The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-08-16

MNNANNS the lecture tour
csThA INV ended in disaster !;
VIVA and he has returned
with empty pock-
cts, and cold which
threatens pneumonia -
''Oh dear and We were SO we'll off
before little Mother married again, )"
Margaret murmured, dolefully.
''Treasonr' cried Helen, stoutly :;
s'not one word against Pa Pendergast
the dearest old visionary thing that
ever lived!"
''He certainly tries to make for
tune for us, smiled Anne.
t'And has only succeeded in reduc-
ing US to the verge of-beggary I"
supplemented Margaret.
"The expressman is stopping at the
gate" said Helen; s'but, of course,
it's mistake"
''Yes; nothing comes to us now
but trouble, - ended Margaret.
But moment later and Helen called
back, ecstatically, ''Oh, girls, it is for
us, sure as you hve!'' Then, less joy
fully, ''But- there's seventy-five 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 is?' ques-
toned Helen.
'1t's-old Clothes" Margaret said,
gloomily,
"Madge!' in a general chorus OF
dismay.
But even as Helen cut the strings
the lopsided bundle burst asunder and
shed its contents of crumbled ball
gowns and all kinds of forlorn and
draggled tinery upon the floor.
Anne bit her lip, Margaret's eyes
famed wrathfully and Helen laughed.
But the mother face worked piteousIy,
and it was all that she could do to keer
back the tears.
All her life till now, Mrs. Fender.
CAST had been used to comfort, and
even luxury; and she had always
shown SO much tact and delicacy in
sending their own left-off but useful
garments to those who were poorer than
themselves. And it was a bitter hui
initiation to her now, when, for the
first time, mass of dingy and map
propriate inery had been literally
dumped upon her doorstep, without
any accompanying message from the
rich, city cousin, from whom it I'm.
doubtedly had been sent.
"There isn't practical thing among
them! - laughed Helen, who was
adjoining herself with whatever came
first to hand. And even Margaret
could not help smiling at the comica
picture her pretty young sister made
with crushed French bonnet perchef
coquettishly on her fair curls, fadet
and altogether too-ample olive red
insota .enveloping her pretty form, ant
above her head the bony skeleton O
once splendid parasol-its melan
choly ribs uplifted now, as if implorine
pity.
Anne laughed Historically: but JUS
then Pas querulous voice was heari
in the room above, and the mother
was glad Of all excuse to hasten away
Night came The debris had dis
appeared, and the letter OF thanks te
Cousin Frances, which Helen hao
volunteered to write, was finished.
Listen. girls, while I read it.. she
said; shut don't interrupt. If you
think of anything more to say just wait
and I'll add 1t on at the end.
my generous rich relative" she
began, and, regardless OF the risine
murmur of dismay, she hastily Wen
on: SIT was so thoughtful OF you te
send us such lot Of old clothes fwhicl
We can't possibly make use oD, ani
not to prepay the express (which is I'm
commonly high in this part of tn,
world). We now understand why i
is more blessed TO give than receive
But, unfortunately, we don't know
any one who would take such stuff as
gift, unless it's the ragman'-
':Heleni''
LOU SudA l. SGuu SttCu IebGeI
and Margaret snatched the perfect,
proper little note she had writer
from Helen's hand, while the youn.
girl laughed merrily over the success
of her impromptu nonsense. She love'
to tease her sober elder sisters, and will
her happy disposition she found a wa,
of getting fun out of everything.
But anxions and busy days cam
after this. Pa Pendergast was serious
ly i'll for time, and before he wa
really able to be around again he wa
planning another OF those disastrol
lecture tours, with which he was alway
trying to retrieve their fallen TO.
tunes. At last, however, they ha
managed to persuade him to put it OF
until the fall
There was no family in all the vii
lage who had once stood SO high, o
who were more respected in thes
days of their misfortunes. Spa )
failings and good qualities were alik
freely discussed. and his wife com
miserated for having allowed her Wis
ionary sD0use The control of her CON