Reading for Everybody.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2191, 21 September 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

Reading for Everybody.

THE LITTLE MISSIS,

(Ur M. A. iLiiylit l , in the Lady s Realm) The liuly drew her brows together, ami set those red lips of hers in still more determined fashion. '■These drawers are to he kept locked," she said, “and mind the flowers are watered every day! and, I’olly. you are to see that Winkle lias his bath every day, and look after him lor me.” Winkle, the hlaek-imil-tau terrier, picked up his ears ai the sound ol Ids name. Roily, the stout, old. colored mammy, said nothing. She shifted her considerable weight- from one foot to the other, and her clasped hands moved under the many- colored apron. The lady looked out of one window, then out of the other, turned to the locked drawers, turned away again, all of a sudden stooped and kissed the old black cheek, so gently that the action was the tenderest caress. “Cloochbye,” she said. The old mommy seized one little white hand, and held it as if she could never lot go. “Good-bye, my little missis,” and the tears would come, though the little missis did not like people to cry.

Downstairs the footsteps never ceased moving to and fro in the big dm-ing-soom, or only ceased for the time iu whi«h a man may raise a Venetian blind and look out and lower it again. . . It. was a hot day, and “the missis was driving down the Kingston road. “Old mammy,” upstairs, moved about as well. The loosely laid pine floors creaked under her, but she put away garments and tidied the ornaments on the dressing-table more deftly than many a light-handed girl. Now and again a so.b shook the old body, and she could hardly see to set the yellow kerchief straight on.her head. Her hand shook, too, as she passed the apron string .twice round her waist and se-tied the bow.

Day lifter day went by—one hot day after the other hot day. The sun still biased upon the white coral

road, the saw-edged Pandanus leaves grew into white sword-blades —white with the dust of the donkey-carts creeping down the Kingston road. One scarlet ipomea vine still hung out red trumpets, defying. tho hot sun, but the lady's blue glories never covered her porch of a morning now. They curled up and turned purple, and withered away by the time tho sun had begun to shine. And at night the night-frogs called to one another in their shrill, friendly way, until the man who smoked his pipe on tho verandah dug his teeth into the

briar and got' up and went into the house. Just so had they called when

the lady was there.

“Old mammy” sat in the kitchen, as lonely as the master in his din-ing-room. She had brought pen and paper out of Iter master’s study, and something was to bo done. She made patterns with her bare toes on the sanded floor of her kitchen, and her lips worked. “It time foil old Roily to do somethin’,” she said—“it time fob she do somethin’ Tho horny fingers held tightly to the pen, as near the point as might be. The pen jerked up and down on the paper. “A servant to her Mistress”—so the letter began. “A Servant to her Mistress.

“Dear little Missis, —I have now taken the opportunity of writing you these few lines, hoping that when they reach it may find you in a perfect state of good health, I am not *oo well, I am suffering from ” The difficulty was that she did not know what she was suffering from. It must be something really bad or the missis might not come. She did not think a cold would do, though a cold to her was the root of all evil. The lato lamented Mr. Brandon had died of small-pox, but to the day of her death his widow would continue to affirm, that it was “a cold he ketch.” No I The missis would laugh at a

sold. But the cholera 1 Now even the white folks thought something of that. That would surely bring the

missis. Well, it appeared that .she was suffering from cholera. . . In due time the end was reached, the letter duly sijjßed: “Your most humble and obedient Servant, “SARAH BRANDON, “Your own dear POLLY.” And then another thought struck' Ifor and she seized the pen again. “T thank my God I aan still do my djit-y t!o Mi’. Winkle.” The missis must nob be alarmed about Mr. Winkle. The lady could not sit.still. “Paster, Jim!” she urged—“faster-!” And Jim plied the whip so freely that the ponies broke their trot and galloped down the road under a lowering sky. Only a minute to get up the stairs, and gently sho must go, for tlio old woman was very sick.

Mont gently slit' crept down tlio pussage and opened the door. “Polly!—old Polly!” she said, and not all the caution could -keep the old, familiar ring out' of her voice. The queer figure in the bed turned over; its head was tied up in an old pink rag, and round the shoulders ■were huddled more rags—pink and other colors. “My little missis ” “Little missis” put one hand on the brow. It was cool and pleasant to the touch . A great relief shot through her. “AVhy. you’re better, my denr old thing!” sho said. “Yes, missis.” “When were you taken ill, poor old Poll?” said the clear voice. Old Polly hesitated. “.Hominy. I was took very bad missis.” She had written the letter on Sunday. “And what did tlio doctor give you?” she demanded. Hard is the way of the deceiver. Old Polly ran over in her mind lemongrass tea, bush tea, vervein tea, all the trtyise of the negro pharmacopoeia, hesitated, and was lost. “Ho gave me some harmonium, missis, mek me feel just like if my „ inside did gwine burn out;” “Ammonia, you old sinner!” said the missis, with her best smile playing round bor mouth—“ammonia!” And she opened tlio widow over tike patient’s head. And a person who has been dying of cholera does not grin in the rnaii-

nor of a Punch and Judy showman or a. Cheshiu-' cut. So the missis smiled herself. “Von old humbug, you’ve never been ill at all!” "No, missis,’’ agreed the figure, humble and triumphant. The lady fingered the patchwork quill!, ami looked very pretty as she did it. Presently “I’ll go and tell the master you’re better,” she said. “Yes, missis.” agreed the figure. The master sat in his study, turning the pages of the Agricultural News. When the vine tapped on the window his foot moved impatiently, and a stray cat scratching on tho verandah roof made him frown. Tho door opened, and he turned his head. There she stood, the lady—hi.s lady—travel-stained, with burning cheeks, hut tho proudest little lady, the sweetest little lady still. “Jack, I’ve come,” she said. The first drops of the rain pattered on the iron-roofed verandah, and then came the warning sigh of the wind before a great rain.

OBSERVATIONS By "Outlook.” 1 was pleased to see that our Connhas at, last decided to adopt what other towns have done in tho matter ~f placing signs in position relative to keeping on the right side, driving round a cornor taster than a walk, expectorating on the Footpath. The last named is a filthy habit besides being extremely dangerous, lor expectoration, especially from diseased persons, contains germs which arc released once the expectoration is dried and allowed to blow about with the wind. Some action should also be taken with regard to throwing fruit skins on tho footpaths. When the water supply is ready, water can be kept, continually running through the channels which will bo formed, and thus wash away this and other offensive matter.

It would be a great boon if motal discs with the names of tho streets on them were placed at street corners. Th oso can lie neatly placed inside the glass lamps, and are thus easily seen by night, as well os by day. At present if you ask tho way to any street you are given vague directions, whereas the little discs with the names on them would obviate tho trouble. These can bo procured very cheaply, and would be in keeping with the up-to-dateness of the town. Why do men, —gentlemen need not he asked —insist on striking matches on shop and verandah posts? Many a handsome shop front spoilt by this careless habit. It- does seem a shame that smokers haven’t more regard for other people’s property than to persist in wilfully damaging shopfronts, etc. Perhaps smokers will take the hint and carry a box with them. Wanaganui Rugbyites made a big bid last Sat'urady to add another to their long list of victories, by trying to annex tho Ranfurly Shield; but once again Auckland showed her superiority in football, and the Shield still stays in the North. I look forward to tho time when that Shield will come to Gisborne..

There was a general sigh of relief when the Monawai was safely towed into port, and it was indeed a splendid piece of seamanship on the part of the crew of the rescuing vessel. The Union Company are extremely lucky that one of their own vessels found the Monawai as salvage charges come pretty stiff. Tho Frenah aro greatly incensed at their President’s action in not sanctioning capital punishment in a recent case. Personally lam against capital punishment. It is to me a relic of barbarism; an uncalled for lust for blood on the part of those sanctioning it. Put a murderer away where he can commit crime no more. His conscience will punish him. Make him useful, let him work at liis ordinary vocation, and instead of being put to the trouble and expense, of an execution the- State would be ablo

Look Out for OUR FEW SERIAL STORY “A TENDERFOOT’S WOOING.”

to put the man to some practical use. Education is tho only cure for murder. A few years ago hanging was the penalty for those stealing. Now the order has changed, and instead of horse-stealing increasing as was supposed would be the case it -has greatly diminished. Simply because people are becoming better educated.

Tlio doctors are having a pretty busy time just now. the local school being closed owing to measles. I notice that 5 members of a football team succumbed to this disease, which seems to get more serious than most people anticipated. Influenza and other epidemics' are prevalent throughout the colony. By the time these lines appear in print the Hospital Social will be a things of the past. I trust that the result will be a handsome surplus for this very worthy object, and that the Committee meet with the success that their united efforts deserve.

In speaking of a recent court case in Christchurch, the Otago Times says inter alia : “That Justice Chapman intends to place before the Minister of Justice, the statements made by the prisoner as to how he fared at the hands of the money-lenders.” The time bus arrived when the Government should legislate in this matter. Money-lenders exhort exliorbitant fees from their victims. I know of instances where borrowers have been charged one hundred per cent., ami I suppose this is only a trfle as compared with some cases.

Cricket, according to various reports, should have a successful season. The leather and the ash-stick are now laid aside, in favor of the willow, and I look forward to many rising Jessups coming to light. Rowing also will receive a decided impetus hero as well as in other places in tlio colony. The recent win of a New Zealander has stirred many a young man to turn to rowing. Cycling will also have its share in the coming summer, but cyclists are handicapped by tlie want of a suitable training'track, about which I shall have something to say anon.