The news boy., 1894-10-20


me? hain't had letter can't tell
the time when. I'm most afraid to
open it, Dannel Mebbe it's got bad
news
Bad news. Who from. Id like to
know? You're alwuz expectin' some
thin gloomy"
''Wa'al, there's n good deal that's
gloomy in this world You know that s
we'll as do
Yes. Hannah, N there's good
deal that aint, too" He seldom spoke
with SO much vigor and decision when
differing with his sister.
You'd better open it n read it to
me; don't feel as eff l could, some
how"
Daniel Marstn sat down in the old
rocker by the west window. 1t was
early August and almost sunset.
Beautiful shafts of red light threw
themselves over his thin, small figure
and his head, with its scanty gray hair.
He torHopen the envelope with his
finger, but the letter would not come
out. I'm 'fraid shall tear it all to
pieces. Hannah
"Wa'al, let me take it; I'll try'n see
what can do. I'm dreadful afraid
somebody's dead
Il spose somebody is somewhere"
said Daniel, with quick. short-lived
twinkle lighting up his pale blue eyes.
Good land. who do you think wants
to come n see us, Dannel?'
Cousin Angienette?" said Daniel,
in low, timid interrogative.
Now, how come you to be thinkin
o hero" asked his sister with consid-
cradle asperity of manner You amt
been readin right through the letter,
like some o them folks up in the city
the papers tell about. have YEP
Il came across little picture yes
terday in the green chist up in the
garret, that she sent me a good many
years ago, jest afore she got married.
j guess she was kind o in my mind.
She used to be the chipperest girl t l
ever see in my life, n she had such
pretty curly hair"
Twas red" said Hannah.
"Wa'al, t want real red, kind O.
pink"
Were too old to be chippcr now,
any OF us. don't see how l can have
her, no way, Daniel; we amt seen her
this ten year"
Wouldn't she kind O liven us up?"
asked Daniel, timidly. "We don't see
many folks. you know"
"Wa'al eff you're tired o havin' your
pore old sister round, Tspose l can
write n have a stranger come N take
my place"
Hannah's voice trembled, and her
eyelids grew red, one tear gathering
force enough to trickle slowly down her
cheek like slender rill, which has no
great source behind it.
Il guess wouldn't think anything
about it, then-perhaps she might
make We some work. l didn't know
but she could help along with the
uuiltin'; she used to be master hand
at sewin'. could tackle up n go to
the deepo for her as we'll as not, now
I'm through with the hayin'."
You'll have to write the letter,
Dannel. don't seem to feel like it,
my stomachs so weak. s'pose shall
be sorry had her come. don't want
her meddlin' with my cookin'."
That day week the three cousins
were seated in the best room, which
led out of the kitchen. 1t was mere
box of room, and had a musty odor,
it was SO seldom opened. Two large,
old naples shaded the windows. and
grew so near that they seemed like
grim sentinels, forbidding the en-
trance of heavens light and breath.
II don't see you look much older n
Won did ten or fifteen years ago,
Angienette," said Daniel, as he crossed
one leg over the other, and tried to
make himself stationary in the slip.
perry horsehair chair with its hard,
unyielding seat.
"Wa'al, don't knows feel old: I've
got good health n seven nice children!
There amt nothin' they don't try to
do for me, since their poor father died.
But I'm fifty-five next month. That's
older n you. Hannah. by three years. "
81 hain't never had sech health as
you've he'd" said Hannah. as she left
the low chair and took seat in one
the back of which was tall and straight
and stiff.
Her figure was 1.-THE and firm and her
complexion, though colorless, had the
hue of health.
"Why, you never was sick but once,
Hannah" said the brother, IN that
was more n twenty years ago"
well, / amt been real sick, but
don't seem to feel SO strong as / was.
git dreadful tired washin' n IRON the
same day."
~ sh'd think you would" said hal
Qousin, what msksa 70 do it?"