River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-11-17


rejoined, sarcastically. Let me emu
merate all that we've had to be thank
full fer during this past year. To begin
with our stepfather died-and left US
a large legacy of debts"
"OL, now, Susan, don't!"
AID, then, we found that he had
not only mortgaged our dear old home,
but had failed to pay the interest on it
all these years, and that now-because
we can't raise the money 10 pay it
the mortgage is to be foreclosed at
once, and we will be turned out-for
the town to take care Of, l suppose,
since mother is about helpless with
rheumatism and it takes all my time
to care for her, and to keep us with
clothes on our backs. And now that
the Grosvenors have suddenly decided
to go south, and no longer want you
for nursery governess-th cup of our
thankfulnesa is full, should say-and
full to running over, tool"
"Oh, don't, Susan, please don't!"
Mary had been pleading 1T is all so
dreadfully sad and hard for us; but
still it might be even worse"
"Worse!" calculated Susan.
Yes, worse" repeated Mary. why,
suppose-just suppose it had been
mother who died" her sweet voice
trembled piteously. "Or, suppose, now
that she is so helpless, you and were
not 50 perfectly strong and well. And,
then if she can keep so bright and
cheerful with all that she is suffering,
I'm sure we ought to keep up braveIy
if only for her sake And, Susan, it's
a foolish thought maybe, but | can't
help thinking that uow-when every
thing looks so dark and hopeless to
us-daylight must be al hand Per-
haps | shall get something else to do
very soon-and mother may get bet
ter, 20 that she can be around again
and. anyway, God hasn't forgotten us
in our trouble--and, I'm sure, He will
not let us suffer needIessly."
You're queer girl" Susan said,
shortly. I'm not made on the thank
full things are-no-worse' plan, myself"
We'll, I'm glad I am" said Mary,
quite brightly, now. Il seem 10 be
constructed after the dear old Mother
Goose fashion. You know she says:
p" For every evil under the sun
There Is a remedy or there is none.
II there be one, try and find it
If there be none. never mind itp
And, now, must run along; and I'm
going to speak quite frankly to Mrs.
Grosyenor to-day, for if she knows just
how we are situated perhaps she will
interest herself to find me another
place. I'll do anything go anywhere,
if only / can earn enough TO keep
mother and you comfortable - even
though the dear old home must 60"
Mary was now wrapped in her shah
by cloak, and was pulling on her nit
tens.
It's an awful day" said Susan,
mournfullyi and dreadfully slippery;
COX out for yourself"
Il will Kiss mother for me. when
she awakes;" and in another minute
Mary was on her way, and battling
bravery along against the driving
snow and the fierce north wind.
The morning train that day had
brought a stranger to this quiet town.
He was rather a grim-looking per-
sonage, and was apparently in very
bad Lumor. 1t had been clear when he
eft the city in the early morning,
and lie found himself landed-um-
orellaless--in driving storm when he
reached Hillsboro'. That had an
moved him, and his first thought was
to take a train right back to town.
But when on inquiry he found that
there would be no return train until
the one ne had originally intended TO
take, la in the afternoon, he de-
cided o 90 on and get his disagree
able business over with and done with.
Then he had found that there was
no conveyance TO be had at that for
.aken station, and no telephone con-
nection with any stable. and that there
was nothing fer him to do but to push
forward on foot through the storm,
which he finally did in an eyer-increas-
ing ill-humor.
He had out a mile 10 go-the man
at the station had told him, and the
road was straight. so he could not
miss the small, white cottage. just this
side of The covered wooden bridge
But the road had seemed to stretch
out unfortunately, and the snow and
freezing street combined 10 make
walking more difficult a. every step
So there was not often a man IN a
worse humor than this man was, when
the low. white cottage he was seeking
at last came into sight. And now, as
he suddenly FASTENED his footsteps, he
somehow slipped and fell heavily,
rr.xiug his head and doubling his left
I'm under him. But be made no muir