The Pulaskian., 1921-06-02
CHAPTER THREE-contlnued.

Indeed It was the tin soldier, who stood on his little shelf looking out of the window, who first reminded Bob of the loneliness and discomfort of the coin. As a rule whenever the conscience of the boy was touched Mir. Bloggs had something to say.
 It was late in February and every one was complaining Of the cold. Even the oldest inhabitants of Bingyille could not recall so severe winter. Many families were short of fuel. The homes of the working folk were in- sufficiently heated. Money in the bank had given them q sense of security. They could not believe that its magic power would fail to bring them what they needed. So they had been care less of their allowance of wood and coal. There were days when they had none and could get none at the yard. Some men with hundreds of dollars in the bank went out into the country at night and stole rails off the farmers fences. The homes of these unfortunate people were ray aged by influenza and many died
 Prices at the stores mounted higher Most of the gardens had been lying idle. The farmers had found it hard to get help. Some of the latter, in- deed had decided that they could make more by teaming at Millerton than by tolling in the fields, and with less effort. They left the boys and the women 10 do what they could with the crops Naturally the latter were small. So the local sources of supply had little to offer and the demand up- on the stores steadily increased. Ger tain of the merchants had been, in a way, spoiled by prosperity. They were rather indifferent to complaints and demands. Many of the storekeepers. irritated, doubtless, by oyerworll. had lost their former pollteness. There were days when supplies failed to ar- rive. The railroad service had been bad enough in times of peace Now, it was worse than ever.
 Those who had plenty of money found 1t difficult to get a sufficient quantity of good food, Bingville be- ing rather cut off from other centers of life by distance and poor railroad. Some drove sixty miles to Hazelmead to do marketing for themselves and their neighbors.
 MT. and Mrs. J. Patterson Bing. however in their luxurious apartment at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. knew little of these conditions until Mir. Bing came up late in March for talk with the mill superintend- ent Many of the sick and poor suf- fered extreme privation. Father O'Neil and the Reverend Otis Singleton of tbe Congregational church went among the people. ministering to the sick, of whom there were many, and giving counsel to men and women who were unaccustomed to prosperity and Unqualified wisely to enjoy It. One day. Father O'Neil saw the Wild ow Moran coming into town with great bundle of fngots on her back
 ..This looks little like the old coun- try." he remarked.
 She stopped and swung her fagots to the ground and announced: Tt do that an may God help us It's hard times. Father. Tn spite O all the mon- ev it's hard times. It looks like there wasn't enough to go 'round-the ships he takin so many things to the old country"
 How is my beloved Shepherd!' the
 .1 u,ofbor asked
 "Mother O God The house is that cold he's been layin' abed for a week an, Judge Crooker has been away on the circuit .
 @Too badm said the priest. I've been so busy with the sick and the dying and the dead I have hardly had lime to think of you
 Against her protest he picked up inc fagots and carried them on ms own back to her kitchen.
 He found the Shepherd in sweater sittIne up In bed and knitting SOCKS.
 "How Is my dear bcy7" the good fa- thcr askei