Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-19


was their sole support, but the re-
markable thing is that nobody knew
it except poor old Priscilla herself.
The girl guarded her mistress pride
as carefully as if it were her own.
AS soon as possible Matte started
the various small industries by which
she managed to keep the pot boiling
for three. The little white house be-
longed to the sisters, and that les
sened her difficulties somewhat; still,
it was no light task she had under
taken. She was at work early and
late, and was withal the cheeriest
little woman you would meet in a
days march.
To the villagers who quizzed her
about her industry and her earnings
she declared she was laying by for
her ''providing''-she was not minded
to be a portionless bride.
Her visits to the neighboring town
with supplies of fruit and vegetables
had set the gossips agog, and they
had many dark hints to make regard
ing her honesty. When the girl in
vaded their own ground, however. and
began to buy and retail the creels of
fish, the sight of her depravity could
no longer be endured, and they went
in deputation to inform and caution
the old ladies.
The only bad effect of the ignorant
interference of these busybodies was
to make Miss Miriam more intolerant
in private of 'Mattie's eccentricities"
and little suspicious that the girl
was greedy. Mattie's indefatigable
energy became a source of irritation
to the delicate old maid who had
not the key to it, and poor Miss Pris-
elias Office of mediator was not al
ways a sinecure. But they seldom
uuarreled outright, for Matte rarely
forgot that Miss Miriam had been
kept in the dark" and, besides. she
had tactful way with her. Scenes
like the following were of frequent
occurrence, however.
Mattie's bright face would look
round the sitting room door of
morning. ooh, MISS Miriam, if you're
not too busy would you mind pluck
ing few young peas? I must finish
the washing, but l would like to take
them to the market today They're
scarce
Miss Miriam would continue to nib
bic the end of her quill pen reflect
lively. (She is seated at her desk: it
is Miss Miriam's belief that she has
the poetic gift, and her time is much
occupied in it's exercise)
ITS such a lovely morning" says
Matte persuasively.
Dear, dear. If you only knew what
it means to be disturbed at such mo-
ments. But you have no tact, no con-
sideration; you will never learn, Mat
tie" cries the lady pettishly.
I'm SO sorry, ma'am, but the peas
will soon be past their best. and"
THE peas, indeed. And what of
my ideas? If | do not pluck them
when they are ripe, they wither also"
But think of the price they'll
FETCH" cries the maid, her mind upon
the peas.
"The price. Thank goodness, | have
never put my gift to base uses-and
never will. Matte, it grieves me to
see you becoming so mercenary. |
do not think | can possibly afford
time for the peas this morning."
Dear Miss Miriam, not if | tell
you | want the money to buy chick
en- for Miss Priscilla? She enjoyed
the last so much. ! assure you, it's
not for myself this time
That alters the case entirely. Ger
tainly, certainly, we must get chick
en- for Priscilla" Then the good lady
sets her cap straight, and takes her
way contentedly to the sunny gar
den.
1t was during the first winter-a
severe one, as luck would have it
that Matte had her hardest struggle
to keep the wolf from the door. She
had not yet started the little poultry
farm which yielded her a tolerable
income later on. The garden was
empty, save for the small household
supply of winter potatoes. Fruits,
flowers and vegetables were no longer
available. and the sailings and catches
of the fishing fleet were most irregu-
lar. In spite of the girls efforts to
earn enough by her needle, the pinch
of want was felt in the little home.
1t was Miss Priscilla's painful anxiety
on account of her sister and Matte
that reused the latter to her utmost
endeavor. She bethought her of a
plan, and straightway entered into
q compact with cousin of hers, a
young fisherman who had shown him
self very friendly toward her of late.
He was to lend her his cobble of a
night to go fishing in the firth on
her own account, and he would have
a percentage of her winnings. She
made the stipulations that he was
not to speak of the transaction to Sny
one. and that he would row the boat
to the gate of her garden when she
wanted it.
The plan worked we'll and Matte
spent many a long hour on the cold
dark waters after her old lanes were