Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-07
AS Good as a Girl.
BY LOUISE ROWLAND

Miss Eliza could not forget the figure
as il looked. asleep by the cistern; and
when Mugsy appeared at the door with
the sitter. holding generous supply
OF rescued bits OF coal. she handed him
a thick slice of bread spread with mo-
lasses. saying
Il spose you're hungry again by
this time"
Il alters is;;" and looking up at Miss
Eliza with his mouth full. he said. Kin
| stay here? | amt got no place"
You mean you amt got no folks;
whers'd you sleep last night?"
Down de road, under some boards;
twuz freezin'"
Miss Eliza went back to the kitchen,
and left Mugsy sitting on the steps.
She drew the table to the center OF
the room. spread the red cloth, and
pat two plates in place. the last quite
forcibly, Is she said aloud
We'll. tenny rate. he shan't sleep out
doors tonight. laying up rheumatism
enough to last his natural life. You-er-
Mu-Mugsy (setch an onchristian name
| never heard). come in here"
Mugsy came just over the threshold
and stood staring about while the lamp
was lighted and the curtains drawn.
Standing in the lamp light Miss SOM
ers could see where the buttons were
gone from the thread-bare coat: that
it was all that sheltered Mugsy from
the cold.
Amt you got any fiannels?" said
Miss Eliza
"Flannens." said Mugsy. blarkly.
''dats me coat"
DO you see that sofy?" said Miss
Eliza. pointing 10 a venerable specimen
We'll. | am going to give you COM
forter and you can sleep there tonight.
and in the morning We'll see. If you
were girl. now, should know better
what to co with you; but a boy"
"Yes-em.'
You sit down there" said Miss
Eliza. pointing TO the chair opposite
her own. and drink this bowl of tea;
then you might as well go to bed"
Mugsy sat down and not only drank
the tea. but also ate some bread and
one of the cherished doughnuts, and
then obediently lay Gown on the sofa;
as Miss Eliza tucked in the comforter.
he turned on his side and said drow-
silly
Me warm. and amt hungry"
Miss Eliza took off her glasses and
wiped them. they blurred suddenly.
How that kettle does steam," she
said.
BY the time the few dishes were
washed. she could tell by the heavy
breathing from the sofa that her new
LOGGER was safe for the night.
She took the lamp and went into the
adjoining room where she slept, and
returned with suit of her own fan
nels which she proceeded to abbreviate
as 10 the extremities; this done, she
locked up the house and went to he'd.
She was up bright and early in the
morning. but not earlier than Mugsy.
for when she opened her door. there
he wa: Sn the hearth. before a freshly
kindled fire
Hello" he said.
Well. | am beat" said Miss Eliza.
and faint smile mighL have been seen
as she flied the kettle. but she spoke
70 wcrd OF commentator. Mugsy was
10y. and she did not know what he
might net DO next.
After breakfast Miss Somers brought
from the barn a large basket of dried
L:ans which she gave Mugsy to shell.
and carefully locking W the rest of the
house she LEFT Mugsy in the kitchen.
charging Kim on no account 10 go OFT.
and with her basket on her arm she
started for the village
There at the store she bought suit
of boys clothes. boots and a cap.
Miss Eliza hurried home and found
Mugsy playing mysterious game with
a few of the beans he had finished
Smelling.
Mugsy's eyes grew round with WON
der as Miss Eliza opened the bundles
and dressed him in his new clothes.
There. you lock- like somebody now:
but ii you'd been girl. could a made
you look better; boys clothes are ter
rible expensive. AS Mugsy made him
self Useful about the house and barn
during the day. Miss ELIAS thoughts
ran somewhat in this fashion,
Hes sort of handy. and if he'd been
girl. | don't know but I might have
kept MIN; but never could abide boys.
| shall have to look about and sse what
can he done with him."
Day after day. went by. however. and
no effort was made to find other quar-
tiers for Mugsy.
He had been at Miss EliZa's about
two weeks and the short legs. much
rounder than they were the day he
asked for the doughnut at the kitchen
window. had saved Miss Eliza many
steps.
One day Mugsy came across the yard
dangling a pail from which he had just
poured a mixture that brought JOY to
the heart OF Dennie. the pig.
He took the pail into the kitchen.
expecting Miss Somers TO wash il, but
she was not there.
"MisanliZa." no answer. He went to
her room; she was not there; then to
the door. and looked about. and at last
TO the gate and down the read. and
there such a sight met his view that
his eyes seemed to start from their