Mower County transcript., 1908-02-12

room Work, Mrs. bernard.
Don't Mrs me; l ain't used to 1t.
AS for knowledge, you know heap
sight moren Viola; an anyway,
want her to be with you. l might
hire herd of governesses, an not git
the right kind. There's more'n arth-
metic an fancy readin' a girl will
learn from her teacher
Stella's voice was grateful. But
Mrs.-but-"
call me Sally B., like the rest
does"
"No, I'll call you Mrs. Sally.
shan't earn my living, Mrs. Sally"
Sally BIS black eyes snapped. IF
you don't you'll be the first ever took
Sally BIS money without givin' value
received"
Stella smiled. She had already seen
that there was no nook in Sally BIS
house where shirkers could hide; yet
If one were i'll or unfortunate, no other
good Samaritan than Sally BIS self
was needed.
I'll send to Auburn an git the
same books they use in the schools
there. You can put vi through from
to IL, help me in the dinin' room on
busy days, an keep school agin from
two to four. Here in grandma'am's
room can be the place. An I'll double
your wages. How'll that suit?"
Its not a question of how it will
suit me; it's all on my side. Let me
make the beds and sweep Saturdays
and it will be nearer fair
Sweep? Have Viola's teacher
sweep? No, stree! An l wouldn't
let you go in that corral for six bits q
minute!"
Viola entered, small, childish in fig
ure, old of face, yet lovely in coloring.
Between her dark mother and grand
mother, the latter the bent, weazened
original OF her daughter, the fair,
hazeleyed child seemed of another
face. AS foreign to them, too, were
her air Of delicate refinement, her
soft voice and her gentle movements,
inheritances from q father bred out
of his proper environment. She held
wild buttercups and violets, which she
carried to her grandmother.
The old face flooded with 4 sudden
glory. She took the flowers in both
hands, gently pressed them to lip and
cheek, drew long whiffs Of their
fragrance, turned them from side to
side, peered questioningly into their
sun-nlled hearts-it was pitiful the
/ ecstasy . flower could bring to this
| shut-in soul.
'Where'd you git 'em, honey?" she
| asked in the thick voice of the deaf.
Instantly Viola caught up her grand
mothers crutch, bent back her foot
and, for a step or two, initiated Alvin
, Carter.
The telegrafter's boy?"s the OLD
woman asked, with an odd light in hel
eye.
Viola nodded.
Here they be, child You mustn't
give away yer sweetheart's posy gift. ,
! Viola's cheek tint deepened; but
she laughed, pushing back the ole
hand that offered the blossoms.
''Git tumbler of water, vi, SOS
they won't wilt" her mother com
manded.
AS soon as Viola vanished, Sally B
began the most remarkable gesture
speech Stella had ever seen. It was
meaningless to her, yet the old dame
evidently understood it.
"No sweethearts? That pretty gal?'
The old eyes cleaned young again.
Another series of gyrations.
"Too young ter marry? She's olderr
you was; though I do low she's pow
erful little."
Sally BIS movements were more EN-
phatic.
'Sho, Sally; she mustn't marry thai
leetle cripple, to be shore. Bu1
where there's honey there'll be more'r
one fly; and all fellers is sweetheart.
at 15." ... @
Viola came in with the water ant
pushed up "lightstand," leaving
grandma'am with her flowers.
do tell me, Mrs. Sally, how 20,
make her understand. It's wonderful!
"Yes; folks thinks it's right peart
Poor grandma'am, she can't read!'
Sally B. paused and gazed sorrowfull,
at the old woman. "They want n,
chance O learnin' to read in Oregon il
the tWentfes. So when she got stun dea
l was pesky cut up. 1t came afte
paw died. ] laid awake O. nights study
in how I could talk with her like tn
deaf an dumb does. One day sh
asked me how Bill-that's my hus
band-come by scar on his hand
an l drew a picture of horse kickir
q man."
Il wish you'd seen grandma am
face" Viola broke in. 1T was just lik
> to-day with the flowers"
After that I pictured out thing
whenever could git the time-roug
O course; can't draw none-but so,
of one-line things she'd see tho NEAR
in of. Bime-by they got so many
took heap O. time to hunt 'em ovel
an hit on the idee of putin number