Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-05-28
THRIFT.

THRlFl.
uo,her had insisted on calling
rhrft No one knew why she
, i him the quaint name. Then
no was barely . years old, she
Che left him with a great wealth
sI,eut love, but that. like his name,
"a M, help him much, that is, not
a., as one can judge things. The
.hhors said it was cough that had
r that carried her of. Proba.
tho cough had something to do with
In, . staryed-out life Of lack OF af-
linn and hard work had a good deal
mo neishbors also thought that Mrs.
tsou never had much spirit. 1t
Mill seem as If they almost blamed
for dying. and leaving d husband
M child barely . years old. They
a misciyings about the child, and
no they were right. Thrift was deaf
dumb. His mother had struggled
ajust the knowledge as long as she
h. When she realized it, she kept
: knowledge to herself with n fierce
E. But the cough came and settled
the problems of her life for her.
rbrlft's father took her death MS apa-
etjcally as be had taken her all her
e. Only Thrift seemed to realize
4, fate was still against him. He lay
wing for hours alone in the little cot
ge strapped into his cot. 1t was a
bird. pathetic cry. The neighbors
ere kind to him. They took him in
70 to their cottages. but the element
teasing children and rough handling
be discordant to him. The women
cant well, but it was a hard winter
ID money and tempers were short.
eslde, Thrills baby nature was hard
understand.
Brightness came into his life one day.
came In the guise Of a little dress
aker, Jean Lawrence. She brought
IN black frock. She had been busy,
had put off the making till she had
ne. No one else thought of the little
ark Of respect. 1t was tribute to
bstom, but it was the one tribute Of
In. Watson's life.
"Puir little lamb! said Jean Law
(nce, as she came in.
Her eyes filled with quite unexpected
(ars as she saw the lonely baby.
Thrift could not hear her. but some
ping sympathetic touched his under
Banding, for he held out his hands.
"Pulr little thing" said Jean Law
fnee again. and she caught him up
nd covered him with kisses.
Then she put Thrift back in his cot
PC united the little black frock she
lFned to 30, for she was in a hurry.
lnriit's mood changed. His blue eyes
rev dark in the intensity Of his pas.
20. he kicked and screamed. His
uny. fair hair was ruffied. He looked
pc picture of little demon.
fesairve u.s." said the little dress
Paker. 1t was the first time any exag,
efauon OF feeling had come into hel
l'e she was half Fascinated and hall
eFFined by this unexpected burst
'esairve Us" she repeated still more
|mphatically.
one never could explain afterwart
uat prompted her, but she stepped t.
Nc co., wrapped blanket round
u'a' and did not stop to think til
(ue mad deposited him safely in hel
I"n mouse. 1t was characteristic OF
|ean Lawrence that she had never rea
Vueo out why she had done this &C
fOn' Certainly she never regretted it
was quite as easy n matter to settle
|ae disposal OF Thrift with his father
~ was only too glad to be rid OF tn,
Pnrden.> "
Inc hrst clashing Of wills occurred
va Inc same little black frock. Thrift
["sFateiully refused to have anythin;
y 10 with it. Miss Lawrence was per
I,e.eo' 1t would never do to dress hin
Z ec.o.s on Sunday. She compro
N py making him a white frocl
',n n broad, black sash. 1t set off tn,
' .aa fairness. but still more it salts
'ea her sense of fitness.
!, ..an Lawrence always thought O
N episode as an epoch in her life
!. =. ~ next epoch was the sudden resoiv
Is, .nsifts father to go to America
'san lawrence lived in a state of ten
... .iii he had sailed. 1t seemed in
uioie TO her that he could wish t
No nis boy behind. She only say
-. extreme desirability of Thrift +
Lid not WY An'' ia'ne
was soon after this that Jea
old lover returned to hi
I've village. This caused NOR
~, auaenf in the village than Jean hel
Ioh. gave to it. 1t was ten years sine
!. - orbes and she had been going I
n arsied, and ten years is long tim
M. woman's life! Since Thrift la
ons s'a her life she was utterly obi,
rs s VI anything except her work. TIL
,on,, money she made the more sh
Va'u DO for little Thrift.
AL an Lawrence had always kept I
Ie. and no one knew why she an
~ FORBES had never married.
S old mother was alive then, an