The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-05-15

uuls whose merry NaN gave 10 a hniueN nat
gray place It's one dash Of color. The head
bookkeeper had been heard TO say that Pa
Ted a dogs life, and the cashier often re-
marked that how Pa lived AMI supported
that family on that salary was clear beyond
him. The cashier knew what it was TO sup
port a much smaller family on much larger
salary, and found 10 a problem that taxed
bis finances to The utmost. What, then, be
came of Pa at the first of the u.outh asked
TIE cashier.
II vas pant Of thc irony " tate ,hat Pa,
who was little and wriuklod and altogether
out OF proportion 90 bis huge mustachios,
should have six tall aud handsome daagh-
tiers at home. Time was when his salary
had been little larger than now, and he had
hesitated a long time about marrying. i
seemed like flying in the face of Providence,
he said TO ask any woman TO live and keep
house on a salary Ike that; but eventually
he asked her, and she undertook TO make the
salary named suffice for herself and him.
When the first little girl came she might
have noticed a look Of dismayed speculation
on the countenance of Pa-his real name was
John Henry Craig, but he became Pa from
that date. As the five other little girls came
in rapid succession the look Of speculation
deepened, and yet, somehow, the salary
stretched 20 cover all Of them and clOthe
them and give them a fair education.
IF there had been another one Of EN- it
couldn't have been done" Pa was wont 10
say, cheerily. AS tits, there's just enough;
but another would have meant hard times
for good"
Two or three years ago Mrs. Craig had
died. She was believed to be delirious
toward the last, for she kept muttering inco-
herently:
winter coming on-jacbets for all the
girls-your old coat viii have TO do another
winter, Pa"
Having buried his wife, Pa went on taking
care OF the girls. The old coat did not
only f0ranOther winter, but for still another
winter after that. Shabber, smaller, more
bent, little more bald, Pa was always at his
de,k, working with unhagging cheerimness.
"No-I would rather keep my girls at
home he said 70 that goodnatured friend
Of whom Byron speaks, when the said friend
suggested that the girls might help Pamake
a living. "Oi course, If il were really neces-
,ary. YOU know-ii / were TO break down, or
anything ike that-why, then l wouldn't
mind il so much. But / don't like TO see
women out working when there's a great,
.trong man that ought to stand between
Them and the world
About this time Pa discovered to his
amazement that one Of the six girls had
lover, and was thinking Of being married
some day not far of.
"We.l, well. That Babyl" Pa said half
an hour aiterward. 81 wonder what Mary
say to that."
And then Pa searched around and found
some extra work that be could do outside
Of office hours.
Gone Of ems going to marry he ex-
planned, cheeriuly, to the Old Man. 'shel
need a lot O. things, Of course, and it's eoin
to take hustlin. Anything you can throw
my way, now-I'n be much obliged
Pa had scarcely recovered from the mar
riage Of the first daughter before there were
two more who Wan.ed to have a double
wedding.
Its good they gave Ire q little time on
that, OF I'd never have made 1t, Ia said'
drawing a long breath whenit was over.
Then, in little while there was another,
and then another. Amazed and bewndered,
Pa found himself all at once with only one
Of the pretty daughters at home, and that
one flirting outrageously with hall dozen
lovelorn young men. lie knew what to e1-
pect now, any day. You might think they
were babies, but suddenly you discovered
that they had grown up and wanted home
Of their own. Pa came out Of brown study
thinking Of it.
There's only one Of 'em left now he
told the cashier, genially, polishing his spec
tacles on the corner Of his tie. when that
one marries III feel as though my responsi-
bilities were pretty well done with. I've
been think that / ought to celebrate II,
somehow. It struck me just now that when
Lena's married and got some one to look OUT
for her. I'd 60 out an have an orgy"
As the time drewne Pa gave indications
Of tightening heart. He was seen to sat at
his desk with his faded brown derby on the
back Of his head, instead Of hanging decently
on its hook. lie was heard on more than one
occasion TO warble under bis breath diity
which consisted principally Of stirring words
like "Tum-teeiddle-dum, tum-tum-tee.
The Old Man was generosity himself.
81 understand it is quite an event with
YOU. Mr.-Mr. Craig" he said. lhe mad
come within one Of forgetting the name).
your last daughter marries tonight, you
saw Well. now, suppose you take a week
off-salary to 60 on, OF course On, don I
mention i'll You've been with the hrm
long time. And you'll find an extra IN
your envelope. Goodby-hope you'll have
good time"
"Sav. now, take care Of yourself, said The
cashier. urgently. "You know you amt
used to-high jinls you know
When the cashier reached the office on
the morning Of the second day be found Ia
At his desk. Pas hat was in its place on the
hook. and Pas self was the shabby, neat,
well-brushed self he had seen in that place
Tor so many years.
Back already" cried the discomiitied
cashier. "What about the orgy you've been
fixing mp for so long"
"Well, had it, said Pa, bcaming al him
clad it, The mischief! You don't look
it," said the cashier. who remembered an
orgy or two Of his own.
"You see. / don't care for much excite
ment." he explained. cts been excitement
enough for me just to make a living. W hat L
want now is quiet, You know-and so TOOK
ten cents and a bag Of peanuts down TO the
ferry. and / rode ~ times across the river
and back again. You can ride all day, you
know. if you pay the ten cents and don. get
of-it's very nice I've often wanted TO DO
it. And / ate the peanuts and threw the
shells at the gulls / don't know when !
ever have had such a day. '-AiusAcs Maga-
zine.
Sorry He spoke.
II - 1,o..o1 ia n .fy1e that he re-