Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-02-18
They Missed the Major

BY Emma A. oPPer.

MRS. Rouse. the Horn becks' nexi-tsOor p
NI neighbor. sat and laughed 10 see
What a good time the llorn5ecks we're
having simply with a pint Of moiasses f
and some popcorn.
Trotty Strong was making the candy.
Mrs Rouse always thought OF Trctiy
Strong as a uorubeck. because she had
lived with them since her eighth year.
aud she was IA now. Charley popped
the corn and Lily CREASED the places
for the candy. and The baby sal in his
high chair and looked on
They make candy every Saturday
night said Mrs. Hornbeck.
They have the best times OF any
children ] ever saw" said Mrs. Rouse.
They Go. They wouidn'; have. said
Mrs. Hornbeck. III ia wasn't for J roity
Charley's boy. and Lily's little yet.
Trotty manages evcryt hing. Mr. Horn
beck calls her The jor What's we'd
DO without her il more tLTn / know
I've only one pair of hands. and there
are things that wouldn't be done if
Trotiy wasn't here 10 do them"
81 wont hear 90 her staying ont Of
school 20 help. nor taking time when
she ought 10 be doing her lessons; but
my goodness seems ns IL Trntiy can
study her arithmetic and darn stock
ings with one hand. and bake cookies
and take care Of baby with the other"
said Mrs. Hornbcck.
And in the midst Of the Jolly RACKET.
Mr.. HOrnbeck came in.
lie did not laugh az the huhbuO. nor
pick up The baby. nor pinch Trotty's
ear Mother" be said I've got a
letter"
bad news. father2" said Mrs Horn
beck. with quick alarm.
why. no. 'tisn't bad news" said Mr.
Uornbeck. Mrs. Rouse. with kind con
siderstion. ROSE TO 90
Wen bring you over some candy TO
morrow. Mrs. Rouse" said Trotty
Trotiy was thoughtful OF every body.
You say "a isn't bod news. fai her"
said Mrs. Hornbeck. "but you don't look
a. II &; was anything else
Well" said MIR. fiornbeck. mot her
the letters from Mrs.. ToS Tor; Sarah
TAYLOR. It's 20 both Of us. las about
sou. Trotiy. guess I'd better read il
out loud"
Me- said Trotty.
"Ah: Sarah TAP lor." said Mrs Horn
beck. Her face had changed.
They want ne" she said. "to come
and live with 'em Well. shan't 20 q
step"
Mr. Hornbeck cleared his throat III
might be good for you. Trotty," said he
Trotfy laughed. "You wantto get rio
Of me. father!" she said
1T win be a bad days work for h'
Torubeck family when we get rid o
you. ma or." his father said. Bat. 20,
see. Mr.. Taylor is your fathers cousin
and suppose maybe she's got some
claim"
why. no. father" said Trotiy, wide
eyed; ~nolody's got claim on me bn
; YOU and mother. and Charley and Lii.
= and the baby"
, That's right" said Charley. loudly
, ''But that isn't all. Troity." his fathe
said They're well of. They live i
a rice big house. viii "a great lcwl
round IL; was over there 20 Payso
. once. and saw the placc-"
why. but. father" said Trotty; "bu
J don't want 10 go and live there. 70
/. and mother took me when my moihe
died and ! didn't have anybody. and
E guess nobody else IS going 10 get N
rosy"
/, u guess there amt, either." sal
> Charley.
Il guess there amt" Lily echoed.
E Their mother had sat silent an
+ sober.
III we could have our way. Trotty.
D she said. nobody should ever Rr, yo'
o But It's this way. I've been lookin
for this letter from Sarah Taylor
j. heard six months ago that her Las
? daughter was married. and that too
me back to the time your mother die
Z Trofty-"
= "And you took me-" Trot'y put in.
r eyes; bat the Tayiors came over bet
- and we had a talk. Mrs. Taylor sai
she was your fathers cousin. and wi
Just your mothers friend and thi
twas she that ought 90 take you.
'Bnt she had three girls Of her ow
and she saw how more shan willing
was. She said. though. that some tim
n her girls ever left her. maybe !
hear from her. And now her last girl
married. and she and Mr.. Ia, Tor a.
alone--and I've heard from her." ~
). Mrs. Hornbeck.
''Trotty." she said. ATS Just thh
They can DO better by you. They're Eis
folks. compared 20 us. and you'n ha'
q splendid home with them. You'll!