"Is the childern all well?"
"Yes, they're all middlin' well. Hurry up, Em; I'm in a hurry, and you're takin' wonderful long to count out them two dollars."
"It's only one and a half this week, Jake. Tillie she had to have some new caps, and they come to fifty cents. And I took notice her underclo'es was too thin fur this cold spell, and I wanted her to buy herself a warm petticoat, but she wouldn't take the money."
An angry red dyed the swarthy neck and forehead of the man, as his keen eyes, very like his sister's, only lacking their expression of kindness, flashed from her face to the countenance of his daughter at the dresser.
"What business have you lettin' her buy anything?" he sternly demanded. "You was to give me her wages, and I was to buy her what she couldn't do without. You're not keepin' your bargain!"
"She needed them caps right away. I couldn't wait till Saturday to ast you oncet. And," she boldly added, "you ought to leave her have another fifty cents to buy herself a warm petticoat!"
"Tillie!" commanded her father, "you come here!"
The girl was very white as she obeyed him. But her eyes, as they met his, were not afraid.
"It's easy seen why you're pale! I guess it ain't no pain in your side took from settin' up sewin' fur mom that's made you pale! Now see here," he sternly said, "what did you do somepin like this fur? Spendin' fifty cents without astin' me!"
"I needed the caps," she quietly answered. "And I knew you would not let me buy them if I asked you, father."