Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-08-11

GLGS There was no ap
~ pendix of weights
and measures and proper names. but
then she paid only nineteen cents for it.
Ruth laid the Dictionary on tho small
table that stood in the center OF the
room, y perfect monument OF ugliness.
and without %unwrapp!ng 1t OF vouch-
sailing any explanation as to what it
was she went into the Alcove adjoining
their little par,or and began to remove
the dust and cinders she always car
rted home with her from the down
town district.
Her mother regarded the package on
tho table with increased curiosity. She
felt it and lifted It und tried to tear OFT
q corner OF the paper covering. but she
did not remove the wrapper.
Ruth came hack into the K,cko. Mt
length and sat down near the window.
Mrs. Cultersnn looked from the pack
age to hex daughter and back again III
silent agony. Evidently she could Ell
duro the strain no longer.
What did you get to-day. Ruthie%
she asked, meekly.
Ruth turned round With II wondering
air, as il not fully cornprehe1ding the
Import Of the query. Her eyes followed
her mothers to the ugly center table.
and, "Oh. that" she said. with u smile.
that's u dictionary"
Mira Culhersnn's dismay could not
have been more complete had she been
Informed that her daughter had
brought home u boa constructor.
And what did you get that for,
RuthieY she asked.
Because \ needed IT," returned
Ruth.
lit must have been pretty expensive"
hazarded her mother.
YES" sighed Ruth. lit cos nineteen
cents"
Mrs. Culherson appeared relieved.
but not entirely satisfied.
lit seems to me, Rutl!e." she went
OH querulously. that Il girl who works
for ten dollars ~ week. which Is the
only income two people have to depend
upon. ought not to be spending her
money for u dictionary. III you had
nineteen cents to spare for hooks why
didn't you buy three OF four of those
TAper-hacked novels instead of IL die
%tionnryY"
Mother" said Ruth. quietly, II wish
you hadn't asked that. 1t makes it
necessary for me t. remind you OF
some things that would perhaps better
be left unsaid. Whose fnult Is 1t that
we have to live on ten dollars IL week:
Is it mine? Did l take what money my
father had left us and squander 1t in
dishonornble slsculat!onl lis 1t my
fault that l have had to work ever
since l was ten years OF age!
Am l to he blamed because you. in
your old age and sickness, are Obliged
to sit here day after day in this cheer
less, comfortless room which is a1l I
can give you except the food that holds
soul and body together? And. lastly.
mother, is 1t my fault TINT my eiuca-
ton was so neglected when l was
young that l find 1t necessary to refer
so often to the dictionary now? l am
not complaining, mother. but you
ought not to reproach me for INDUCING
in just one expenditure in which your
comfort was not considered."
In spite of Mrs. C%ulberson's keen dis
appointment In regard to her daugh-
ter's purchase, she derived unlimited
satisfaction from dilating on the mer-
its OF the dictionary to the other board
ers.
III you ever want to look anything
up" she said cordially. '.just drop into
our room and see what the dictionary
says. You'll always find 1t on the stand
In the front room"
The Culbersons lived in Il boarding
house where dictionaries were n rare
commodity. Indeed, Ruth's was the
only one about the house, except MIR.
Winter's, which was an exceedingly
small pocket edition, that contained
only the words most in common use.
But somehow as soon as II became
known that there was IL large dirtion-
airy In Mrs. Culterson's room on the
second floor, and that everybody had
been given free access thereto. the de-
sire for knowledge was given II Won
derful impetus.
But the person who found occasion
to refer to the big book most frequent
ly was MI. Winter. Mr.. Winter was
a grocer. OF course, in his business he
daily met with many terms that re-
Quired calculation. Hitherto he had
found the pocket edition perfectly sat
isfactory. but after the advent of the
unabridged dictionary, the much-worn,
green-backed little book suddenly lost
its usefulness, and never an evening
passed that MI. Winter did not ran at
Mrs. Culberson's door and politely re-
quest to "come In and look ut the die
tionary q minute"
His prolonged visits annoyed Mrs.
Cu.!egson at l.st. His presence pre-
vented her scolding at Ruth. and as he
himself seemed deeply Immersed in
scholastic lore. thus forttddfng opening
q conversation with him, the poor old
ladys6 EVENING" became 0eaAonN OF ey.