Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

the play's

nal dimes found their way into the tin box on top of the wardrobe. But it took them all, besid

er leaning wearily on the table. Her face brightened a

e matter?"

out, that's all. It'll be with me like it was with Uncle Ned's ole ox, I reckon; he kep'

you know, Billy," she said suddenly, "I 've got the craziest notion in my

could not have been more amazed, and his countenance exp

ut them show-bills started me to studyin' about

git inside," said Billy, trying t

e. I was there twict, an' it was grand! You orter see the lights an' fixin's, an' all the fine ladies an' their

asked Billy, thrille

y clothes, 'cause it would make him too heavy to stay up there in the air. The band plays all the time

uiet for a while, looking at his mother. Finally he

aimed, "do you think I'd take an' go to a show, when A

nd sometimes he had to put the reins between his knees and shove his hands deep into his pockets to get the stiffness out of them. It really see

does have no fun, an' never gits a thing fer herself." And because Billy knew of his mother's many sacrifices, and because he found

e pulled Cuba into a walk, and sat there absorbing the wonders depicted; among the marvels were crowds of children dressed as butterflies,

e gorgeous show-bills they encountered the amused look of a gentleman who had just come out

indlin'

is mother could only see the show! The last chance seemed slipping away. Suddenl

ole load, if I was to

ed. "Take it out in

, "theayter tickets. D

ardly," he said. "What do you w

ite of the fact that he was still laughing, and

yer gimme fer the load?"

calculation. "You say you h

said

that load was worth

d the boy; "that

and eagerly watched the man behind the little window

the kids," said his friend, as Billy buttoned the

his part of the bargain, but as the ge

ere must I take

you can sell it to-morr

the kindlin', I'll have to give you back the tic

e kindling; haven't

home?" asked Bil

ered the m

kindling was a new one to Billy. But he had no time to dwel

dy you could give

g impatient. "No, no; go

got home, so he made one more effort. "How'd yo

ure of my acquaintance, might object t

; they ain't had no

y, by all means. Tell her it's from Mr. Bob, who i

r the only tin roof in the Cabbage Patch. Su

dress; "here I been thinkin' 'bout it, an' wantin' to go, an' here I am actually gittin' r

vanity, while Mrs. Wiggs carefully ironed out five plaits on each head. Europena was the only one who objected to being a burnt-offering, but when she

s funeral, but I guess she's sent it back by this time. An', Billy-Billy, wait a minute; you be sure to tell 'em we are goin' to the show." Mrs

from behind the chest, an' so

ue alpaca had been sent them in a bundle of old clothes, and though it faile

ically surveying the children; "it won't button

wear

" came in e

he blue alpaca; she knew what anguish her

n' spell an' git to holdin' her breath, an' that'll take up so much time." So she added alou

e waist over the clean apron of the other, she looked at them dubiously. "They do look kinder m

e veil in one hand and a bunch o

"I swapped 'em with Pete fer a top an' a agate. H

in a bottle of water, an' they'll pick up right smart by the time we go. I wisht yo

d two of the holes in his pants were patched and two

white gloves he wore that time he was pallbearer to ole Mr. Bender. Se

' to wear no gloves,

ily remnant-been handed down two generations. What about this here red comforter? It would sorter spruce you up, an' keep you warm,

abroad that the Wiggses were going to a show, many of the neigh

am jes' that skeered of hurtin' Mrs. Eichorn's veil I'm 'fraid to t

he railroad tracks far behind, w

now what we 've gone an' done? We hav

n to cry, and a gloom

ock, an' we'll wait right here fer you." Mrs. Wiggs wrapped Europena in her shawl, and tried

s a-streamin' out the winders on the sno

o frame of mind to appreciate t

the show was dimmed by the present discom

lly'll be back in a little while, an' th

upper!" wail

t time that, in the excitement of prepara

she. "I had jes' 'bout as much idea o

d started once more on the long walk to the Opera House, the entic