
"oAw said Mr.. Pinch, 81 didn't
know"
The fierce eyebrows elevated th en-
selves slightly, but the items were jotted
down without further comment.
And"
"A sacqua for my mamms. A seal
skin would be about the best for her, I
think"
Agaiu the pencil gravely glided over
the paper.
And Mamie, blue silk dress and
watch"
For Ted, lot of books. lie likes
books. And Ben would like a bicycle,
and Robby-hs wants a new expire IS
wagon"
You haven't said what you want
ed for yourself" he reminded her, qui-
etly.
"Oa, haven't ?" with much uncon-
csrn. Well, don't believe just know
III think abort il and tell you to-mor-
row. think 1 must be going home now
Mr.. Pinch l forgot to tell mamma
about it. AMI she'll be worried. N come
tomorrow to stay"
There was a moisture in the blue eyes
and homesick tremble in the pretty
baby lips that warned Mr. Pinch to make
no remonstrance. So he simply touched
his bell and instructed his man James
(the rotundity of whose eyes expressed
at once surprise, alarm, incredulity, sus-
picion and humor) TO take Miss Midget
TO her oxn home
" ]. T. Brown, on the next corner,
James, think" met with a stoical and
discreet
" Yes, sir"
Long after Simeon Pinch had tied the
furry hood down over the curls and ex-
perienced the curious sensation of a good
night kiss, be sat before the embers Of
his fire with Swallowed face, and ponder
ed. Then he rose, drew on his great coat
and went out-and on such a night,
too
lie face the cutting blast with an ex-
kilaTated glow on his sallow cheek and a
new warmth in his heart. He bought
bags AID bags Of -four for city poor tur-
keys, roasts and oysters for each Of the
twenty-four families who had known him
heretofore but to tremble at his footstep
on rent day. Then James needed a new
oyercoat-his was looking shabby aud
willie be was about it he would buy Nan
cy new gown, by way of encourage
ment She had been faithful these many
years
To be sure, when he chose it, he term
ed it red, and the willy shop-keeper lift
ed it down and pronounced it the very
latest shade, and so it was-of blue. But
what difference 1t was high-priced
fabric, and "a rose under any other
name would smell as sweet"
Yet, among all these purchases (the
lavish recklessness of which mede the
merchant stare, for they had long known
him as Old Pinch y there was not one
ofthe specific wants iotted down in GER
tain little book that nestled, even now,
against his heart, and had helped to
crack the hard old shell that had 50 long
enveloped that organ. 1t looked as il
Miss Midget was to be forgotten. But
when he reached home he said to James
who sat in the hall awaiting bis return,
in decidedly speculative turn OF
mind:
think it is not too late to take a
note to Mr.. Mr.. Brown. Wait one me-
ment."
he went into the big, lonesome room,