Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-04-23

and by no effort OF their own, become
very important citizens. Mrs. Smith,
the wife OF one Of the ministers, told
the ladies In the sewing society
chat she thought II shame that none
of them ever went to see the Atkinses-
They've got souls to save IL they air
PORE" she added, judiciously overlook.
ing the fact that report said they were
no longer beggars. Mrs. Kelly, the
lady who had avowed her intention Of
never helping them again, looked quite
abashed, and secretly resolved to send
Mrs. Atkins a pitcher OF buttermilk
that very evening.
Next morning Mrs. Atkins herself
entirely unaware of the rumor that
was abroad. She entered the place
rather timidly and In very apologize
tone asked for a pound of bacon. lit
tie coffee and box of snuff, adding, as
was her invariable rule, that she would
pay for the things as soon as berries
gifts ripe" As Mrs. Atkins had made
this same promise every time she had
entered the store, there was no reason
why it should have particularly inn
pressed Mr. Johnson; yet he seemed de-
lighted, and hastily produced the things
she wished, but in much more generous
quantities. How would you like nice
ham?'' he asked, holding up the article
in question. Mrs. Atkins hesitated.
She was as honest as her limited
means would permit, so she shook her
head, saying he would get tired of
waiting for his pay. mo, indeed, he
insisted; take your own time to pay
for it. l don't mind waiting bit on a
good customer" Thus urged, Mrs,
Atkins took the ham, and added several
would not allow her to carry the
things, but sent them in his delivery
wagon, and gave her at parting po-
| lite "call again" Mrs. Atkins went
home in a truly astonished state OF
mind, related her remarkable adven-
ture to the old man and the children,
and wound up by declaring that ''Jim
Johnson's been converted, and know
it, else he never would have did it."
The Atkinses enjoyed a square meal
that morning, the first in many a
weary day.
| The two churches-there were only
! two in the town-seemed to vie with
each other in paying delicate atten-
| tons to the hitherto neglected family.
| To be just, the two ministers and their
wives had endeavored to induce the
Atkinses to ''join the church," but
their efforts had not been crowned
with success, largely, it seemed, be-
cause Mrs Atkins and Mandy, the
oldest girl, had "nothin' to wear"
But now the other ladies of the church
developed a sudden interest in the
matter, and upon receiving the usual
reply one of them boldly asked:
"Well, why don't you git dress at
Boothby's? He'll wait till you git the
money" Mrs. Atkins, who was getting
little accuston ed to her unexpected
turn of good luck, plucked up heart
to go to Boothby's, the largest dry
goods and general merchandise" store
in the place, and, though somewhat un-
certain of her reception, managed to
| express desire for certain purple
calico toward which her heart had in
clined, but which she had never
&, ..eamed of possessing. Mr.. Boothby
was most affable; certainly she could
have the goods, and anything else she
wished. A pink calico for Mandy
was added, and the enterprising mer-
chant succeeded in pressing upon the
bewildered woman various articles OF
adornment entirely unsuitable to her,
but of which he had found some trouble
in disposing.
Thus it went on. Mandy and her
mother became regular church goers,
arrayed in their elegant new caliCoes
and even the old man had a new suit
of "store clothes sold him on time
and somewhat against his will by an
accommodating merchant of the town.
In vain the Atkiuses protested that
they did not know when they could
pay for all these luxuries; these gen.
erous friends smilingly waved aside
all such scruples and protested that
they were perfectly willing to wait.
Thus the winter passed, the Atkinses
daily growing in favor. 1t had been a
hard season, but, thanks to the indul
gence of their now numerous friends,
they Jared well, and the oldest boy had
a position that enabled him to earn q
little.
Spring came, and with it the pen.
sion officer came to the town again.
He stopped at Johnson's store one day
to purchase some cigars, and that
smiling merchant took occasion to
question him. little. "When is ole
Bill Atkins goin' to get his pension?"
he asked.
"Atkins-Bill Atkins? l don't re-
member anyone of that name. Oh,
yes, you mean. that old half-blind fell
low that lives ut the end of the town.
Why, he won't have any pension at all.
He applied, and 1 examined the case
when was here before. His blindness
has nothing to do with his war service.
There is no reason in the world why he
should have a pension. He has known
ever since was here last fall that he
wouldn't be allowed anything"
So saying, the pension-man paid for
his cigars and strolled out of the store;
but the silver lay unnoticed on the
counter. Mr.. johnson stood with his
mouth wide open and his eyes staring
at vacancy.-Lippincott's Magazine.
What He Supposed.
The efforts of certain literary man
to turn himself into successful "hen