Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-05-05
A Story of a Girls Life.

Will you let me tell you little stor
to illustrate the whole matter? Som
time ago | was going home one nigh
just as the shades were closing round
commenced to rain, and | saw walkin.
before me beautifully dressed woman
unsheltered. | went up TO her and said
MADAM, will you have part of my um-
brella, will you walk with me up th'
street p She'looked at me, and shak inI
her head slowly, said, II don't think yol
know what you are saying" "Oh, yes,
| responded, 81 say will you walk up th'
street with me under my umbrella ?
She said again, II don't think you know
what you are saying. You don't know
who am" Still said "that makes nt
difference, | don't care whether you know
me or not shall we 90 up the street to.
gether p mo" said she, II don't think
you would care TO have anybody who
knows you meet you walking up the
street with such woman as me ~ and
turned, looking into her face rs the gas
light struck across it, saw there the
traces of life that always leaves its
traces; knowing that the young and
beautiful woman standing beside me was
one upon whom society had branded ''out-
cast and abandoned" and | said "no
matter, we will 60 on together" And
as we walked said to her, What could
have brought you to such life; you
are young, you are very pretty, you look
well; what could have brought you to
such lfe." She told me her story !;
and |, questioning thereafter, found that
the story was strictly true.
She was the daughter of a clergyman
in West Pennsylvania, who had died.
leaving his widow and herself unprovid
ed for. The girl tried TO find something
to do. 1t was the common story repeat
ed She tried to stand behind the coun-
ter, but they preferred young men she
trIed TO Keep school, but there was only
one in the village, and that had It's teach
er; she tried to sew, but could not find
the work there to support herself and
mother by it; and so they found their
way to the great bustling city in pursuit
Of work. She tried to keep school there,
but could not obtain an appointment.-I
She tried TO get into a store, but was
told that she must first serve six months
rs an apprentice, without pay. She was
not so completely learned in her accom~
plishments as TO teach them. She was
driven TO the slop-sbop, making her mis-
erable pittance by sewing. On Saturday
'"N 'NOH hCi WIN ~ uCi SuIplogcI anu
asked for her pay. He looked at it, and
earing it apart and finging it back TO
her told her TO do it over again. She
carried it back, and the next week bring
ing it home received no pay, but was told
to carry it back again, and so for FIVE
weeks she received no money. She had
sold or pawned everything she had for
bread, that she could live and have a
title fire, beside which she might work
and she stood before her employer with !
,lasped hands and tears trickling over
ler face, begging for the money she had |
'ightfully earned, and it was still with
leld from her, and then this man said to
ler:
"You are young and beautiful, you
reed not labor for such price as this,
you might get plenty of money if you
would" She did, mother, what your
laughter would have done, she left the
tore indignant and outraged, and wan
lered up and down that city hour after
lour, and went up one street and down
into store after store, pleading
or work and some kind hearted people
aid to her,-"We would give you work
we could, but we have hundreds such
publications. every day !" or perchance.
hey would ask from her a certificate
rom her last employer, and she had
one to show others turned away care
essly, and others insulted and outraged
er as her old employer had done; and
0, she said, at ten o'clock that Saturda,
light she found herself standing withou,
'ork, without money, in front of her old
ore. There she stood in the night and
he storm, and the cold there she stood
he gloom gathering around her, the wind ,
irving the rain in gusts into her face,
nd through her torn garments. OH
ne said, do not think besitated them
he looked up this street, dark with the ,
light and tempest, up narrow alleys, and
up winding flights of stairs,
ito a little garretroom, all poor and )
npty, into the fre-place--no fire there
mot stick of wood--not a cent to buy