The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-01
tFrom the Sunday Magazine.
LAURA RICHMOND.
BY JEAN
CHAPTER III.

many years. She had one daughter
who lived with her; and they were ex-
tremely poor, partly because this
daughter could not go out cooking, as
had been her former occupation. She
was a very good cook, and had been
accustomed to go roundto the houses
in the neighborhood, and help the
servants on occasions of dinner par
ties, or of company in the house.
But [ cannot do that now" she
| once said to Laura, mot even in the
summer, for L dare not leave mother
for a whole day. 1t is a great loss, for
| used to sleep at home, and [ was Of
ten out four or five days running, for
weeks. But now my nearest neighbor
is dead. You know she lived at the
cottage just a quarter Of a mile off;
now she is dead, at home | must stay,
for there is nobody that can come in
and look after mother as she did.
No, not for love or yet for money"
How often should some one look
in upon your mother in the course of
the day?" asked Laura.
why, miss, early in the morning L
used to give her a good breakfast, and
start off by six to my place, leaving a
good lump of coal on the fire. We're
80 neal the pit, that, thank God, we
don't want for cheap fuel. and that's a
| great thing; for where | came from,
coal was dear and small. Well. miss,
then about eleven, you know, dinner
time, my neighbor came in, broke up
the coal, and maybe fried a bit of ba-
con or broke two or three e for [
could afford a good dinner for mother
when | was in work-perhaps she
boiled her some potatoes, too, or a
cabbage, if mother had a mind to it,
and then, miss, what with propping
her up and feeding her, and making
up the fire again, very near an hour
was gone, for mother has no notion of
being hurried over her meals when she
likes them. Well, then she went
away and came again about four and
boiled the kettle for her tea, and made
her her toast and dripping-and then
got her into her chair to have it, and
made her bed for her, and settled her
comfortably; that was not done either
much under an hour. After that she
did very well till | came home. My
poor neighbours death is a great loss
to me surely"
Il will be the old woman's neigh
bor," thought Laura; but she said
nothing till she got home, and then
she unfolded her plan to her mother,
and in the presence of her sisters.
The mother was silent, Josephine was
much vexed, but Harriet was enthusi-
astic. Dear Laura" she exclaimed.
what a delightful idea; it is ju t the
sort of thing hat [ should like to help
you in! | like nice clean poor people,
and these Fairdews are always so de-
lightfully clean, their little window so
bright, and besides, the mother is
such a picturesque-looking old crea-
ture." E.iL.. ~
These would be rather mental oc-
equations for Laura, said Josephine;
for she never counted for a moment on
any real help from Harriet.
oh, but she would not be obliged
to do them" said Harriet; ''of course
It would be very disagreeable to have
to make ones own bed; but this sort
of thing-Oh, [ declare it is quite ro-,
mantle" :
Il should have some occupation"
said Laura to Josephine; and this is
the only one hat I can think Of"
Why should you?" asked jose
phine.
Why? You know very well that
we all think we ought o to live en-
tirely for ourselves. We all say that
we wish to look up to u Redeemer
as an example"
L think you are rushing into this
without much thought" answered Jo-
sephine:
My dear said her mother, you
must consider what a tie such an oc-
cupation would be to you. Goody
Fairdew may live fol years"
Yes, mother; but the hours would
not interfere with yours. She scarcely
lives a quarter of a mile from US; [
could walk back after her dinner. and
be in more than time for our luncheon.
1t would be just the same in the after
noon, | should be home before the
time to dress for dinner"
1T would interfere with all the pic
mics and archery parties said Louisa.
You must remember that these
only come in the summer answered
Laura, and then the daughter is sell
dom out more than three days IN the
week"
And the other three?" asked Har-
riet, apprehensively. Il don't think I
should consider it right, Laura, to
give up society, happy As / should be
to help at other times"
The other three said Laura, ''of-
ten so by without any engagement Of
that sort. Ifone did come in the way,
ofcourse should give it up. Mamma,
| wish you would speak
My dear answered the mother,
Il only hesitate on accoun Of the
weather; for you might be obliged to
% way every day"