The Irish standard., 1899-02-25
They Missed the Major
BY Emma A. Opper.

Nj RS. Rouse, the llornbecks' ncNt-tNoor
wi ncighbor, sat and laughed to see
what a good time the lIornbrcks were
having simply with pint Of molasscs
and some popcorn.
Trotty Strong was making the candy.
Mrs. house always thought Of Trotty
Strong MS a llornbeclk, because she had
lived with them since her eighth year,
and she was IA now. Charley popped
the corn and Lily CREASED the places
for the candy, and the baby sat 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" snid Mrs. Rouse.
''rhey do. They wouldn't have" said
Mrs. Hornbeck. "if it wasn't for Trot ~.
Charley's boy, and Lily's little yet.
Trotty manages verythlng. Mr.. Horn
beck calls her the major. What's we'd
do without her il more t1,rn know.
I've only one pair Of hands, and there
are things that wouldn't be done if
Trotty wasn't here to do them"
II won't hear TO her staying out OF
school to help, nor taking time when
she ought to be doing her lessons; but
my goodness! seems us If Trouy Gun
study her arithmetic and dnrn stock
ings with one hand, and bake cookies
and take care of baby with the other"
said Mrs. llornbccl<.
And in the midst of the jolly racket,
Mr.. lIornbccll came in.
lie did not laugh at the hubbuh, nor
pick up the baby, nor pinch Trotty's
ear. Mother" lie saiL 1--WE got
letter."
Bad news, father?" said Mrs. Horn
beck, with quick alarm.
"Why, no, 'tisn't bad news" sE.id Mr..
TIornbeck. Mrs. Rouse, with kind con-
sidcrn1ion, rose to go.
"We'A bring you over some candy to-
morrow, Mrs. Rouse" snith Trothy.
Trotty was thoughtful Of everybody.
"lou say il isn't bud news, father"
snicIMrs IIornbcck, "but you don't look
rs if IT was anything else"
"Wcll," said Mr. Ihrnbecll, mother,
tie letters from Mrs. Taylor; Sarah
Taylor. It's to both OF us. It's about
you, Trot.ty. l guess rdl better read it
out loud"
"Mc?" said Trotty.
"Ah; Sarah Taylor" snid Mrs. Horn
beck. Her face had changed
'']hcy want me-" she said, "to come
and live with 'eml Well, shnn't go
step"
Mr.. Hornbeck cleared his throat. at
might be good for you, Trotty," said he.
Trotty laughed. "You wunt 10 get rid
of me, fatherl" she said.
ut will be bad days work for tho
1Iornbeck family when we get rid of
you, major" his father snid. "But, you
see, Mrs. Taylor Ia your ia theirs cousin,
and l suppose maybe she's got some
claim"
"Why, no, fnthcr," said Troty, wide
eyed; "nobody's got clnim on me but
you and mother, and Charley and Lily
and the bmby."
That's right" said Charley. loudly.
"But that isn't adj, Irotty," his fnthcr
said. "They're we'll Oft. They live In
n nice big house, with great lawn
round it; ] was over there to pnyson
once, and suw the place"
"Why! but, father" snid Trotty; but
I don't want to 20 and live there. You
and mother took me when, my mother
died and didn't have anybody, and l
guess nobody else is going to get me
now"
II guess there ain't, either!" said
Charley.
81 guess there nin't," Lily echoed.
Their mother had sat silent and
sober.
"If we could have our way, Trotty."
ahc said, nobody should ever get you.
But it's this way. I've been looking
for this letter from Sarah Taylor. 1
heard six months ago that her last
daughter was married, and that took
me back to The time your mother died,
Trotty-"
"And you took me-" Troty put in.
eyes; but the Taylors came over here
and we had n talk. Mrs. Taylor said
she was your fathers cousin and was
just your mothers friend, and that
twas she that ought to take you.
"But she had three girls OF her own,
and she saw how more than willing |
was. She said, though, that some time,
II her girls ever left her, maybe I'd
hear from her. And now her last girls
married, and she and MIR. Taylor are
alone-nn1 I've hcnrd from her" said
Mrs. Ilornbech.
''Trotty," she said, CTS Just this:
They can do better by you. They're rich
folks, compared TO us. and you'll have
splendid home with them. Ynu'l he
ten times better of! It'll just about
break my heart, but we've got TO do
what's for your good, Tro''y."
The candy was burning and fli~g the
and in ten minutes she was Standing over