The Van Buren press., 1895-08-24
4 LITTLE STORE.

An nnxious committee ON way
and means. met in Miss Beesley'l
liEtle. .eitting room. A cheerful fire Of
pine-tonss WAS barntng ON the small.
neat hexrth; It diokered and spa rkled
IN joyous fashion, and helped decided
y tosdrivel away the dampness from
without and the depression that
threaxened within. $+ ~ =
Il was the usual pathetic story:
young Girl. suddenly orphaned. with,
out eerttal or special training, and
With : younger brother and sister de-
psnding on her for support. They
had c0me sputh for the sake Of the del.
ieate 4lother; hers shc had died end
they were almost among strangera- A
Temporary home had been offered
them by Miss Beesley, their eccentrie
maiden neizhbor. and here, while little
Enc was cozily sleepinR, the Older
ones wore talking over the situation.
wit can l dor sighed poor Louise
Hunttt. i have said that over and
over TO myself SO much. that the words
don't tzpaean anything any more; can
oithesof you two help me out?" turn.
Ing "a her brother Fred and to Miss
Bsesley, both of whom were staring
thoug g45fully into the fire.
Aloa9 silence followed. broken only
By tho swapping fre and the ticking Of
ths tlY clock on the shelf above.
If sly could keep ON with my
studios st kelsey college, broke out
Fred. Il wouldn't SO much mind the
rest ia b. willing to chop wood Of
haul mnek. II needn't give that up"
my dear GIRL" said the little old
maid ,<Rith an air Of business, i've q
question 70 ask you. Your mother was
wonl6n Of ability. aui ~ an nnch
like her in many ways; among all the
things she taught you, what can you
do the best?'
Louise considered . few moments
end then answered with faint little
smile:
Don't laugh. Miss Beesley, please,
but I really do believe my answer
uaust be 'darning and patching.
Mamma used to say that fne mending
was one Of the lost arts and gave me
careful instructions, saying that
learned 20 readily she was quite proud
OF me-"
Good! what else can you dor" said
Miss Beesley. with emphasis.
Louise answered slowly: II hardly
know what else; 1sed to enjoy cook.
ing little delicate dishes for mamma
q tempt her; and Isdearly love stt
make candy!"
"You'd just better believe she can
tool" broke in Fred. now thoroughly in
terested. sShe's made all our Christmas
and birthday candies ever since we've
been here, for the grocery candy ISM
much but glucose and chalk. l wish
had some Of her 'cocoanut bar thii
very minute. so dor And the young
: -collegisn paused, now thoroughly GU,
of breath.
'.Item No. g." said Miss Beesley
ehecrlly. rs there anything else?'
mo, ! think not" responded Louise
vaguely encouraged by her friend'l
pleasant words. Mamma had rea
knack with flowers, and used to en-
Joy helping her SO much; but, after all
know vcry. little about them. Deal
Miss Beeslcy, i don't know much d
anything, I'm afraid; I can't sing OF
play or write, or teach. I'm only {
humdrum nvbody. and yet every body
depends ON me;" and the brown eyei
grew troubled and misty once moro. .
s'Don't fret" said Miss Beesley, kind
1y, sttoking the soft, slim fingers, "bu'
just listen to me, you two young things
for I've got plan. Fred wishes mos
3of Fall TO 60 to Kelsey Right he il, ant
go he shall. But A. we are out here II
the country, and Kelsey college is ovel
there - Woodbridge, achange must bs
made. You, my dear Louise, mus
move TO Woodbridge, rent q tiny GOT
tage, put ont plain little sign, Darn
ingS and Patching Done With Skill
e('I'll make the sign!' shouted Frsd)
put = little notice in the local paper
and, with good management, work
will come. In two or three months the
great hotels will begin to fill up with
winter visitors, the st. James at Wood.
bridge among them. Then is the time
for candy making. Have everything
sexquisitely good, put up In attractive
shape. labeled Homemade and dis.
played At the neatest store In the vii.
iage, Let hotel people alone for find.
ing out anything new! Perhaps few
spots of flowers will help out, also; but
you will know best about that. Now
what do you say?" concluded the little
old maid, poking the FIRE vigorously.
Louise's eyes had gradually been
growing bigger as the plan unfoIded.
ut sounds beautifulr' she said,
TREMENDOUSLY; do you think I could do
Sit?"
\ vi think you Will do It, my child, "
said her friend. with decision, "for the
rake Of the dear oncs who love YOU"
As for Fred, he conld scarcely con.
tain his feelings.
"Miss Beesley. you are triumph" he
cried in his healthy ringing tones; ''l'll
weed all your fiower-beds tomorrow. y
The next week was busy time for
all; careful inventory was made oi
their slender possessions, some things
sold, and Others kept for the new
home. One day Miss Beesley and
Louise made = trip 70 Woodbridge and
returned at nightfall. tired, but
triumphant. having found . house
suited to their needs; and early the
next week the transfer was made.
''Good-by, my dears, and may Heaven
bless yon. said Miss Beesley, with one
or two suspicious sni6s and winking
her black eyes very hard rs the train
steamed up TO the platfor m. Let me
know II anything goes wrong"
Reaching Woodbridge they walked
mp to the new home, leaving the freight