Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
A STRANGE PROPOSAL

on 1881 pages Of heavy white paper.
There was no appendix OF weights and
measures and proper names, but then
she paid only 10 cents for 1t.
Ruth laid the dictionary on the small
table that stood in the center of the
room, perfect monument to ugliness,
and without unwrapping 1t or volIch-
safing any explanation rs to what 1t
was she went into the alcovc adjoining
their little parlor. and began to remove
the dust and cinders she always carried
home with her from the downtown dis
trict.
Her mother regarded the package on
the table with Increased curiosity She
felt 1t aud lifted 1t and tried to tear off
~ q. corner of the paper covering, but she
did not remove the wrapper.
Ruth came back into the parlor ut
length and sat down near the window.
Mrs. Culbers0n looked from the pack
age to her daughter and back again, in
silent agony. Evidently she could en-
dure the strain no longer.
What did You get to-day, Ruthie?"
she asked, meckly
Ruth turned round with wondering
air, as If not fully c0mprchcnding the
import OF the query. Her eyes follow
ed her mothers to the ugly center ia
BILE, and, 20, that" she said, with "a
smile. that's a dictionary"
Mrs. Culbersons dismay could not
have been more complete had she been
Informed that her daughter had
brought home a boa constructor.
And what did you get that for,
3uthie?' she asked.
Because needed It," returned Ruth.
1T must have been pretty cxpen-
sive,' hazarded her mother.
Yes" sighed Ruth, 1T cost 10
cents"
Mrs. Culberson appeared relieved.
but not entirely satisfied.
1T seems to me, Ruthic." she went
on ENORMOUSLY. that girl who works
for $40 week. which Is the only in
come two people have to depend upon,
ought not to be spending her money
for dictionary. If you had 10 cents
to spare for books. why didn't you buy
three or four OF those paper backed
novels that would be OF some interest
to me, instead Of IL dictionary"
Mother said Ruth, quietly, Il
wish you hadn't said that. II makes
1t necessary for me to remind you of
some things that would perhaps better
be left unsaid. Whose fault Is Il that
we have to live on $40 n week? Is It
mine? Did ] take what money nv
father had left us and squander IL in
dlshonorable speculation? Is It nv
fault that have had to work ever
since was 10 years OF age?
Am to be blamed because YOU, In
your old age and sickness, are Obliged
to sit here day after day in this cheer
less. comfortlcss room which is all
can give you except the food that holds
soul and body together? And lastly
mother, is it my fault that my cduca-
ton was so neglected when | was
young that | find it necessary to refer
SO often TO the dictionary now? am
not complaining, mother, but you ought
not to reproach me for indulgtng in
Just one expenditure in which your
comfort was not considered"
In spite of Mrs. Culherson's keen dis
appointment in regard to her daugh-
tcr's purchase she derived unlimited
satisfaction from dilating on the mcr
It's OF the dictionary to the other board
ers.
If you ever want to look anything
up" she said. cordially, lust drop in
to our room and see what the diction
airy says. You'll always find 1t on the
stand in the front room"
The Culbersons lived in a boarding
house where dictionaries were rare
commodity. Indeed, Ruths was the
only one in the house. except MIR. Win
ter's, which was an exceedingly small
pocket edition. that contained only the
words in most common use.
But somehow as soon as 1t became
known that there was n large dictton-
airy In Mrs. Culbcrson's room on tho
second floor and that everybody had
been given free access thereto the de-
sire for knowledge was given q won
derful impetus
But the person no found occasion
to refer to the big book most frequent
ly was Mr.. Winter Mr.. Winter was
grocer or course N his business he
daily met with many terms that re-
quired calculation. Hitherto he had
found the pocket edition perfectly sat
tsfactory. but after the advent OF the
unabridged dictionary the much worn,
sreen-bached little book suddenly lost
us usefulness, and never an evening
4 passed that Mr.. Winter did not rap at
MIS-. Culbersons door and politely re-
quest to come In and look at the die
tlonary minute"
His prolonged visits annoyed Mrs.
Cuiberson at first. His presence pre-
vented her scolding at Ruth, and as he.
g himself, seemed deeply immersed in
scholastic lore. thus forbidding open
Ing conversation with him, the poor
ola lady's evenings became seasons OF
exquisite torment.
don't know what makes him come
4 up mere SO often" she said, pettishly,
ere ntcht after be bad closed the die.
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