The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-19

young.
A widowed sister had kept house
for him for a number of years, but she,
too, had died, and since her death
the house had sadly lacked a head.
After deeply considering the matter,
Mr. Moore decided to marry again, pro-
viding he could find suitable partner.
He wanted a wife who would not be
above taking matters into her own
hands, and would be quite capable OF
steering the household bark.
So instead of choosing one from
among the well-to-do families where
he visited he sought out Eliza Perkins.
Il little woman of 2ve-and-thirty. who
Lad been accustomed to hard work and
poverty all her life, and who felt
grateful for having been sought in
marriage at this late day by such a
good man as John Moore.
Eliza had been so accustomed to
scraping and saving that she was I'M
able to give up the habit even in John
Moores comfortable home. Mr.. Moore
thought it best to let her do as she
wished for time. in the hope that
she would gradually come into taking
things easier and enjoying life a little
more. The plan appeared to have
failed, however, and everything seemed
in a middle
Eliza was tired and ore-hearted as
she went to her room to change her
dress that afternoon, but it was good
drying day, and she had the satisfac-
ton of knowing that she had a long
line of snow-white clothes tapping in
the breeze.
There was scampering upstairs,
and she pressed her lips hard together,
for she knew that the girls were hurry
ing away from her; and hot tears
rolled down her cheeks as she entered
her own room.
There was something on the bed, but
she could not see what it was, so she
wiped her eyes with the corner of her
apron. A rich black silk dress was
carefully spread out upon the counter
pane, and a slip of paper with some
writing on it was tucked into a fold.
Eliza picked up the paper and read:
From Clara, Lu and BERTHE, with
their love"
The astonished woman could only
glance from the paper to the dress, and
from the dress to the paper. One, two.
and then three heads popped out from
behind the bedroom door. and in an
other moment three pairs of arms were
around Eliza, and three voices were
asking her if she liked it.
But did you really give it to me
yourselves" said Eliza, in astonish-
ment.
"Of course we did" said Lu. 1--WE
bought it with our own money, and
made it ourselves"
But then you know we had the
dressmaker to cut and plan it for u.s."
said Clara.
"And what time we had keeping it
from you" said BERTHE. eve came
near spelling it by hustling it away so
many times when we thought we
heard you coming"
"But-I-thought- did not like
me-" said Eliza. II imagined you
thought was trying to take you moth
er's place, and"
But we didn't" said Clara. eve
don't call you mother because you are
so young; but if you would let us call
you Eliza, we would like it so much.
You seem like a sister to US"
II don't care what you call me-" said
Eliza, with happy tears in her eyes,
'lf am not one too many among
you"
eve lacked just one until you came"
said Lu, kissing her; "but we are a
nice little family circle now"
When Mr. Moore returned home that
evening, there was a heavy shadow
on his brow. and no one will ever
know Just how he dreaded going into
the house. Upon entering the sitting
room he was surprised to find his wife
and daughters talking and laughing
togethe"
Eliza rose as he entered, and going
10 him, said:
II have been very wicked, John: but
these dear children of yours have
taken me in hand, and will. hope,
make a better woman of me"
You need only be your natural self"
said her husband, as he stopped and
kissed her.
Never after that time did Eliza think
that she was one too many. If other
step-mothers would give step-chidren
q chance to love them. there would be
less cause for complaint.-New York
Weekly.
Hunted Stag Ran into Hotel Yark.
Visitors at the seaside town of Nine
head, which is situated in the red deer
ooY1ntrv Witnessed tIn mineral ei,r