The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-16

" ~ Uou1
gNA INV ended in disaster
WN and he has returned
with empty peck.
cts, and cold which
threatens ppeumopia!"
"Oh dear and we were 80 we'll of
before little Mother married again.
Margaret murmured, dolefully.
"Treason!" cried Helen, stoutly ;
mot one word against Pa Pendergast
tho dearest old visionary thing that
ever livedt"
He certainly tries to make a for
tune for u.s." smiled Anne.
Sand has only succeeded in reduc-
ing us to the verge of-beggaryl'
supplemented Margaret.
THE expressman is stopping at the
gate, said Helen; sbut, of course,
it's a mistake"
Eyes; nothing comes to us now
but trouble" ended Margaret.
But a moment later and Helen called
back, ecstatically, sob, girls, it is for
us, sure as you llver" Then, less joy
fully, s'But-there's s~eventy-fve cents
to pay!"
At last the necessary amount was
made up, the expressman departed,
and the girls and their mother, in a
state OF unusual excitement, gathered
around the huge. irregular bundle
which, by their united efforts, they
had dragged into the middle of the
sitting-room.
"Who could have sent it?" won.
dered Anne.
What do you suppose it isl" ques-
toned Helen.
'1t's-old Clothes" Margaret said,
gloomily,
.sMadge!" in q general chorus of
dismay.
But ven as Helen cut the strings
the lopsided bundle burst asunder and
shed it's contents of crumbled ball
gowns and all kinds of forlorn and
draggled finery upon the floor.
Anne bit her lip, Margaret's eyes
famed wrathfully and Helen laughed.
But the another face worked piteousIy,
and 1t was all that she could dol to keep
back the tears.
All her life till now, Mrs. Fender
CAST hsd been used to comfort, and
even luxury; and she had always
shown so much tact and delicacy in
sending their own left-of but useful
garmentsto those who we're poorer than
themselves. And it was a bitter hui
initiation to her now, when, for tho
first time, q mass of dingy and inap-
p-opriate fnery had been literally
dumped upon her doorstep, without
any accompanying message from the
rich, city cousin, from whom IL un-
doubleday had been sent.
There isn't a practical thing among
theml" laughed Helen, who wal
adjoining herself with vhatever came
first to hand. And even Margaret
could not help smiling at the comical
picture her pretty young sister made
with q crushed French bonnet perched
eoquettishly on her fair curls, q faded
and altogether too-ample olive red
ingote envelopiDg her pretty form, and
above her head the bony skeleton OF
. once splendid parasol-its melan.
cholyribs uplifted now, as if imploring
pity.
Anne laughed hysterically But just
then Pas querulous voice was heard
in the room above, and the mothel
WIS glad Of an excuse to hasten away.
Night came. The debris had dis
appeared, and the letter Of thanks TO
Cousin Frances, which Helen had
volunteered to write, was finished.
Listen, girls, while / read il" she
said; but don't interrupt. II yon
think Of anything more to say just wait
and I'll add ii on at the end.
my generous rich relative, = she
began, and, regardless Of the rising
murmur Of dismay, she hastily went
on: 1T was 10 thoughtful of you 10
send US such q lot of old clothes (which
We cant possibly make use cfl, and
not to prepay the express which is I'M
commonly high in this part 81 the
world. We now understand why it
y more blessed TO give than receive
But, unfortunately, we don't know
any one who would take such stuff az 4
gift, unless it's the ragman-
Helen ~
"You shan't send such q letter 2
and Margaret snatched the perfectly
proper little note she had written
from Helen's hand, while the young
girl laughed merrily over the success