Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-20
HER GRATITUDE.

and, what with Maria's sewing being
interrupted, and new milliner and
dressmaker having set up at Beech vii
lage, times were very hard.
''You must get me some more wood,
Billy" she said to her little brother.
"The fire nearly went out this morning
when you were at school, and the snow
was too deep for me to get out to the
woodpile."
"Woodpile's all gone" said Billy. Bit
ing a semicircular piece out of his
hread-"been gone for a week.
Gracious mel cried poor Maria.
''And where has all the wood come
from that we've been burning?"
"I've been rippin' the thorns off the
ghost house fence observed Billy. Il
saw the other fellows doing it, so why
shouldn't l? And I've chopped upsall
the wood in the stable
But, Billy, that is stealing!" said
Maria.
mo, it amt" announced Billy. with
the air of one who felt himself an au
thority on the subject. ''The old fellow
that bought the Ghost house has sold
the property to the railway company,
and they're going to lay line of rails
right through the back garden. The old
house would have been pulled to pieces
long ago if folks hadn't been afraid of
the ghost, and may as well have a.
pull at it as any one else
81 am quite sure that John Gregory
will lend US wood until am able to or
der a fresh load, if you go down and
ask him."
Here he comes now said Billy, who
had been fattening his nose against the
window glass. Il think you'd better
borrow it yourself"
Comm this way" said he, thought
I'd stop and inquire how the old school
master is"
PAS pretty feeble" sighed Maria.
He'll soon mend again once the
spring sets in said John, encourage
ingly. Anything l can do for you.
Maria, down in the village?"
81 need some more wood" said Ma
ria, wistfully, "but can'tpay for it be-
fore pas annuity money comes in"
80, get out!" said John. PAY for it,
indeed. When our woodland is suf-
ferin'-yes, actually. sufferin'-to be
thinned out. I'll send you down a load,
Maria, when"
81 am not beggar!" said Maria Ruff
ford, with some pride.
well, if you find load left at your
shed door one O. these days, you'll
know what it means" said he. Don't
you want to ride down the road
piece, Maria? I'm going to the Ghost
house."
'To the Ghost housed" said Maria
Rufford. What for?"
after a big mahogany chair that was
left there" said John. "Old DAYTON
is a curiosity collector, and he's
bought it for SIS. He's got me to take
it to the station. He's goin' to send it
down to place in London where they
expect to sell it for much more. I'm
told folks are going clean crazy about
such old things"
"Hallo!" cried Billy, jumping down
from the window seat. 1--WE burned up
that chair, Maria, the day you wanted
the oven hot last week.
He turned somerset out of the
room, and poor Maria, with downcast
eyes and burning cheeks, was forced
to explain the whole thing to John
Gregory.
well, if this isn't fix" said that
individual, with a long low whistle.
How am to fetch the big chair down
TO the station if there's none to fetch?"
%. John, John, what shall we do?"
groaned poor Maria do you suppose
one of grandmother Rufford's old chairs
would do as well? There's half dozen
Of them that have stood there ever
since | was a child. They re dreadfully
old-fashioned."
And the result of the inspection was
that one of grandmother Ruford's
high-shouldered old chairs was cheer
fully brought down stairs AMI lifted
into Johns cart.
John Gregory came up again within
week or two.
'eWell, Maria" said he, 1--WE got a
customer for another O them old chairs
There's lady in London has seen that
one and offered SIS for it; but it was
bespoke. So when old DAYTON told me
of it, says I, I know where can get
another of the same pattern, or as near
like it as can be- Says be, Sand il to