Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-24

what's the matterY" Sunny asked.
There's nothing to live for-noth'
ITO think should come to this Nc
who once 'ad respectable business
who 'ad a .parlor OF my own I" she
%Ganed ns1,,,s !, ~, LIES /. hard" she said
Sunny, paused and stared at her
; Amt Lizzie been to see you this after
noonT' she asked.
The woman looked up slowly. II
amt ,ad drop" she said-"not a
Sunny shifted. She knew better; her
sharp eyes deserted a bottle propped in
a corner Of the room.
Got the money" her aunt asked
she was the only person who called
sunny by the names her godfathers and
godmothers had selected for her.
%aPS sunny to tsk sad to yGu s ssols ,ss the
want TO- go and ave a day In the coun-
"You--you want" Mrs. Melltln sat
back and stared at the girl as though
she had taken leave of her senses
Me and Bert Jackson have made up
our mind to take a day Off tomorrow
It's Saturday halliday. We want to
to to tbs Tvsr G91rt sD% % the tam and
You give me that there money!" Mrs.
Il thought you might spare"-sunny
| paused she had meant to demand two
| shllllngs OF her own earnings. but her
said. s' ia''eo her-a Sh'll'n y she
| You give me that there money, miss,
az once Wasting money such times as
never hear the like And 1t over
We'll. sjxpence?" Sunny said.
Il, you don't give me every penny
Sunny counted out her hard earnings,
slowly and regretfully. The woman
| reached out and grabbed them; she
| counted them twice to herself to make
sure then she sighed and resumed her
moaning and groaning and references to
her past splendor
When her aunt was In one Of her
moods, Sunny knew 1t would be useless
TO- 10 discuss matters with her. She go,
her own tea 1t was a frugal meal Tea
with no milk, hunch Of bread and a
piece OF cheese. but she set her strong
~nite teeth into the hard crust and
seemed de,, zee, to enjoy It; AZ any rate, she
room, she managed to kick the bottle
and bring It down It was empty. No
aooot u had been full not many hours
isHh, ng9; Mnieh Accounted accounted for her auht's
"A best parlor I 'ad" Mrs Melkin
whined. II remember It like 1t was yes
terday: q round ma a'ogany table in the
middle. the feet standin' on a bit Of
lonelium SO as not to mark the carpet
and on the mantelpiece was two chiny
ornaments ! got from the tea-shop; one
'ad a girl with a sheep on It and the
othertEllzabeth other II Ann. where are you
Coin out !" Sunny said. She had
edged toward the door.
Her aunt would have demonstrated,
but Sunny made sudden bolt for It,
She slammed the door after her and
sped down the stairs; then she had to
come back and grope in the darkness
or one of her boots, which she found.
Bert was waiting faithfully at the
street corner He looked a shade NOR.
miserable than when they had parted.
II gave him the money. and he said II
J didn't get bob rise inside two weeks
he'd give me the strap. he did, .Sunny!"
You'll get the rise all right" she
Il wish could look at 1t your wayl"
he said.
laughed joyously. Come on. .Bert!
Where are you going tor" he asked
West !" she said 81.
west! What for?"
III tell you presently; we're going
to earn our day in the country tomor-
row."
He shook his head: he had no faith In
the future whatever.
,
never seem to get tired !" he said.
What's the use of getting tired?" she
eighty" '' ~ ee' ''' ""en 0'e -
"'Lizzie!" sunny said briefly.
said.
Pretty near always; she says it
Keeps her spirits up!"
Putting 'em down keeps 'em up!"
He laughed weakly at his own joke.
sunny, where are we gettin' tor"
They had walked considerable way, |
had crossed bridge over the river. and |
busy thoroughfares of the west end.
Know any songs Bert2" she asked |
Songs - He stared at her.
A. Tn9es sba she psnss, ssId Knew any s2ngs
You Buy Me Pretty Flowers?"
Il did know it, only it give me the
Jump, he said. IT forgot it on pur-
sunny laughed. IT'S bit mlser-
hesitated-"Down Where the Water
lilies Crow"
Bert shook his head. IT heard it." he
said. Father sings 1t sometimes when
he's had too much 1t amt n song care
about"
Sunny tried again. Remember that
night me and you got sixpence each and
got INTO nodSed fse Ws ~ ,s she SAID
It? II was almost the one bright spot in
his life.
Remember a chap named Chev-aleer
singing song about Is old Dutch?"
sunny said. Like this" She hummed
the tune
He nodded 1T remember; but don't
know the words"
II do; 1t goes
I'VE been together now for forty year,
And It don't seem day too much,
There amt lady living in the land
As I'd swop for my dear old Dutch.
"Remember?"
He nodded. II remember all right"
Then strike up; come on. get into the
road" she said
He stared at her. 'You--you amt
"Of course l am; we're going to earn
money to pay our tram-fares to Amp
ton Court tomorrow !"
We'll get run in," he said.
Sunny laughed.
That makes It all the more fun
.ak!ng the risk Come on. now"
Very unwillngly he stepped into the
gutter by her side. and Sunny lifted up
1er voice and sang:
We been together now for forty year"
Sunnys voice was very strong, very
ihrill, yet very sweet. 1t was clear and
penetrating; 1t was very unlike the
usual monotonous howls of the street
singers. People turned to look Bert
1lucked up courage and made some In
enectual noises that he thought was
singing.
brother and sister. pore things +"
'ne kindly natured woman said; she
landed Sunny a penny.
A young man stared. mot n bad
Lolce, by George" !" he said "And, by
,onfounded shame she should have to
# brother work?" He tossed sunny
'lxpence, and she smiled at him. show