Three Little Women's Success: A Story for Girls

pness told upon poor old Charles, and more than one day found him a fast prisoner in the "baid," which, in spite of Mammy

m, the climax was reached, and when Charles reached his little cabin at nightfall he was "cl'ar beat out an' read

er life. "No matter how I is ter argify wid him, he just natcherly boun' ter go 'long ter dat Arcyde yistiddy, an' now see what done come of it! Gawd bress ma soul, I recko

d sit with him while you look after your cooking; it's t

l have two sick folks on my han's 'stid o' one. Now, see he

? How foolish," protested Mrs. Carruth. "Your luncheon counter cannot be neglected,

r head and wrapped a long, heavy cloak about h

tep of the way. As they opened the door leading to the back porch they were assailed by a gust of w

st the gale which swept around the corner of the porch. But slight as she was, Mrs. Carruth was not to be overborne. For a moment she laid hold of the porch railing to steady herself, then with a firm h

lizzard a half hour was more than enough to set man's work at naught, and Mrs. Carruth and Mammy had to floun

all gwine be froz daid 'fore we kin draw our brefs. Come in de house, Miss Jinny, come in," and, half dragging, half carrying her mistress, Mammy led her into the cabin whe

was barely two hundred feet from the house, it had required all the strength sh

so terrible," she panted. "I'

r git yo' back ter de house is mo'n I kin tell," deplored Mammy, as she hastil

'count Mirandy, get me some hot water, an' den hike upstairs fo' de bottle ob alcohol, yo' hyer me!" stormed Mammy, relieved t

lly. I shall be as dry as a bone in jus

lways kept in it. It was deserted this morning, for Mary and Fanny had gone home on the previous, Saturday afternoon, and the storm had made it impossible for them to return. A large supply of candy had been sent to the Arcade on Saturday morning; so even if customers were courageous enough to face th

ts of work, while Jean, school impossible in such we

y plight, and saw at once that poor old Charles was in a more serious condition than Mammy r

ated herself near him. "Mammy will never forgive either of

of pain to move, but he tried t

n' when she say don't, we better don't, dat's suah. An' jes' look at me! Hyar I layin' lak I tied han' an' foot, an' de bis'ness

After considerable delay she got Mr. Porter and told him the situation. He was all interest, and begged her to tell Charles that if necessary he himself would mount guard over the lun

ome at once, Hadyn? The storm grows worse every moment, I believe, a

me, too. Don't worry, little mother. I'll be

ht, and you must not try to drive here in this

se storms than this," was the laughing answer. "Who is loo

ck this evening. We lack nothing, and we don't want you un

the weight of ice and snow and the force of wind wrenching at them. Mrs. Carruth tried again and again to get the connection, but all to

nd during Mammy's absence from the room Mrs

t dangerous, as it has settled in his limbs; but I don't like this temperature and breathing. Yet I dare say, if I use a stethoscope, he will think he is a dead man already. These colore

ou do not know the ante

post-bellum, I can tell you, and

xamine Charles?"

attend him; but I came near being mobbed the last time I tried to use a stethoscope on

oughly as if he were treating me. There is nothing to alarm you; but we cannot tre

me?" asked Charles, h

d heart to see if they

e wide open?" c

he did. "Luty, Luty, dat man gwine pro

indicated: "I told you so." Perhaps it was the shrug-Mammy wasn't slow to grasp a situation-but more likely it

shes yo' fer ter do what yo' an' ma Miss J

. Carruth, who had followed him downstairs, while Mammy

eumatic twinges-hard to bear, but not alarming; but I don't like the other symptoms. He

us, and nothing we can do for him or Mammy can ever repay thei

nt in Glendale at any moment, and with this storm--" And the

Then Mrs. Carruth paused in dism

less than an hour since, and you may not

th, fervently, and, bidding the doct

er luncheon, and afterward to lie down. Perhaps she would not have been so ready to comply with the old woman's wishes had she not resolved upon a course which she felt sure Mammy would combat with al

sake, wha' brung you chillun out hyer? Ain' yo' Ma an' me got 'nough fer ter pester us wid dat sick man up da

the house and let me take her place with Charles. I am so strong

ow I am," broke in Jean. "P

ke a wild flight into the wilder weather outside, and he

come an' tal