The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-09-15


The house was n small, implanted, Sox-
like structure, but the sun and storm
had tinted it with their own soft
colors, and climbing rose redeemed
1T from ugliness.
a thin, sallow woman was shaking n
cloth at the door. She looked worn
and haggnrd. Her mouth was drawn
down at the corners aud there was a
settled gloom in her dark eyes. She
wore n scanty gown Of blue bingham.
you've bin IA loiterin' again" she
said In complaining tone, IAN Dode,
he hesn't come back nuther Hos n
dretful stirrin' boy. Likes not he's
bin swimmin' agin. Last Satdy he
hedn't dry stitch on him. Pears as
eff betwixt you two l hev my sheer of
trouble. It's like bcin ground 'twixt
the upper an neither mill-stuns.
Lemme see tho work.
Malind opened the bundle and laid
out on the table six dozen pairs of
coarse wooden socks, the seams of
which Were to be sewed together.
"It's a good way to tho fact'ry, nn'
awful hot, " sue said, taking of her
sunbounet
Got the money all right?"
Malind took few coins from her
pocket.
"5ay, mn" she said eagerly, "can't
[ sew EN- most rs good as you KIN
now?"
"E'enamost as good" her mother
answered, "ef you wasn't such hib-
bertygibbet that can't set still"
t1I will cot ctilI I'll 10 g I,,,,
I'll work every minute 1 kin-if-if
-" she stNmmered.
"Ef what? Git it outr eric I her
mother impatientIy.
''lf you'll git me new frock fer
the Sunday-school picnic" Maliud
blurted ont, every nerve in her body
tingling with excitement.
Fer the Ian sake, Mnlind," cried
her mother shrilly. al do admire to
hear you talkin' about new frocks when
we can't hardly git enough to eat
leastways pears as eff Dode never
would git filed up"
81 mean sunthin' cheap" faltered
Malind. 81 wouldn't care what-ef
twas fresh-an' made fer mean
kinder fitted"
81 wisht I could manage it" said
Mrs. Binn with sigh. "Td like ter
rig you up good as the best-but it's
no use talkin' bout it. That there
picnic comes in about week. How
under the canopy could you do all
that work in such short space O.
time? l wuz calcalatin' on gittin'
you new suit fer Christmas. There,
now, jest whirl in an set the table.
hear Dode n whistlin'. Thank good
ness we've got plenty OF cold mush an
milk"
But Malind was not in thanksgiv-
ing mood just then. The cold mush
choked her. Her heart was hot with
rebellion against fate, though she
could not have called it by that name.
Why had some girls everything, while
she had nothing? Dode's appetite
annoyed her. How he did swallow
everything The mound of white
mush melted away like snow before
the sun!
Dode was two years younger, n rosy
checked, sturdy boy, who ruled the
house. MAlind often thought it must
be fine to be boy. He did not have
to learn to sew and help with the grey
wooden socks.
"You look after Dode and take keer
of the lamp" said her mother when
she sent them to bed. "Child over
Peapack way burnt to death with one
OF them kerosene lamps Dustin. The
great genies never thought Of wrap
pm her in q blanket. Some folks is
so ignorant they don't know that
wooden things smothers fire."
Many n pair of bright eyes grew
brighter the morning of the picnic
when they saw the luminous blue sky
and the dew dappled meadows glitter
ing in the sunshine. The birds were
singing ms if they, too, bad pic
mic, and the wind in tho wL..e pines
sang Joy songs Of its own. Malind
saw the children trooping by in their
holiday garments. The little girls
huttered about like gay plumaged
birds. She held up the great skirt of
her old biuo flannel with q strange
choking in her throat. 1t was lust as
wide rs when her mother had worn it,
but the frayed edges had been cut of
and n clumsy hem shortened it. The
basque was still too largo for her. Hex
thin figure was lost in it,
ooh, Malind, hurry up" cried
DOde from below. "You are the pok.
iuest girl. The wagons awaitin' for
u.s.
MnIind hurrieily tried ON hor dish.
shaped black straw hat, adorned with
one old feather and % crushed rose.
and she almost forgot her discomfort
in tho JOY Of a long ride through
green woods
'E7orybody i7 just as hateful ms
they can be, said Phrouie, as they
dismouuted mt the picnic grounds,
''g-scttiu' ON my skirts just for spite,
and rumpliu' it like auythiu'.'
MuIud joined in uu the games.
while phronio kept np1rt and tried to
smooth ont her wruklcj skirts. I'm
tire hymns OF lofty cheer" Maliud's
voice rang out above the rest "5nv,
Sis, whispered Dodc, bis eyes dane.
ing with mischief, OF found this bully
hrccrocker iu Che street this morning.
lts q giant. Wou.du'tlt make fuu 10
set b. OF? AN I got % match, too.
Throw it, over thcro an give
Phronio scare, suggested Malind.
''Ituck .uu tuIuy 70