Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-08-07
w A N T E D, A HO M E
BY PAULINE.

terday's papers, you might have noticed the fol-
lowing:
Wanted, a home for very nice little girl.
with a lady, where she would he instructed in
her book and sewing. She will be found perfect
ly useful, and she is an excellent little girl and
of decent parents. Please call at 375 = street,
fourth floor."
Those who have TO occasion for the services Of
such a little giri need not accompany me to the
place in person. They have but to travel in
mind to 375 - street, and ascending the four
weary flight of stairs, they will find themselves
in a room forlorn enough, but scrupulousy neat.
Bare of furniture, to be sure, and of everything
in fact that goes to make comfortable home, but
even in its desolate condition are the evident
marks of gentle and refined mind
And by the one dormer window sits the moth
er, the presiding genius of this meagre abode
Pale and wasted to shadow is she, and clad in
the scanty, faded garb of poverty; but about her,
as about her room, reigns that unmistakeabe air
of which speaks the lady-not the conventional
creature of fashionable life, all ounces feathers,
and folly, with a heart as hollow as her own
empty cologne bottle, but the lady born, one of
natures gentlewomen.
Patiently has she struggled with the little ones
left her, the offspring of the stout young laborer
who won her true affections, who, after scraping
together comfortable little home, was suddenly
struck down by fatal fever, leaving her to the
mercies of hard world with four helpless young
things to provide for. Through all has she work
ed, and clothed and fed them as best she
might, until the 'hard times" of last winter and
the gradually INCREASING hard times of the pres
ent summer have driven her up into the desoate
garret.
One by one Of her pieces Of furniture, relics Of
her happy home, when the mechanic father of
her babies alive, obliged to go, and still
she could not make any headway against the cruel
pressure of no money and no work which bore SO
badly against her. Two of the little ones, Katie
and Jimmie, the next to the eldest and the next
to the youngest, have fallen the victims to disease
consequent upon insufficient diet and impure air.
a richly dressed lady, all satin and jewelry,
has mounted the long stairway, and putting and
painting, sits down in the only chair IN the room
to ask the anxious mother a few questions con-
cern;ng the ''nice little girl" The questions arc
hard and abrupt. The lady objects to her name,
Isabel is not proper name for a servant girl.
"She was named when we had plenty around
US. and when we did not dream of her having
ever to 60 out to service,'' replies the signing
mother.
The lady objects to the paleness and thinpeSs
of the little girl.
"She will pick up and grow stout as soon as
she has proper food and enough of it, patiently
responded the mother.
The lady objects to the age Of the little girl.
The mother sighs for an answer.
But at length, the lady concludes upon taking
her, is unwilling, however, to pay anything for
tie services of SO small a girl, although she is
willing to hear her read and spell " once in a
wldle'' and at the same time assuring her that
:. she shall be kept steadily enough at her nee
dle''
1t will not do. The mother pleads for ever so
not part with her Isy unless she can get a few
shiingS week for her services.
The stout lady goes off in pet, muttering about
the insoence of 80 them that hasn't rag to their
backs"
The bundle of satin, selfshness and lace has nc
sooner gone than her presence is supplied by a
plainly dressed Quaker lady, whose mild, serene
countenance expresses nothing but love ard hu-
man charity.
This visit proves a true GOd-send to the needy
widow. The wanted home is found. The lit
tie Isabel's pale cheeks will soon bloom out with
the roses of health. The weary mother will find
work enough to do at fair price to keep hersel
and 90 baby" The I" book" will be taught to the
Young Isabel. and wholesome precept and exampt
taught with it. Let us bless God there is still
some good left in the world, and let us pray that
,nany more like the benevolent Quaker lady may
be raised up to comfort the down-trodden and
| needy.