Little Fishers: and their Nets

nd there were lights of glass out of the windows, and a general air of discomfort prevailed. I

y had left their work to come and stare at the new comer out of ast

hildren, and spoke in a gentle winning voice:

tively on her lip, and her bright eyes star

tell me what

or several seconds, then she thought b

, though by this time carrying a ve

ll you?"

ellow head was shaken vio

with their dresses half torn from them, and dirtier than any dresses that this trim little maiden had ever seen before, "this really cannot be the place! and ye

e in her dirty hands, and stepped back behi

e said, "and yo

said quickly, "Then you must be Susie

eping at her from neighbors' windows. She stepped quickly inside the half-open door, into the kitchen where that breakfast-table still stood, with the flies so thick around the mola

up for her rights and protect the little sister who still tried to hide behind her. I think it was well they wer

wful home-coming to her. So different

y Nettie Decker. A trim little figure in a brown and white gingham dress, a brown straw hat trimmed with broad bands and ends of satin ribbon, with brown gloves on her hands, and

n, and nowhere to go. Where could father be? Why had he not stayed at home to welcome his little girl?

t to get into their confidence. She bent toward Susie, smiling as brightly as she could, and said: "Didn't you kno

g again; and if it could be possible for people to have nice times who lived in such a house as this. But Susie was in no s

She had forgotten that she ever used to hear it; she remembered her father as having called her 'Nannie'; that woul

e than that, she wondered. Did it mean that her step-mother hated her, and had taught the children to do so? She swallowed at the l

come home to live, and to help you!" She did not feel like saying

her then! "No," she s

nie did not believe that she could. Still, she must make the best of it, and she began slo

faltered a little over that word; "maybe you can show me w

e poor little stranger seemed to be trying first one form

last to do someth

wouldn't say anything to us. There ain't no room only this and that," nodding her head toward the bedroom door, "and the room over the shed

dreadful story was this! If there was really a sick mother, why was not the father bending over her, and the house hushed and darkened

nd get on the cars and go to her own dear home. To be sure she knew that her father was poor; what of that? so were the Marshalls; she had heard Mrs. Marshall say many a time t

stayed, because it would be wrong to go. Her father had sent for her, had said that they wanted her, needed her, and her father certainly had a right to her; and she had come away with a full heart, and a firm resolve to be as good

ntly she crossed on tiptoe to the bedroom door which was partly open and pee

on it. How could she help being sick if she had to sleep in such a place as that? Poor Nettie Decker! She stood and looked,

y that, for years and years afterwards, it seemed to her that she grew suddenly, that afternoon, from a happy-hearted little girl of thirteen, into a care-taking, so

, and I ought to be here if he wants me; and she is my mother; and if it i

the door softly and went

out the door need not have it to wonder at any longer. Putting all her strength to it she drew it in and shut the door. By this time, Sate, who was gett

an find you something to eat. Did she really have no dinner, S

hall cry, if she wants to; you can't stop her; and y

d as she said she would, immediately set up such a

denly she plunged her hand into the depths of a small travelling bag which still hung on her arm, and brought forth a lovely red-cheeked p

as though they had been wound up

hem, it seems," she said, and brought out another peach. "Now you are to sit

peaches were not to be trifled with. Their mouths had watered for a taste ever since t

in the shed brought one to light. And then there was such a cloud of dust as the Decker kitchen had not seen in a long time. Then came a visit to the back yard in search of chips; both children following close at her heels, saying nothing, but watching every movement with wide-open wondering eyes.

last a rag so black and ill-smelling that without giving the matter much thought she

n up my mother's things. My moth

ome of fine lawn, lying cosily together; but Nettie was not searching for such as these. Quite at the bottom of the trunk was a pile of towels, all neatly hemmed and marked. Two of these she selected; looked thoughtfully at one of them for a moment, and then with a grave shake of her head, got out her scissors and snipped it in tw

e cloth escaped without very serious injury; and in less time than it takes me to tell it, the water was getting itself into bubbles over the stove, and a tin pan was being cleaned, ready for the dishes.

you could have seen how few there were! Nettie was very much astonished. She wondered how people could get supper with

resting on those shelves. There was no help for it; they must be scrubbed, though she had not intended to begin housecleaning the first afternoon. More water and more soap, and

ldren, when at last the dishes were neatly ar

at said she had not yet decided w

r?" she asked, after a

I are going to clear up the house and make it

me home to

must show me how to help her; poor sick m

rprising but simply a settled fact; "she cried every day: not out lo

cheeks, and her eyes had a flash of wonder, and terror, and anger in them. What did it all mean? Wher

must not talk so." But this made th

please, and you sha'n't stop me." And then the queer little mim

le gray kitty with three white feet, and a white spot on one ear, and it had a blue

g that it was more gray than black; but she kept her thoughts to herself, and Susie went on. "And it should have a red ribbon arou

an the dress b

would need a saucer of milk quite often, and bits of var

ys it; Sate, she often cries for milk, but she don't get none. It do

as sure that the house did not look like this when she went away; and her clothes had been neat and good. She had the little red dress now which she wore away. She thought of it when Susie was talking, and wondered if with a little fixing it could not be made to fit the black-eyed child who seemed to admire red so much. Finding the kitty a troublesome subject, at least so far as the

r let anybody hurt her. I would scratch th

little Sate said, her v

t is when you are bad and need it;

hink yours would. And Pet's hair was a pretty brown, like Sate's, and looked very pretty. It was combed so neatly. One w

esses," said Susie; "I

at the red dress shou

r could make it. Now if those children would only let her wash their faces and put t

how the idea happen