Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-06-09

: m 8 days the sun had not
l. K shown 4 glimpse of him-
xop self, and everything, out
aoor and in, wore look of clammy de-
spondency. Moreover, Mrs. Longman
was having one Of her gloomy spells,
and was looking at all created things.
herself included. through the bluest
kind of spectac1es.
For several days she had goae about
the house with a dull aching at her
heart a cloud upon her brow, and q
ouerulous twang in her voice, until her
husband-kind, forbearing man as he
Eas-began to lose patience, while
Bridget. In the kitchen, muttured al
most audibly that "a saint from hiven
would find herself clane bate out wild
trying to plaze her."
Mrs. Longman was not by nature
bad-tempered woman; on the contrary
she possessed many noble and commen-
dable qualities, but her spirits were
not equable; she would have her
gloomy attacks, which, had there been
any apparent cause, might have been
looked upon in the light Of an aff1iction
worthy Of sympathy, but as it was,
even the most lenient Of her friends
characterized them by the name of
dumps" which, though Webster. con-
demns it as not being an ELEGANT"
word, was in his opinion quite good
enough to express the state Of her case,
Her family might have been rem
dered miserable by her dependency
had they been of the material capable
Of being made miserable, but as it was,
each one accepted the visitation in his
OR her individual way. Mr.. Longman
stayed out of the house all he could,
Bridget contented herself with her
prayer book and beads in the comfort
able kitchen, while the two boys, who
were too young to go to school, except
In fine weather, amused themselves in
their playroom in the attic, or in Brid-
gets domain, where they were always
welcome.
Tne short November day was draw
ing to close, and although the little
gilt clock on the hemantel had proclaimed
it to be only 4 o'clock, it was getting
too dark for Mrs. Longman to sew any
longer upon the little cloth suits she
was languidly mending, so laying them
aside she wandered aimlessly into the
Kitchen, where Bridget was folding the
newly ironed clothes from the rack by
the glowing CRATE.
Mr.. Longman will not be at home
uhtll this evening, Bridget" she said;
business will detain him down town,
30 you may just set up anything for
lne children; do not feel as though ]
could eat anything; verything tastes
Alke TO me and nothing tastes right"
"hat the reply would have been will
never be known, for at that moment
mere came a resounding knock upon
Tue alley gate, and throwing an old
shawl over her head Bridget hastily re-
Sponded to the call.
IL is two boys, ma'am," she said, re-
.ulhlng almost Immediately, "and they
usye come to a party here"
A party" echoed Mrs. Longman, ir
Slonlshment; "who in the world tol6
nem there was party hereY'
oont know, ma'am; will go ani
asA tnem,' said the willing maid. wh<
,upparently would rather have got we
than not.
Bring them in out of the rain, Bird
~ ~ called Mrs. Longman from tn,
ooi' .oa until we find out what it means
~, W. course" thought she to herself
u - IS mistake, but what possessed
un. ni 10 come to the alley gate?'
nfldget came in, followed by th
yss' io' VINO had been in the meantim
ta.eu 'ta1 oy third, and who, notwith
ma1 anulns the soaking rain, were not a
he' n as might have been supposed, ow
aH wy 10 their having piece Of oilclot
ounu o.' them, which upon inspection
souseo soO' TO be old carriage curtain
,no", n"eu together, while the last arriva
p"'ed apo gentleman's old swallow-ta!
s. s,ess coat, which made a useful. if nc
rels bn handsome, overcoat for the fes
uve-seeking lad.
ho vu say you came to a party" sal
as ta,. lady; have you not made a mi.
,on. on, no, ma'am; this is the plac
f,"n, four boys told US. We went to tb
80 ,0nl OF the house and took the numpe
+ Il 81 soon as we sold our papers and he1
oa ,s said he of the swallowta tai
O.s scrap of the margin Of a new
nnp pel from his pocket and showing Il
Orono, Oosf, sure enough, in magnifce1
~ Aongman was bewildered.
yonr ,u -, say as soon as you sold O,
WA papers. What do you mean?"
,"hy' you see, we are newsboy
con,1 an every one of us, and we .dailie
Ts10 u get off earlier, but the Evenir
Berss,iam Bsram and the Bulletin and Il
soon ,aio and the News will be along
for - q, as they can hire somebody to scr
tho" "em, and they are going to D,
II von with something from the part
ehserf please, ma'am," with an air