The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-14
THINGS THAT APPEALED TO
TESSIE.

l1lNGD IHAl AiEbALbD 4 ~
TESSIE.
There were rivals. Tessie chose a
good-looking young fellow. True, he
did not make as much money as Tessie
did. He was an assistant porter in
cloth store, and his wages were so a
week. But Tessie thought him an ex-
ceedingly pleasant fellow. He was
always neatly dressed, his hair was
faultIessly oiled, his handkerchief was
perfumed, and he wore a scarfpin that
caught Tesslc's fancy. The big ruby
and the diamonds surrounding 1t were
glass-and not the finest at that-and
the gold was brass, but Tessie didn't
know. 1t was a real enough dazzler
to her. Tim, also, could spiel" better
than the other fellows, she thought
and lie could sing the latest popular
songs with what seemed to her perfect
art.
Tim became Tessie's STEADY" The
engagement was brief. Presently, Tim
and Tessle set up in housekeeping.
The three-room fat cost them $3.50 a
month rental. They just managed to
live on Tins 50 a week. But they
were a happy pair. Tessie eyed Tim
more fondly than ever, and when he'd
come home and after hard days
work sing you're Only Teasing Me-"
or something OF that sort Tessie was
overwhelmed. An impartial critic
might have expressed serious doubts,
and perhaps the neighbors didn't say
all that they thought. To Tessie, Tins
voice was the acme of perfection, or to
sum 1t up in her ali-inclusive word,
grand"
They had two children. One, a girl
Of eight months, died last March. The
baby was sick quite a while and the
doctors and the undertaker's bills were
considerable. That was the beginning
of their bad luck. The loss Of the child
was hard enough blow, and, besides
the little girls sickness and death not
only absorbed their trifling savings, but
plunged them into debt. But they had
another child left, a boy, "going on
four years. They concentrated Their
love on him and faced the world will
courage.
Three months after Tim lost his
place. 1t was no fault Of his-just
streak OF bad luck. He tried hard tC
get another job, no matter at what
He couldn't.
Now a couple with a child and debts
and great selfrespect must get alonf
independently somehow. Confidence il
each other doesn't satisfy the landlord
and grocers, butchers and bakers
haven't yet acquired the habit Of sup
plying provisions on good intentions o.
future prospects.
TessIe had mettle. She hadn't for
gotten her old trade. Her eyes troubled
her great deal, bnt she was deter
mined to keep things going without ap
plying to anybody for assistance. Sh'
went to one of her former bosses an'
got job making boxes for tobacc'
cigarettes. The material she woul'
carry home and there make up tn
boxes. The pay wasn't much. Fo
every thousand boxes she got 50. /
took her week. working ten hours
day, to make a thousand boxes.
Since July Tessie has stuck to tn
lob. Itis difficult for a woman to keel
house. bring up boy, and work tel
hours a day, but Tessie has manage'
II. 1t is especially difficult for on
with granulated eyellds TO bend owe
such task all day long. Tessie, how
ever. didn't complain. She knew tha
Tim was really looking for work an'
was willing TO take anything he coul'
get She knew lie had a run Of har'
luck.
The S. a week Tcssie earned has sup
! ported the whole family since July
Their living is simple. Sixteen or eigh
teen cents day for meat a loaf 0
bread a day, and two quarts Of pota
toes a week. Tessie and Tim dispense
with butter. They had some, but
was reserved for the boy. The cost o
their living, not including rent. wa
about thirty cents d day. Then Tessi
paid fifty cents 4 week for insuranc
Tor herself and the boy, and the sam
sum for Insurance for. Tim. The
didn't mind scrimping along on 50
week. Ii was the back debts whic
worried them. They could pay only
little on account now and then.
The other day Tim finally got 1ol
There was happiness in the little HON
when Tim came home and told th
good news. 1t was an event.
This IS simple. true little stor
whereof Tessie IS the heroine. Doe
she not deserve to be?-New Hor
Post. M
The SUNS Nearest Neighbor.