The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-05-29

But I'd only shame i'm, an folks'd say
Dear, dear, an dye know is mother is
a charwomanP An then ed only be
ashamed O me. No, no, no. couldn t
stand that, an l toll i'm So F"
There was an awkward pause, in
which l could think of nothing to say
to the poor thing, so glanced at her COM
passionately and thoughtfully mixed
some sepia on my palette.
eye see, sir, twas this way" Maggie
went on after awhile. ''After Joe died
we 'ad nothin, not ha'penny to buy
bread, so l sent the boy to the 'ome for
poor children an began scrubbin floors
1t was ard to let Dick 60 but tried
not to sorrer over it, for knew l
couldn't keep i'm. | didn't see i'm for
quite awhile then-not till e was 5
year, for they wouldn't let visitors in
ON Sunday, an l was workin all the 9th
er days.
IT went up there with my scrubbin
things an all one night, for I'd jest come
from my work, an q didn't know me,
sirl E ran away an i'd when tried to
kiss i'm. Well, after that 1 went up
whenever l could get away after my
work was done at night, though was
awfully tired, an e got kinder ulster
me an liked to build tents by putin up
my broom an mops an wrappin my
shawl round 'em. E ulster call my mop
Doctor, cause e said the end was like
Dr. Dicks whiskers. DIR. Dick was the
reg lar doctor at the ONE, an ed took
shine to my little Dick
Zone day l was washin windows in
an office on Turner street, an in walks
Dr. Dick Well, we 'ad talk, an the
end of it was e took my Dick to fetch
up for is son. E was nice, kind gen
tleman, an 1 knew he thought a sight
O. Dick, but it was ard for me, for Tad
to promise not to see Dick after e left
the 'ome. But I'd no money to fetch
i'm up on, AN DR.. Dick d make i'm a
gentleman, an I couldn't stand in the
boys way. ED soon forget me, though
it nearly killed me when thought of it.
THAT must a. been near 80 year ago.
but somethin hurts ere, I" touching her
heart, ''when / think of the day | said
goodby."
There was another pause in which 1
painted furiously.
"What days today? The 18th, isn't
it? Well, twas just five years ago that
Dick found me out, an was still scrub
bin. didn't seem to have no art to
get anything better to do after l let Dick
go. What was the use?
CDR. Dick was dead an 'ad left my
Dick lots O. money an a letter that told
i'm all about me, so ed come to look
me up am take me to live with i'm. e
was good, but awful cold an still-like
an wore kid gloves an finer close nor
Joe ever 'ad. But / ought not 'er say
that, for e alters is very good to me,
jest as if was lady, but you see e
was different, an | never could love i'm
like little Dick
$50 | told i'm e must leave me where
l was, for couldn't be Apply in big
'ouse with fine close an would only
shame i'm before folks. An old woman
like mel / was too old to change. I'd
scrubbed all my life an was goin to
scrub to the end. An, said |, we
mustn't come to see me ON week days
when I'm worlin either, cause
'twouldn't do no good, an folks d only
wonder.
"'E got little mad at that, but
fancy he was kinder glad way down. l
said e could come on Sundays, an weld
spend that day together if e wanted
to- -
$50 now e comes every Sunday an
takes me to church, AN / rig out in the
fine shawl an bunnit an things e keeps
givin me an try to be like a great rich
lady.
cts kinder hard sometimes to think
'e's really my boy, for g don't talk like
me or seem to belong to me some ow,
but I s'pose it's all right, an 'e's real
fine gentleman, is Dick, she finished,
with pride, which poorly concealed the
aching mother heart beneath.
Poor Maggie, " l said softly under
my breath.
"Why do you say that?'' she cried
almost fiercely. II amt sorry bout
anything, am Dicks as good to me as
e can be. Mighty few women's got
such son, reckonP
After that we neither spoke till the
clock struck g. and / stepped back to
view my work.
1t was truly the best thing had ever
done, and another hours work would
have finished it, but the light was going
fast, so began to put away my paints
and brushes, and Maggie gathered up
her things to leave.
II wish there was something could
do for you, said | as | slipped coin
into the old woman's hard palm. | felt
more sympathetic now that my work
was done, and her story seemed to mean
more to me than when l was wondering
whether to use gray or brown for her
faded eyes.
Her face frightened at the words.
''Some time she faltered, slowly,
''if you could paint Dick-jest little
thing for me-
GLADLY" 1 answered, "but when
and where can see him?"
"Why, 81 She stopped. Some
time p'haps you'll see my Dick, an !
'ope you'll like i'm. l should like to
ave you know my son, Mr.. Carroll.
Good night, sir. !"
And she was gone.
had just got back from dinner when
there was knock at my door, and DIR.
Davis came in unceremoniously | was
used to having him drop in about that
time in the day and rather enjoyed a
chat with my gentlemanly landlord, for,
though outwardly grave, almost to sad
ness, he displayed at times grim hu-
NOR that was vastly entertaining and
was, moreover, man Of education and
refined tastes. He rarely spoke Of him
self and kept his cloak of reserve well
buttoned up to his chin-sometimes l
even thought he turned the collar up to
ward off all personal questions But |
knew him to be physician with linn
tied practice and fine house up on c.
street, besides the row Of lodging houses
from 115 to 121 West Lambert street.
'How are you, Davis?" l said with
out changing my position
AS VIGIL rs tulS DttSbly Weather pSA-
mits any one to be, !" he replied, taking
the only vacant chair. THE fog is so
thick outside you could drill holes i'll it
and blast it with gunpowder. But his
attention was attracted just then to my
easel
Whats this?' he cried and moved
the lamp to get a better view.
had my back to him; 50, after long
silence, l wheeled around to say, rather
impatiently, | fear, as did not under
stand his hesitation:
"Well, how do You like it?''
TITS truly fine, Carroll ] never
dreamed You would do anything like
this Why, my dear fellow, your repu-
tation win be made. F"
felt very much gratitied, for Davis
was something of "a critic, and his opin-
ion worth having, but it wouldn't be
g.. $40 e., ohpx.r t,,xr t,laacr1fa |