The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-08-13

"I'd as soon go to prison and done
with it."
"Oh, Ellie, don't talk so," said
Rose. s'There are wild roses and
| robins there, Just as one sees on the
painted plaques in the store windows.
| And perhaps we can have flower
bed, and some dear little downy chick
ensl"
But the first sight of Mulleinstalk
Farm was dispiriting in the extreme.
els this homer" said Elma with an
indescribable intonation in her voice.
"We'll get things all Strengthened
up, after while," said Mr.. Chesney
bustling to drive away the pigs, who
had broken out of their pen and were
squealing dismally under the win
dow.
Mrs. Chesney cried herself to sleep
that night, and awakened the next
morning with every bone instinct
| Win snootlng pains.
'And no WONDER" said Spencer.
"There's foot of water in the Gel
lar"
"We must have it Drained" said
Mr.. Chesney, with an uneasy look;
"but there's plenty of things to do
first"
And now began reign OF the
strictest economy.
'Save, save, save! That is the
chief thing" he kept repeating, brisk.
ly. "Women folks can't earn; they
should try their best to save"
"It's all very we'll for papa, "growled
Will. 'He goes to the city every
day and sees something besides the
pigs and the dead apple trees. He
orders new suit when he needs it.
Look at mammals patched gown and
Rosie's dyed bonnet strings! Why,
they can't even go to church, they are
such objects. He gets his lunch at a
restaurant, and we eat cold beans and
drink dandelion coffee and sage tea !"
"Boys," fluttered Rosie, "I've an
idea. Mary Penn, who lives on the
next farm, you know, came to see
Elma and me yesterday. Papa is
earning his living; we'll earn some
thing, too.
81 should like to know how" NUT
tered Spencer. II might hire out
somewhere as q farm hand, if it wasn't
for that wretched old horse, and the
pigs, and the woodchopping, and"
''Oh, but there is something that
won't interfere with the chores, nor
with SCHOOL," said cheerful little
Rosie. "Just listen-all 1 ask of you
is to lsten!"
The weeks grew into months, and
the family had left off complaining
now. Apparently they were resigned
to their doom. But there were some
things that Mr.. Chesney could not ex-
plain at all.
A new rug frightened up the dismal
hues of the parlor carpet. Rosie had a
crimson merino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars; Elma's fall jacket
was edged with substantial black fur;
and-grand grand climax of extrava-
gance-Mrs. Chesney had anew shawl,
in place of the old broche garment
which had been her mothers before
her!
He looked over the housekeeping
books with renewed vigilance; he
consulted the stubs of his check. book
with glance that nothing could es-
cape.
"I- don't know - how they
manage it." said he. scratching his
nose with the lead-poncil that he
always carried. II hate mysteries,
and mean to be at the bottom OF
this before I'm an hour older"
He took his account book under his
arm and marched into the kitchen,
where his wife was clearing away the
the late supper.
"Abigail," said he, chow is this?
I've given you no money. You've
long left off asking for money. How
have you managed to smarter yourself
and the children up SO? won't be
cheated by my own wife!''
Elma set down the pitcher which
she was wiping, and came and stood
before her father with glittering eyes
and cheeks stained with crimson, like
flag of battle.
Papa" she said, 'you must not
! apaak tO mamma so Mamma would