The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-08-07

cts, and a cold which
threatens pneumonia -
''Oh dear! and we were so we'll off
before little Mother msrried again, :"
Margaret murmured, dolefully.
Treason cried Helen, stoutlv :;
s'not one word against Pa Pendergast
the dearest old visionary thing that
ever livedi"
che certainly tries to make for
tune for US, smiled anne.
stAnd has only succeeded in reduc-
ing US to the verge of-beggsry!'
supplemented Margaret.
"The expressman is stopping at the
gate, said Helen; "but, of course,
it's mistake.
Eyes: nothing comes to us now
but trouble, ended Margaret.
But moment later and Helen called
back, ecstatically, stOh, girls, it is for
us, sure as you l1ve." Then, less Joy
fully, "But-there's seventy-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
sittlng-room.
s'Who could have sent it?" won
dered Anne.
''Whet do you suppose it is?" ques-
toned Helen.
'sIt's-old Clothes" Margaret SAID,
gloomily,
'.Madge!" in 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 fnery upon the floor.
Anne bit her lip, Margaret's eyes
famed wrathfully and Helen laughed.
But the mothers S face worked piteouslv,
and it was all that she could doto keep
back the tears.
AL. her life till now, Mrs. Fender
gast had been used to comfort, and
even luxury; and she had always
shown so much tact and delicacy in
sending their own left-of bnt useful
garments to those who were poorer than
themselves. And it was bitter hui
initiation to her now, when, for the
first time, mass of dinsy and inap-
propriate fnery had been literally
dumped upon her doorstep, without
any accompanying message from the
rich, city cousin, from whom it un-
doubtedly had been sent.
There isn't 8 practical thing among
them!" laughed Helen, who was
adorning herself with whatever came
6rst to hand. And even Margaret
could not help smiling at the conical
picture her pretty young sister made
with crushed French bonnet perched
coquettishly on her fair curls, q faded
and altogether too-ample olive red
ingote enveloping her pretty form, and
above her head the bony skeleton Of
once splendid parasol-its naelan-
cholyribs uplifted now, as if imploring
pity.
Anne laughed Historically; but just
then Pas querulous voice was heard
in the room above, and the mother
was 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.
'tListen. girls, while I read it. 5" she
said; "but don't interrupt. IT 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 rising
murmur of disnay, she hastily went
on: cit was so o.thoughtful OF you to
send us such lot of old clothes (which
we can't possibly make use OF, AMI
not to prepay the express (which is un-
commonly high in this part of the
world). We now understand why it
is more blessed to give than receive
But, unfortunately, we don't know
any one VINO WOuiO Jake SuCn etVH as Il
gift, unless it's the ragman
Helen"
''You shan't send such a letter. =,
and Margaret snatched the perfectly
proper little note she had written
from Helen's hand, while the young
girl laughed merrilv over the success
of her impromptu nonsense. She loved
to tease her sober elder sisters, and with
her happy disposition she foand Il way
Of getting fun out of everything.
But anxious and busy days came
after this. Pa Pendergast WAS serious
" i'll for time, and before he WAS
really able to be around again he was
planning another OF those disastrous
lecture tours. with which he WAS always
trying to retrieve their fallen for-
tunes. At last, however, they had
managed to persuade him 10 put Ii Of
until the fall.
There was no family IN all the vii,
lace who had once stood so high. Ok
who were more respected IN these
DAYS OF their misiortTnes. ''ina
<ailines and good qualities Were alike
freely discussed. xnl his wife COM
miseratel Tor having a}!owel her vi&.