The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-12
written COR the ADVOCATE
A Glimpse Of Real Lifes



Such bright, CHEEKY room, with q. pretty
carpet on the tloor, neat pictures on the
wall, geraniums on the windows, and lively
canary singing golden songs from its perch
and two bright, pleasant looking girls, who
gave the last finishing home-touch by their
presence People called the Ray girls PROUD
but if being neat in all their appointments,
perfect in taste, and particular in associates
constitutes such pride, the more one has OF
it the better.
Annie Ray was busy at her tnachine-her
very own, being bought and paid for out Of
her own earnings-and piles Of finished and
unfinished work lay beside her, vet she did
not have the appearance Of being over.
worked. She did her work well, finishing
it in the minutest part with careful atten-
ton. She dictated her own terms, and they
were inst to herself and her employer, and
she never worked evenings. There was
nothing that could induce her to touch sew.
ing after dark, snd in that way she pre-
served her health and never slghted heI
work from being Overtasked, mind and body
Although they were orphans, the sisters had
ludicious friends, and the hours which many
young girls spent at the theatre or in idle
company they improved by social eommuni-
cation or in good and useful reading, thus
pI pairing themselves for any station Of life
into which they might BE called.
Another feature IN the characters OF An.
ME and Marian Ray | must notice here
They dressed plainly. do not mean thai
they wore scrimp or poor clothes, but they
did not dress IN silk and try to initiate
shoddy aristocracy or moneyest show
They lad plenty Of warm, comfortable
clothes, that would wear and wash; neat
lady-like dresses, that neither attracted nor
repelled attention, and bonnets that were
modest and sensible. They did ~; wear
long ribbons dangling over their shoulders
to show that they were in the market, noI
interminable strings Of beads, that re rre-
sented so much money thrown away, mol
filagree charms'or other useless and expen-
sive things Their gloves were Of the besl
kid, and they wore them year for Sunday
best, but they were neither yellow nor pale
lavender, to look soiled and creased with
three wearings. So prettily and modestly
did they dress, that always in their Out-of.
door lives they met with the Difference which
true ladyhood must ever command, but
which cannot be exacted by loud tones OF
consequential airs, or gaudily flashing dress
As | said, on that morning Annie sat al
the machine, while Marian busted herself in
attending to the housekeeping departm ent in
the next rooII. Hitherto they had cooked
their meals on the landlady's range in the
kitchen, and Annie, who was the eldest, had
attended to them wholly herself, but now
they had another room, in which they pro-
posed to practise the culinary art, and Ma
rian was to take turns at it, She was lit
tie fastidous, and would have preferred such
bread and pastry as they could buy to food
cooked by herself, but Annie deemed il q
more economical and healthy way to eat
what tbeir own hands bad prepared. A tiny
cooking stove was put up, recess in the
wall filled with ready wood, and the little
stock Of utensils they needed ranged around.
They were going to celebrate the day by get
ting what Marian called big dinner--a par
Of baked chickens, with vegetables, and a
boiled pudding, and Annie nominated Mari
an for cook.
You will want to be a housekeeper some
day." she said, "and may as well learn
now"
:" am going to marry a gentleman" said
Marian laughing, "then will not need to
know"
"I hope you nil marry gentleman" /"
Annie replied quietly, but he may need q
wife who il housekeeper for all that"
"Oh, mean a rich man, who can afford
to keep me without working, ut least hard
work, said Marian.
Charlie Westmore pPrhaps" guessed
Annie "Well, he is rich, but what money
will ever make a man of him, IT give him
a single idea beyond the one that his intol.
cradle, egotistical self is Of more Importance
than any one else.
You are severe, Annie. may marry
Charley WestmOre, though have not told
him so, but it would not be entirely for his
money you know. can be happy
without that But think he loves
me, and would surround me with everything
if were his wife, that could make me
happy"
"He cannot give everything, Marian. You
do not expect all enjoyment In this world,
and you do not want a man for q husband
who would make you ashamed of him. You
want to live free, energetic life, with some
thing real and practical about it, and not be
the doll Of an idle fop, who would fail you in
the first hour Of need"
But he loves me, ANNIE" answered Ma
rian. $50 does John Nyner, and he is a
man, and q gentleman, too, and is not de-
pendent on bis father Tor either money or
brains. He is peer a.nong mechanics, as
he is among his fellows everywhere.n
a sudden fame shot into Marian's face.
John Myner," she said testify, "what
does he care for mef'
Enough to ask you 10 marry him, and |
think the woman whom he chooses for A
wife may eonside. ed herself honored. He is
one Of your selfmade men, ambitious to
win distinction TIN ough legitimate means.
His country may one day be proud of him.
as she is now Of such men in the asgre-
gate"
And now to business" said Marian.
rolling up the sleeves from her white, round
arm, and tying on q checked apron.
" What did ven say was the receinf fnr that