The Butler weekly times., 1895-11-28

Beside this excuse for table sat a
man in broken chair, on his lap a
half-famished child of one year.
Leaning against his knee was anoth-
er less than three years old. Be-
tween the violent fits of coughing
that convulsed his wasted frame, he
broke the bread, and first softening
it in the water, fed it to the little
ones, barely tasting a few crumbs
! himself
Want more" said the elder one,
as she fished up particle from the
floor.
"Maybe mamma will come soon"
said the man in the Italian tongue.
Mamma walled the baby.
At this moment there was quick
step on the stairs, haud on the
latch, and the door swung open, re-
vealing the same bright, handsome
face that Mrs. Porter had distrust tie
the day before.
"Ninette." groaned the man,
Mamma" cried the children; and
then the three were fairly smoIhered
by the impetuous embraces and
kisses showered upon them. But
the pretty Dago did not waste much
time, but quickly drew from a bas-
ket some cakes, slice of bread and
meat, and bottle of milk.
Il wish it were more" she said;
"but I've had no luck. Everyone is
SO busy getting up their own fine
dinners and saying their prayers.
Prayers" she repeated very sarcas-
tically. Yes it's cheaper to pray
than to buy from one, even when I
tell them that you are sick, and the
babes" But here the woman
who forced herself to smile from
door to door, broke down. and
crouching on the cold floor laid her
head on her husbands knee and
sobbed aloud. It was not for long,
however; she knew agitation made
him worse, and then she had no
time for tears. She must do some
thing. The sight of all this suffering
goaded her to desperation. She
7vould provide for them, even though
she sinned to do it..
Rising up, she smiled her own
brave smile again, and went out, say
ing she would return soon; she must
report at the blishment for
which peddled on commission.
Once outside the door she wrung
her hands in agony; then shutting
her lips in desperate resolve she
rushed down the rickety stair, al
most upsetting, in her impetuosity
a man who, heavily laden, was just
starting UP.
"Be this the way to Ninette La
, somebody's room?' he inquired
breathlessly.
II am Ninette Lavonski, she said
well, here's heap of things I've
, been sent to leave here"
"You be wrong; we send for nj
: tings," she insisted.
Nav, I'm all right" he answered
pushing past her.
, In astonishment she followed him
nor was her surprise lessened when
once inside her room, he unburdeneC
himself of two great sacks of sup
plies, and laid in her hand one order
} for coal and another for -four.
r But what means it," she cried.
II don't know he said, and wen
away.
. 1t was in the very midst of hel
wonder and thanksgiving that sh,
9 suddenly cried out: II know wht
9 it is now; it must be the sweet wo
3 man with the silver hair, who live
| in pretty, white house where wa
l yesterday. She asked me question
until l cried a little, and told he
E all; then she bought little, took m.
l name and address, and said mayb
I. she could do more for me sometime
t 1t must be she. She'll never know
a the good she's done"
r 1t was to very plain little Dime
that Mrs. Steel sat down tha
i Thanksgiving day, for she had sen