Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-12-23

regUruea ncr not as inc worldly Mrs
Peabody, but quite one of themselves.
Still, Mrs. Peabod : was society woman
to the end of her finger tips. She
would no more have missed a social
function from choice than she would
have broken the decalogue, and she
certainly would not have done that, for
she was not only member of one of
the most fashionable Presbyterian
churches in the city, but her husband
was one of its elders, and in her way
she lived the religion she professed
Indeed she was in all things wholly sin
cere. There was not even in her youth
full appearance a single note of arti-
ticiality.
The Pcabodys were not rich, but they
were able to have many of the iuxuries
of life. On the wall above Mrs. Pea
body's work table was one of Cazin's
vivid yet delicately ideal interpreta-
tions of nature. Further on was
small Corot, brilliant bit of Viberts
realism, Landseer, Gibson girl and
a gay, impossible poster, for Mrs. Pea
body's appreciation was of the all
around kind, Still, there were some
things which Mrs. Peabody wanted
very much which she did not have. and
one of them was pair of diamond
solitaires Her ears had been pierced
when she was a child. She never would
have thought of wearing anything less
handsome than fine gems, and the
small, vacant punctures were an ever
present thorn in the rose of her satisfac-
tion as she viewed herself costumed
and ornamented for the many functions
she was never weary of attending. She
would not have told just how it was
that desiring them so much she had al
ways missed having them, but so it was
As she sat stitching she found herself
wondering if possibly the coveted
solitaires might not be among her
Christmas gifts. She had confided to
an intimate friend, with whom Mr..
Peabody invariably consulted when he
gave her presents, how much she want
ed them. As she sat sewing and think
ing there came a soft knock at the door
followed by the announcements:
ut is just Annie, Mrs. Peabody. It's
about Nora I'm after COMM" she said
as she came in. "It's very bad she is
mum. The doctor says she must have
a operation that costs a dale of money,
have her leg took off or die. Nora saws
she will go 10 Heaven on the two legs of
her, but won't be livin' wild a stump
Nora's savin's are all gone, and Biddie
Sullivan's too, and all they have now
iS Riddles arriY'e
poor old dame, can do no more than take
care of her. l thought, mum, if you
would see Nora you could be chance in
JUICE her to have her leg cut Off"
Nora had at one time been Mrs. Pea
body's favorite maid, and she did not
hesitate about going to her at once.
although she knew the snow, so beauti-
full as part of her window picture, was
making a most disagreeable slush on
the streets.
When Mrs. Peabody and Annie
reached the tenement where Nora
lived,and were mounting the stairs, they
heard a strong melodious voice singing
to the strokes and clicks of a fiatiron
as it was used and placed and replaced
on a metal stand
BE not courtln' of woes by lookin' 'em IN.
Just work and be merry and drink of your
cup,
Not carin' about what tomorrow may
bring;
It's to-day. my laddle. that's havin' its
fling;
What good at all are you if you're always
a-carn'?
For carln' it is that leads to despairin'."
81 wonder who that philosopher is?"
said Mrs. Peabody.
That's Biddie Sullivan. She's always
a singin' to keep them cheered."
"She is Nora's aunt, isn't she?"
"No, just friend from the old coun-
try as always lives with them"
"And she supports them?"
"Yes, what else could she be don'
under the circumstances
Mrs, Peabody found Nora not only
very i'll, but wholly determined not TO
have her limb amputated. To all that
she could say Nora persistently de-
clared:
ITS me two legs I'll be takin' to
Heaven wild me, mum. I'll never be
after carrying stump around wid me"
Don't be too sure" said Biddie Subj
van. at may be to the bad place you'll