Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-01-02
V LITTLE BENEFAcToR.
ny MARY L. II. BRANCH.

~PJb uIc 80 long unu Wedrl-
some'" Sighed Mrs Harmon. She had
been confined to her room long time
Ny jchronic ailment. She could not
~ Npstairs or down. She could not
S!sit her Kitchen, where woman hired
by the week now filed her place.
Her husband was at work from morn
ing till night out in the fields, and her
grown-up daughter was away teaching.
She could ring a bell for Mrs. Grigg
II she wanted anything, and she could
move her chair from the window that
looked out on the back yard to the
window that looked out on the road.
But 1t was road on which there was
not much passing, and the chief event
each day was the strolling by Of per-
haps Il dozen children to school with
their dinner pals in the morning, and
their return home in the afternoon.
For want of other amusement she
watched them languidly at first, and
after TINT with increasing interest.
''Almy Chaplin and Grace Clark look
10 be pretty intimate" she often said
TO herself, us two little girls in plaid
aprons went by, sometimes each with
her arm around the others waist, and
sometimes studying from one book as
they walked. We'll, used to be init
mate that same way with Almy's
mother when was a girl. She was
Lucy Gray then. And now don't see
her once in six months. Folks around
here aren't very social"
Mrs. lliinion said this resignedly.
She knew how busy all the housewives
/ were in their homes. When she was
well she had not gone out visiting very
often. There were the hens, the pigs,
the milk and the buttermaking to see
to, besides the meals for the men and
the homework.
: But now, forced to give up work, time
passed YEARLY She had few resources;
sewing made her nervous, and she
cared little for reading, though she had
been u bright scholar when girl, and
HAD taught the district school for two
summers before she was married. Here
she was, clear-headcd woman of As,
tied 'down to an invalid chair waiting
for what?
Il declare, ] wont spend another
minute watching that hen scratch up
the grass!" she said one morning, as she
rolled her chair away from the back
window. Its time for the school chill
ircn TO go by. Jimmy Grigg is swing
ing on our gate now, waiting for Benny
Chaplin to come along. There's Benny
now. Lucy Chaplin must have big
!. washings. Benny goes to school every
morning ip a clean apron. and home in
y dirty one"
She watched the boys saunter off,
and then she watched till Alma
Chaplin and Grace went by. Presently
Tommy Cobb followed, running and
stumbling, with his hand done up in
! a red handkerchief.
Ilc was the last, and for more than
two hours after not even u dog passed
the house. 1t was tedious.
But in the afternoon Mrs. Chaplin
came into Mrs. Harmon's room with
benny. She said there was going to be
q mothers meeting at the schoolhouse,
and She wanted to leave Benny with
Mrs. Harmon till she came back.
ss"He'll be good" she said. you sit
there, Benny, and if Mrs. Harmon wants
anything you can wait on her.
She hastened away, leaving her in
Wild friend looking at the little round
eyed boy who sat on low chair OPP
posite her. He sat very still, for he was
being good boy.
'slsenny," she said ut last, "how old
..are your
"Six and half" he said. II had Il
birthday in December. Did you know
/ was born in December just before
Christmas? My mother always calls
me her Christmas present. | had
sled and six ngates on my birthday"
do you like your school?"
"Ycs. / do. I'm in the third reader
Jimmy Grigg and ! began the primer
together, and pretty soon ! went into
the first reader, but Jimmy stayed II
the primer. Then went into the sec
ond reader, and Jimmy stayed in thu
primer. Now am in the third reader
and Jimmy is in the primer yet. The
teacher says it's because he doesn't pro
nounce we'll, but think he could pro
,iounce well If he would only take
palms,"
Mrs. Harmon felt that she was get
ting very interesting replies from THU
laxative little boy.
'spve read Robinson Crusoe' through
three times ne added.
WAS Tommy Cobb late this morn
& Ing n rhe nslsed.
sssesgt. sat his mother wrote him al
Excuse. He got hurt yesterday. til
I ali.le to my house and climbed on tot
H. "a tl,e woodpsle. Mother said: &c
DOM, Tommy, or you'll fall, but h
didp ut dcvn. She said; Tomm,