Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-22
AN OBLlGING NEPHEW.

/
Il told him I'd give him cup o. tea
and a smack of something to eat just
this once said Mrs Wilde. But |
couldn't nowadays take him to board
| only wish could Six dollars week
would be a good help to me, and he
seems a quiet, decent fellow enough.
Mrs. Wilde sat in her cushioned
| Boston rocker, groaning under the
pangs of rheumatism. Flora Falk-
! land was seated opposite, a bunch of
| long-stemmed roses il her hand, a
| light scarf draped gracefully over her
shoulders.
! She was a rosy, brown-haired young
woman, with a healthy bloom on her
cheek that betokened the reign of per-
! feet health.
| "Oh, but you ought to take him, Mrs
Wilde!" she said. six dollars week!
and here are you, weaving rag carpets
and binding shoes, day out and day
| in for half that money! And the spring
chickens are growing so nicely, and
you have such nice early lettuce and
! fresh eggs for boarder.'
Eyes | know, forlornly admitted
Mrs Wilde. And | wouldn't hesitate
moment if Hulda was at home. But
| just look at me, and see if you think
| I'm fit to take boarder, even If he'd
pay mo in gold and diamonds"
Flora Falkland locked conscious
stricken. 1t was by her advice that
| Hulda Mr.. Wilde's grand daughter,
had gone to New York to learn the
dressmaker's trade.
The old woman, doubtful of novelty
il all its shapes, had preferred to keep
| Hulda at home earning seventy-five
cents a day by her unskilled needle.
But that is nonsense" Flora had
said There's no reason she shouldn't
get her two dollars day, if she can
t have q little tuition under Mime. Clio
vanno."
Hulda. who looked on Miss Falk-
land as sort of supplementary
guardian angel, hal prosecuted Mrs.
Wilde until reluctant consent was
extorted-and here the poor old soul
sick and alone, ano in danger of
losing a good chance TO make d little
money, all through her(Floras) med
dlesome interference.
! "On" said Flora to herself, twisting
the long -stemmed roses; why couldn't
| have minded my own business"
} And so, by way of minding her own
business, she plunged deeper than
ever into the vortex of other people
affairs.
"This won't do" said she; you
must take this city bCarder. The trout
season only lasts little while; and
you can't afford to lose day of it
I'll go down to Widow Plimmints and
send Belnnal up"
What head piece you've got Miss
Floral said the old woman, admiring-
lily. "But I'm ashamed to make you sc
much trouble
at won't be any trouble" said
Flora.
And she skinned across the fields
to the Widow Plimmints cottage.
MY Bethral amt goin out to sar-
vice, not to accommodate nobody
said Widow Plimmint, with a prodigi-
Gus sniff at amt genteel. She's g
factory young lady now"
"Pshaw!" said Flora Falkland. 81
think you've all lost your senses"
She went to Mrs. Hopes. Mrs. Hope
had three daughters and an income Of
nothing per annum.
"Ide like to oblige you, Miss Falk'
land" said Mrs. Hope, who took snufl
and spoke in monotorous drone
like bumble-b bee. but Etta's took q
loom in the new factory, and Orinds
is a saleslady at Dorrick's store, and
Julianny's learnin' the artificial flow
err business. 1t sort o hart's the dear
girls feelin's to be called work-folks,'
And Mrs Hope, who washed for the
( factory young ladies" took pinch o.
snuff and went back to the wash-tub
SO 1t was everywhere. The factory
v as an ogre that seemed to gobble NJ
all the young women element.
Flora went back TO Mrs. Wilde in
despair.
/ He's come. Miss FlCra cried the
old dame, exultantly. He's as pleased
az Punch at the notion Of staying
here. When Is Bethel Plimminr
comin?"
! Flora considered minute To Mrs
/ Wilde six dollars a week represented
q luxurious income.
Flora took off her straw hat with
It's cluster Of buttercups and grass
/ blossoms and removed her gloves.
Bethel cannot come just at pres
ert." said she Where's one 81
/ Hulda's big checkered aprons, Mrs
1 wilde? III help you out Of this
dilemma"
/ "You, Miss Flora?"
Don't call me Miss Flora Make mt
! believe m the hired girl"
But Miss--T mean Flora you cant
cook"