Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-08-07

~ anu ne has returned
with empty peck
cts, andacold which
threatens pneumonia 20
oh dear and we were so well of
before little Mother married again, a"
Margaret murmured, dolefully.
Treason ~ cried Helen, stOutlv
''not u word against Pa Pendergast
tho dearest old visionary thing that
ever livedi'
he certainly tries to make a for
tune for us, smiled Anne.
"And has only succeeded in reduc-
ing us to the verge of-beggary %
supplemented Margaret.
The expressman is stopping at the
gate, said Helen; ''but, Of course,
it's a mistake.
Yes nothing comes to us now
but trouble, ended Margaret.
But a moment laterand Helen called
back, e~cstahcally, 'EOh, girls, it is for
us, sure as You hvel' Then, less ioy-
fully, 'But-there seventy-6ve cents
to payi'
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.
'It's-old clothes" Margaret said,
gloomily,
"Nadger in a general chorus of
dismay.
But ever 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 huery upon the floor.
Anne bit her lip, Margaret's eyes
famed wrathfully and Helen laughed.
But the mother face worked piteously,
and 1t wasa all that she could doto keep
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 aud delicacy in
sending their own left-0f but useful
garmentstothos who we're poorer than
themselves. And it was "a bitter hui
initiation 20 her now. when, for the
first time, a mass of dingy and inap-
propriate fnery had been literally
dumped upon her doorstep, without
any accompanying message from the
rich. city cousin, from whom IL un-
doubtedly had been sent.
There isn't "a practical thing among
them laughed Helen, who was
adjoining herself with whatever came
first 90 hand And even Margaret
could not help smiling at the comical
picture her pretty young sister made
with a crushed French bonnet percbed
coquettishly ON her far curls, a faded
and altogether too-ample olive red
lngoto enveloping her pretty form, and
above her head the bony skeleton of
a once splendid parasol-its melan-
chOlyIibs uplilted now, as if imploring
pity.
Anne laughed Historically but just
then Pas q~uerllous voice was heard
i'm the room above, and the mother
was glal of an excuse 20 hasten away.
Night came. The debris had dis
appeared, and the letter of thanks TO
Cousin Frances, which Helen had
volunteered 90 write, was finished.
Listen. girls, while I read it, she
said; "but don't interrupt. II You
think of anything more 10 sayiust wait
and I'm add 80 on al the end.
MY generous rich relative, she
began, and, regardless Of the rising
murmur of dismay, she hastily went
on .'lt was So thoughtful OF yOu to
send us sucn q lot of Old clothes (which
We can't possibly make use oQ, ana
not To- prepay the express which Is un-
commonly high in this part of the
world. We now understand why &c
Is more blessed Go give than receive %
But. unfortunately, we don't know
any one who would take such stun as O.
gift, unless it's the ragman
''Heleur'
'You shan't send such a letter
and Margaret snatched the perfectly
proper lutte 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, ndwith
her happy disposition she found away
of getting fun ont of everything.
But anxious and busy days came
after this. Pa Pendergast vas serious
lv III f0r a time, and before he was
really able to be around again be was
planning another OF those disastrou
lecture tours. with which De was always
irving to retrieve their fallen io--
tunes. At last. however, they had
managed 20 persuade him TO put it Oh
until the fall.
There was mo- family in all the viii
LACE who had once stood SO high, or
who we're more respected IN these
DAYS of their misfortunes. "Pas
failings aud good qualities were aliSs
freely discussed. and his wife com
miserated for having allowed her VS.
ioRary spouse the coatr0l OF her con