Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-05-04
ALL FOR ELSIE.


Say, jerry, something's got to be
done " As the speaker, Jim Roberts, de-
livered this highly emphatic remark he
laid doWu the wood saw which he had
been vigorously using and looked at his
brother Jerry, who had been splitting
the wood as fast as Jim sawed it. Jerry
was thirteen and his brother two years
older They had always lived on farm
and were healthy, sturdy boys.
Something has got to be DONE has it?.
replied Jerry well, for my part 1
think something has been done already;
see what a pile of wood we have sawed
and split in the last two days
Yes, know; but that is not what |
mean, returned Jim. 'You know how
sick father has been for long time now,
and the doctor says it will be long while
yet before he can go out of doors to do
any work.
''Weli; but what has got to be done?0
inquired Jerry. Don't we do all the
chores and take care of the stock and cut
the wood? What more can we do?''
why, we must do something to earn
some money, Jerry. Father can't earn
anything now, and his sickness has cost
lots Of money. And then there is Elsie.
her lying there so patient, not able to
move without hurting her SO. All winter
long she has been there, and perhaps will
never be able to walk again" Jm's voice
grew husky, and he hurredly brushed
away tear as he thought of his only
sister, only seven years old, who had been
an invalid since fail.
"Why, jim, | heard the doctor tell
mother yesterday that he could send away
and get thing to go on Elsie's leg, a
splint he called it, and then she would be
able to walk around next summer But it
costs twenty-five dollars, and mother
cried like everything and said it was no
use to think of trying to get it, we were
so poor. | wish | was man, that's what
| wish, so | could earn some money /
would give anything to see little sister
walking and playing around as she used
to do, y said Jerry mournfully.
'Twenty- five dollars, | tell you. Jerry,
that twenty dollars must be had if it
will help Elsie to walk again.
That So responded Jerry, "only |
don't see any way in which we can earn
twenty-five cents, let alone twenty five
dollars"
"Well, I have an idea =" said Jim slowly
1--WE shall have to work pretty hard, but
don't mind that"
stEbr ~ -a,lie5 lowry, i,
your dea?a
"Well, when | went into the house after
a drink of water little W lille ago, heard
father and mother talking, and father
said he would not be able to make any
maple sugar this spring for he would not
be able to go out doors to work any till it
would be too late. Now you know we
always make lots of sugar and syrup to
eat at home, besides selling a lot every
spring. We have helped father, and we
know how to tap the trees and boil the
sap, and we can get dollar a gallon for
all the maple syrup we can sell. If we
can get twenty-five gallons to sell there
will be twenty five dollars"
"Whew!" calculated Jerry, as the posi-
bilities of Jim's idea magnitied themselves
in his mind. THAT will be glorious"
eyes, but that will mean pretty hard
work, and we cannot tap all the trees,
because if sap runs well it would be more
than we can possibly take care of. [
think we had better not mention what we
are going to do with the money we earn,
for if we don't get enough Elsie would be
so disappointed"
Eyes, Jim, let get father to give us leave
to tap the trees and do what we please
with the syrup"
CAN right, but let's hurry and get this
Then they worked like beavers, and when
the call for supper came they had a big
pile of wood, neatly piled up ready for
the stove.
Say, father, we want to tap some trees
and boil the sap" said jim that night.
"What could you two boys do boiling
sap alone?n asked Mr.. Roberts.
"Well, we can tap few trees, and make
a little syrup to eat, if we don't get any to
SELL replied Jerry.
"Well, am willing, if you want to do
it,, said their father, but it is time the
trees We're tapped now. Here it is the
twentieth of March, and | expect sap will
run well these warm days. Oh dear! how
wish / could earn something he
groaned despondently as he glanced at his
little daughter lying so white and help
less among the cushions in the big arm
chair. "But the doctor says | must be
very careful and stay in the house till the
snow is gone, for if get any cold l may
be laid up all the SPRING"
"Well, don't worry, father" said jim;
we will do all we can and perhaps you
will get around a5ain by farming time
81 hope so, am sure, said Mr. Roberts.
'9ay', father, can we have all we earn
making maple syrup and sugar this
syringe queried jerry.
"Why, yes, if You earn it it will be