Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-19

friend and with smiling faces they
stopped to greet her To their aston
ishment, she only gave vicious little
hirt to an out of date orange colored
workbag hanging from her arm and
walked by with averted face.
Not far behind her was another ac-
Quaintance from whom they received
only cold nod.
"What in the worldl Do they think
mother had the smallpox, or have the
Dawsons failed, or what is the mat
teri"
"Oh, look at that woman, l do be-
lieve she has Grandfather Dawson's
white bell hat. 1 know there isn't an
other In town."
And that one with the silk waist
hanging out of water pitcher! There
must have been a rummage SALE"
The horrible truth flashed upon both
at the same instant.
"My old rose waistr' gasped Susan
nah's mother.
"My Grandmother Pelham water
pitcher" moaned Hepsibah's mother.
There was no question now. Every
one past whom their hurrying steps
led them bore some half forgotten treas
ure seen only at housecleaning time
They were women of fine sentiment,
never willing to destroy anything about
which fond memories could twine, and
their large ancestral attics were filled
to overlooking with what Rosa signif
icantly called "heaps of plumber" the
accumulations Of several generations
Of Dawsons, Pelhams and Gaynors and
the reapings Of many Christmas har-
vests
They rushed on, growing more and
more sick at heart as they met here
and there among the throng friends
who dwelt within the circle Of Christ
mas giving. When they reached the
lawn, out of the tumult Of their souls
rose bubble Of pride that, awful as 1t
was, the girls had displayed their usu-
al executive ability.
Under the linden tree sat Hepsibah,
the cashier. with goodly pile Of mon
ey before her. Patrolling the grounds
and keeping an eye on each grinning
negro in charge Of the heaps of goods,
which had been carefully assorted,
classified and grouped around the trees,
walked Susannah, the general mana
ger.
The mothers had been too long un-
der the yoke to make a scene, but as
they walked from one ancestral tree to
another and read the gorgeous placards
tackled to the trunks their emotions
were many and deep:
"Shoemakers' tools used by Great
grandfather Dawson"
Infant wardrobe of the Gaynor
branch" mostly rags.
"Great-grandmother Pelham's we'd
ding Dishes" a most disreputable col
lection of pans and crockery ware
Great bargains in Christmas pres
ents. Good as new; some never used"
At this finishing stroke the Mothers
Dawson fed each to her own house
and wept behind closed blinds. "They
will never forgive u.s." they sobbed.
mo wonder Mrs. Gaines didn't speakw
A sudden shower put an end to the
sale. A little uneasy In their souls, the
girls went in to report results. When
the interviews were over, it was not
the Mothers Dawson who came out
with dropping heads. On the contrary,
these emancipated ladies sped down
the lawns and shook hands in solemn
compact under the linden tree.
Said Susannah's mother, Hereafter
| am to be boss of my own ranch"
Same here" said Hepsibah's moth
er.
Then a blush Of shame spread over
their faces that even in this their hour
Of independence their speech should
betray their daughters influence.
II mean that from this time forth l
shall control the affairs of my own
household"
"And l mean that the same concu-
sion has been reached by me-"
They have a hard job before them.