Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31

"Prue puts it up. She's my sister, and works in
Bokermans. She returns-at the return desk, you
know. She fixes it before she goes
Every morning." asked the now much interested
"Oh no. replied the little dressmaker. The ooh
very round her childish lips, gaining strength
from the negative. Il only have bacon Saturday.
It's payday, you know
Il don't know; but | should like to-, heartily
joined the
will you stay to dinner?" she asked shyy. "Stay
and III tell you everything she added by way of bait
"and maybe you will write about me some day. Re-
porters all write, don't they?"
"They try to, uneasiy returned the questioned But
shall be delighted to stay, if it won't inconvenience
"Oh no, it won't, because can't make any more
trouble for you for haven't anything to trouble with
and entitled to piece of bacon for taking
down the pan"
"How does that Gomez he asked.
"Why, as | said, for taking down the pan. l always
give Mrs Purdee piece for coming clear up here.
couldn't ask her for nothing"
The reporter Comprehending lapSed into silence he
watched his little hostess prepare the dinner" She
cleared the table of the bits of silk and the "ne ladies'
putting them carefully away in hatbox in of
the room. Then she spread a newspaper which bore
evidence of former festivals its face, upon the table
On this she set square tin cracker box; then with
mysterious look at her visitor she stealthy lifted the
lid though expecting whatever inside to be about
to spring out.
from under the table, where it rested between meals,
she leaned her crutcheS against the table, using the
place for rest for her trembling knees when without
the support of her clutches. And now with little
hand she told off silent counting the fingers of the
other gazing the while into the box.
Il was measuring, she explained at the reporter S
look of inquiry measuring how much was for dinner.
You see, count the meals, and then she flushed
painfully, and the tears sprung to her eyes, but she
went bravely,-@then l divide it by-by what S
here" with wave of hand at the box
"Oh, say now" began the reporter, I'm not bit
hungry, and-I guess-er-I-"
But she stopped him with gesture majestic, as
proud and altogether effective that of lady of
quality NO" she said smiling, you promised You
my guest, Mr.. Reporter" and the reporter sue
cumbed.
The meal, when ready to be partaken Of consisted of
four slices of bread, slices of bacon bearing all
evidently the onefora-cent mark of the pushcart and
a tumbler of very blue milk.
The reporter was uncomfortable in the partaking of
her sparse food but there that in the little lady
which forbade all proers of assistance in the
financial line.
But why didn't you have your sister buy the at
tachen for you?" asked the reporter across the table
"She don't get out in time to shop: she never can do
any shopping for me. All those, with wave
of the hand toward the box "Joe Purdee has
to buy"
"Do you know what my name isl" she asked
abruptly, and when the man acknowledged
ignorance in the matter she replied smartly,
Jenny Wren. l am the dolls dressmaker
of New York named myself, and selected
my own business You see, it was this way:
l told you l would tell you everything and
I'm going to. Prue read Yes, she
~ can! She went to school once when l
EA baby, and Father and Mother were alive, and
NI we were very well off, and had three rooms.
She likes books, especially those with pretty
We have three,-a Bible which was
- Mothers and her cookbook, and the latest
DN one of the Dickens man."
- And there they were on shelf by the side
of the gasjet. The --latest" proved to be "Our
~ y Mutual Friend"
- dts GRANDMOTHER than the cookbook. '
declared Jenny at was damaged, and Prue
~ got it quite cheap, and she's read it to me
twice now. And when she read of Jenny
Wren said, That's me- and have been
her ever since. My name Mary before
it was Jenny. But that's no account And