The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-09-24
which smote the Misses Pembertoa

"Sp 81 FSty
ed Miss Pauline of Miss Griselda. 81
had a good mind to ask hor what she
meant by pawning those Clothes, but
dearie me, / haven't the heart now, if
had the mind"
How do you know she mas pawned
them?" asked Miss Griseida, nobly
covering the tam-o'-shanter with the
mantle Of charity.
Miss Pauline was able to answer thai
question sooner than either expected.
The following evening, as they walked
home from prayer meeting along a
gaily-lighted street that they sometimes
took for a short cut, their attention
was attracted by a glittering window
pane, over which hung. three brazen
balls. There their eyes caught the odd
ly striped tam-o'-shanter, conspicuous
among the pathetic collection of host
ages flung to the wolves Of want, as the
Russian mother flung one child to save
the rest.
"She did pawn it, cried Miss Pau
line, in subdued tones, compounded OF
triumph and dismay. SISTER, we must
20 Immediately to the house and tax
them with it."
What different aspects sit" might pre-
sent to those to whom the pawnship
is enveloped in a lurid halo of disgrace.
and to those to whom it is but a means
to a necessary end, naturally did not
occur to either of these estimable la
dies, as they Indignantly FASTENED to
the very humble abode of the Bergen
family.
The mother opened the door, looking
so pale and haggard that they asked in
alarm whether she had been i'll.
mo, ma'am, not i'll. Won't you como
in, ladies?"
The room had, somehow, a desolate
look, neat as it was, and an air Of al
most funereal quiet, which eve the
boisterous voices of the twins playing
in one corner could not dispel.
where's Annie?' asked the Misses
Pemberton.
"In-in the closet" said her mothe1,
rather stif1y, in a tone which forbade
curiosity on the subject.
"And where's Maggie"
ooh, she's in a Home! They've gone
and took her to a Home-my little, only
sister," 1t would be impossible to con
vey in written words the grief and de-
spair in Annie's voice and face as she
I,,Tsot fror, tho n10cnf whnrn chn hn6
been softly crying, and confronted the
astonished ladies.
"She's in a Home!" she reiterated,
with a tragic emphasis. "We haven't
got her and she hasn't got us! 1 know
she's crying for us every night Of her
life"
The tears in Miss Griselda's eyes con-
vinced Miss Pauline that her own must
be forced back. why did you send
her, if it breaks your heart SOP" she
asked.
"Must is must" said Mrs. Bergen,
quietly. "It was all 1 could do, with
the washing and Annie's dollar, to
keep the roof over our heads, espe-
cially when one Of the twins was sick
and I had to stay home, you know"
"Annie never told us about it."
Nom. I've always tried to teach
'em not to talk about their troubles,
and wear out peoples patience with
whining. You see Annie got her meals
from you, and when Maggie was there
helping her, and me getting mine where
I worked, and the children being fed at
the nursery, we could get along, though
1 had to pawn some things I'd have
been glad to keep"
"You don't deny having pawned the
clothes we gave you, then?"
Mrs. Bergen looked surprised. why
should 1 deny it," she asked, simply.
"It was more than once they helped the
rent out, or bought a bucket of coal,
though it hurt me to see Annie going
without the warm cape these sharp
spring nights. But oh, it hurts me
more to lose my little Maggie, and her
getting adopted out, maybe, and for
getting me, her own mother!!" and her
calmness suddenly broke down into
tears and sobs.
So would Miss Griselda's have done
if Miss Pauline had not given her arm
authoritative shake.
where's that Homer" she demanded
OF Maggie's mother. "Ill go down right
away and bring her back, if l have to
kiunap her. She shall have three meals
a day at our house, or four if she wants
them. Annie, stop crying for your sis
ter, and watch for her at the window.
Pm going to bring her back, 1 tell you"
"You know, sister, began Miss
Griselda, timidly, as they hurried away
from the house faster than they had
nastened toward it.
'Wel1?"
"You know Maggie will be getting
something for nothing, just as she did
before; and though 1 never said so, l
always felt you were entirely right in
your principle"
"Griselda Pembertonr!' Miss Pau
lines eyes were flashing. I'D be
ashamed to talk in such a ~hard-hearted
way-grudging a cup of cold water
or her hit of breakfast or dinner which