The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-18

6MNSNN>%$M the mach hine,
NNMSMNNNN pulled out basting
W\WNW threads, helped to
"NM cook the meals,
washed dishes, swept floors and read
the news to her brother Geoffrey.
There had been time when the
Slater girls had looked upon Geof
frey as helper and protector
in the struggle with poverty, which
was the only legacy their parents had
left them. But that was before the
accident on the new schoolhouse,
where he was working. After that his
arms were limp and lifeless, his back
was bent and his eyes were bad, and
the poor boy, with the hope and
strength of his seventeen years all
blighted, became nothing but bur
den to his faithful sisters.
There were a good many times when
Tillie worked herself into the belief
that she was martyr. Then she
secretly rebelled against the hardness
of her lot; but, with the exception of
commenting on the condition of her
finger tips, she considerably refrained
from complaining in Alices presence.
But when they took the baby to raise
she felt that she was justified in open
rebellion.
cts a downright shame" she cried
out, bitterly, when Alice brought the
little fellow home with her from the
funeral and announced her intention
of keeping him. 81 declare, l won't
put up with it. Just as if we haven't
had hard enough time already with
out this happening. It's been moth.
ing but work, work, work, all my life.
I've never had the time nor the money
to go to places and do things like
other girls. I've never said anything
about how l felt, for L supposed you
and Geoffrey were suffering just as
much as / did But when it comes
to saddling ourselves with other peo,
ple's children, won't stand it,"
'But he's our own nephew" per.
sisted Alice, gently. "Our own sis
ter's child. Just before Clara wen
she called me in and asked me to take
him and bring him up, and I've got tC
do it, Remember, he is an orphan as
well as ourselves, Tillie. If we dom
care for him. who will?"
81 don't know" said Tillie, stiffiy
81 suppose you can put him in an asy
lum or an institution That is where
other babies go when their fathers anC
mothers die, and he's no better thar
the rest of them. There's one thinG
sure, we can't have him. One more
mouth to feed and one more body tC
clothe means a good deal to poor folks
like us. And weneed so many things
now, too. Besides, who's going tC
take care of him? A two-year-old baby
can't very we'll shift for himself" "
eyes, know" returned Alice. 60
thought you could take him out for al
airing sometimes and look after hin
a little nights and mornings Geof
frey and 1 can manage to get alonl
some way during the day. Then va
cation will soon be here and you vii
have lots of time to give him..
Take care of him nights and morn
ings and haul him around during va
cation! Yes, indeed, 1 see myself do
ing it. I'll strike, that's what I'll do
Alice Slater. i won't turn my hant
over to help about one solitary thing
If you're going to burden yoursel
with troublesome babies you'll have t,
get along the best way you can.
shan't help"
Alice sighed and commenced to par
the potatoes for supper Tillie tool
up her Latin reader and tried to study
but somehow she could not concen
trate her thoughts on the lessen
Through the open door she could SCI
the baby sitting by the sewing-roon
window in the midst of some Towering
plants that Tillie had carefully nurse'
throughout the winter. He was a bon
ME child, and he looked SO sweet an,
pretty in his pink dress and white ruf
fed apron that even Titles hardene,
heart was touched, aud the though
was borne in on her mind as sh
watched him that of all the flower
blooming there the daintiest and fair
est was her little nephew.
"Why don't you kiss the baby
dear?" said Alice, as she began to Sc
the table. Don't act that way. Poo
little thing, he has been so lonesom
yesterday and to-day without hi
mother. Clara always spoiled him,
guess. He'll get over it soon, but it
pitiful now to see how his heart
grieved for her"
Alice lifted u corner of her apron t
her eyes, but Tillie turned her atter
tion to the Latin reader once more an
refused to welcome the addition t
their family. She did not refer to til
subject again, but her actions CAV
positive proof that the strike was or
''Tillie's still sulking," Alice sal
to Geoffrey one morning, after her sii
ter had gone TO school without hee(
ing the boy who had held out hi
chubby hands and asked, in his bah
way, TO be TAX IN, too. "Ihere's bee