The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-02-24

be mighty hard on your nice dresses
an pretty shoes. | could run arrants
an fetch an carry things. an I'd be
stavin' on trappin' poor folks. Now,
what d'you say" Aud he looked at
her so trustingly that she forgot the
ragged clothes and poverty and only
saw the brave. earnest soul looking
through the clear eyes. Her gaze
wandered TO the girls questioningly.
May Whitley came to the rescue.
Fellow members" she cried. spring
ing to her feet. Il move we create the
Office of cavalier and run around mes
senger extraordinary in our CIRCLE"
There was a quick upraising OF
hands.
Contrary minds the same sign. 1t is
a vote Now. further move that we
| appoint Mr. CHANGING inquirfngly al
the boy.
"Lish," looking at her a little doubt
fully.
"Mr. Lish.",
Garter" added Kate Markham.
-"Mr. Lish Carter" said May calm.
ly, "to the Office just created All in
favor signify by usual sign. Contrary
minds. 1t is n vote"
The boy gazed at her with a puzzled
expression on his face: but. detecting
an u~ndercurreut Of mprriment in the
room. he took courage and bowed his
thanks.
BE a reg'iar member he asked
beamingIy as he rose to his feet, IAN
can | fetch in my poor folks!"
''That point is now in order" said
May politely.
But the boy did not need encourage.
ment. He was too full of his subject
to think much of himself or his sur
roundings. There was not the least
trace Of embarrassment in the face
which he raised so confidently TO Miss
Lesson. nor was there any hesitation
in the eager voice which poured forth
the story of the poor folks.
Are they actually %starving?' asked
one of the girls as he paused for a
moments breath.
"No'm!" promptly. Pap sent 'em a
painful of small taters. an Ben an me
give ZEN most of our walnuts an
chestnuts. An then | dig 'em d few
clans now an ag'in when the wealth
er's good an hunts wood for 'em. But
they'm desprit off, most desprit! The
father an mothers sick, an there's
six small kids, an zone Of EN- amt
much good for anything. You see"
patronizingly. .'they's. Eyetalians an
only com here last fall. They don't
NOW u talk nor how to scutt1e round
for vittles yet. They jest huddle clost
up to their fireplace an famish," knit
ting his brows for a suitable word.
AN would you b'Iieve it." excitedly.
there amt a blessed shoe in the whole
family. Them children paddle round
in the snow an water barefoot, an
when it's awful cold they wrap their
feet up in old rags. The biggest boy
helps me some, an it's him / want to
git shoes for. That's why | jined the
club"
DO they live near your asked
Clara.
Bout half a mile. But their house
amt got any floor like ourn. They
live right on the bare ground"
Clara held up her hands.
''The idear' she exclaimed. Eight
persons living in a house without any
floor. and in such weather.! Hasn't
anybody helped them besides your
folksY'
mo; folks live scatterin' down that
way, an | guess they amt heard
much about 'em. But we'..e got along
pretty well SO fur. You see" proudly.
my pap's a stavin' good provider.
Last fall he chopped wood enough to
last all winter, an he worked round
'mong the farmers a too his pay in
small taters-hog taters. they call
EN-" in smiling explanation. I'VE had
mos four barrels full. An | sold
CLANS myself an bought some salt an
a barrel O turnips. | guess we'd a
had plenty to stand us clean through
the winter if it hadn't been for so
many mouths. Eight Eyetalians can
eat a pile of stuff when they'm hur.
cry"
Eyes" assented Miss Lesson when
he paused, as though waiting for con
irmation of his statement.
Il heard pap ask Pete Cunning yes
day. the boy resumed, with another
smiling glance around the room, If be
know'd anybody in the village who'd
be willin' TO help a poor family That's
what made Pete tell about your club.
Pap know'd the taters was most gone
an, | guess. he thought Ben an me
couldn't hustle round lively enough to
keep two families goin'. You see,
pap's down with rheumatics."
Yes: so | heard. But was it quite
potatoes? You should have applied for
help sooner If you are not careful
you will need help yourselves"
"Oh. we'm all right" answered the
boy carelessly. There's only four of
US. an Ben an mes both we'll. We
ought to be able to look arter one fam
bly," He noticed that her glance rest
ed on his boots, and he flushed a lit
tie. But his eyes looked calmly into
hers.
Them boots amt very bad" he
said deprecatingly. IF the Eyetalians
had boots like them an taters an salt
every day | guess they'd fee! pretty
me an amt got toughened yet, SO
pap bought him boots last fall. Next
winter, if nothin' happens. he's goin'
to git me some. These are plenty good
till then" He laughed a little and
added philosophically: whats the use
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