The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-05-08
OUR FIRST LODGERS.

young women in respectable sphere of
life, when left unprovidcd for by the death
Of parents, require more sympathy than
any other class. 1t may be they have a
little money: it is to be hoped that daught.
ers, so left, generally have. This they pro.
ceed TO embark in various ways, according
TO their capacities, and the notions they
have imbibcd in their station of society.
Some try to establish a school; some sink
:heir capital in setting up husiness-a
Berlin woolshop, sta'ioner's aud library,
or the like; some put their little bi, of
money out, and rely on the interest for
clothes, whilst they seek TO go out as nur.
sery governess or companion And thus,
in various ways, NIL try 10 obtain an honest
livelihood. But let the reader be very sure
that there are few Of these unprotected wo-
men but have crushing weight of struggle
AMI sorrow. Anxious perpl-xity. pinchimc
want, cartbreakiny care, these are often
their: and for many there is no turn, no
worldly rest, ill they tiui it in the grave.
can feel for them. fIr did not, for sew
eral years, anl my sister, struggle on.
fighting our way with disappointment and
non success? Yet we never were SO badly
off rs many. and in time God saw fit 10
crown our efforts with plenty. Ii was in
1886, and was about thirty-one, that we
bad to turn our attention TO getting our
own living. Part of our mothers income
had led with her, and all we had was $500
each. And that is more than falls to many
orphans. One sister, much younger than
ourselves, had married medical gentle.
man, and gone to settle ih a distant larr
n n Il 4 I
IN our minds what we should turn TO. A
ladies' boardins.'chool appeared to us the
most congeninl. and We were, | think,
though I'm sure ! say il in all modcs,y,
more suitable for the charge than are some
who undertake it. My learning WAS but
little, and of the plaincst sort, but | was (I
hope) kind, just, and con n,iderate of calm,
steady character and manners Lucy was
merrier than |, aud she excclled in grand
learning. such us astronomy, the Use OF the
globes, elegant composition, with music,
and other accomplishments, suitable TO
teach TO little gen,lewomen. We both Eel,
that we had the qualifications aud the will
essential to do our full duty to those chill
dren who might be conflcd to our care:
SO we determined OH our plan.
The first step WAS To find suitablchous
and neighborhood. We had hitherto, nj
least for the last many years, lived in tie
country, where there was no scope for such
an undertaking, and several friends ad-
vised us TO turn our thoughts TO the vicimi-
ty OF London, which we did. But the trou-
bic we had! though tile metropolis
abounds in suburbs. Some we found over
stocked with schools, some localities wee
not deemed highly healthy, and some had
no suitable house that we could rent. We
did nix ourselves, at last, after spending IA
purse Of money over those whrlng omni-
buses. will not name the exact situation,
for we are IN the same house still, and do
not care that all the world should read
these struggles, and know that they apply
10 us. 1t was capital house, large and
convenient; enclosed from the high road by
wall, with pretty garden in front and a
playground behind. We paid $50 year
for iL--a rent that frightened us; and If it
looked formidable in perspective, what was
1t when 1t came near! lean safely say tina,
quarter-day for many years never drew
near but 1t brought to us Notwithstanding.
And there were the taxes in addition. AZ
ter taking the house, :he next step WAS to
furnish it. We had most of the furniture
from our old home, but it was the worse
for wear, and the little which had filed a
small house was lost in one large one. SO
we bought new for the drawing room, and
for the chi!dsen's bedroom that was 20 be.
with desks and forms for the school room
disposing the old about the house rs we
pest could; and occasionally buying. as time
went on, some next to Indispensable articla
rs we thought we could spare the money.
OF course we had sent out cards and oI
yertise1, and then we sat down in our
house and waited for pupils. The first
quarter we received some demands for cir
culars, but nothing came of it: the next we
had three day scholars, two sisters and ano-
ther. then took the resolution to call at
the principal houses in the neighborhood
and urge our hope of their patronage.
Whether they liked my appearance | do
not know, but soon after that we had elev-
en- day-sholars and FIVE boarders, so we
thought success was coming all at once,
and believe we had certain visions of re.
nring with fortune. But the years went
on, and we found success was not so GER
tain.
IL could not be strictly said we did not
succeed; but we did not succeed sufficiently
TO pay our expenses and live, and our little
stock OF capital was often drawn upon.
And that heavy remit Our numbers flnc.
tuated much; one half year we would have
large school, the next il would be a small
one Many an anxious conversation did
and Lucy have; many an hour Of more
Hni'ous 'nought, may Sleepless night. To
sink into debt and difficulty: 10 snenJ ,ba