Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-10-25
BROWN BESs.

MY dearest wish is that I could sell
Brown Bess," said Susie Ross, rinsing
the dishes she had just washed.
ooh, Susy !" cried her brother
"What in the world do you want
to sell Brown Bess for" her mother
asked, looking up from the dough she
was kneading
81 could go to the academy, moth
er, for two more terms, was the an
swer. "Then, perhaps l could-get
the school at the Corners"
Nonsense, Susy, need you to help
me-" her mother said. keeping
school is thankless business"
Eyes, that's fact, spoke up Tom,
"and there's lots wants to be done.
I'd like to clear that Gve-acre lot
for potatoes and corn, but I can't do
it"
"And the house wants shingling,
her mother said plaintively, her care
worn countenance taking on another
shadow.
"The front doors got crack all
the way across, D." Tom spoke up again,
"and there ought to be fireplace in
granny room. Then there's the barn;
it's all that we can do to keep the hay
dry"
"I know all that" said Susy. 81
know the house is getting to be scare
crow, and the barn is worse, and that's
why l want to be earning. As for
the shingles, I should think you could
put them on yourself, Tom yes, and
mend the door"
"Where's the shingles ?" Tom asked
in his matter-of-fact way. where's
the nails? Where's the hammer?
The old one is broken past mending.
And where's the money to get them
with, should like to know
"Sure enough" said Susy, "unless
I could earn it. That's why want
to sell Brown Bess.
"And if you DO sell her you won't
get much" Tom said. "She's so full
of her tricks-the craziest colt I ever
saw.
I'm more and more afraid to have
you ride her." her mother said. "But
if you should sell her, there's the
mortgage to be paid in October"
"If I sell her." said Susy, quietly,
at will be to finish my education"
That's always your cry, her moth
er went on, in plaintive tones; "no
matter what's needed; but I s'pose
we must give in. Bad as the roof is,
it shelters US. What would we do
without house over our heads ?"
"I'd sell the COW, too, put in
Tom.
"And then grandma would Just
about starve. " the mother supplement-
ed.
Susy turned away from the table,
angry and grieved, but she said moth
ing, only ran upstairs to her own
room.
"They don't see it, she sorrowful-
ly murmured. "They can't under
stand that it's for their good and COM
fort. I want to get that school. I'm
willing to wear old clothes and to
walk three miles and back every day
for the sake of finishing my education.
Let the roof leak awhile-if Tom don't
patch it. Let granny sleep down
stairs, where there's FIRE. III help
them all in a year or two-but they
don't see it-they won't see it. If
can only sell old Brown Bess I'd
/
6, and beg time for the mortgage, or
I'd borrow money-or, maybe | can
get enough to repair the house and go
b school, too. If only Brown Bess
Sasn't such little vixen 1t viii go
bard. to part with her though it was
py fathers last gift.
Tears rushed to the dark eyes, but
be repressed them and went down
Itairs.
After helping her mother about the
house she donned her sunbonnet and
Itan in to the barn. Tom was rubbing
IAswn Brown Bess, whose bright, CLOS
sycoat shone like satin.