The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-10-31
Heroism in Domestic Life.

l heard a touching story OF
a young girl, the daughter OF
an eminent physician, ,who,upon
the death of her father, was
obliged to support her mother
and herself. She undertook to
manage a kindergarten school,
and established her mother in
a neat ard comfortable home.
She herself took apartments
in another section of the city.
An intimate friend Of hers
grew anxious to know how she
was living. On card she had
her address, a good street, a
good house, in a respectable
locality, but five miles away.
"Caroline tells me she gets
along nicely" her old mother
had said 20 this friend; Sand
she must, for you know that is
very fine port Of London
where she is"
So Caroline was sought out
81 found the house." said the
friend who related the story.
sit was a very imposing man.
sion, five stories high, and in
good repair. A servant came
to the door, we'll dressed, but
smiled when | asked for Caro-
line"
"She was not in, would be
in soon."
| told her was an old friend,
and would wait. She smiled
again.
"Would I care about going
mp so high? 1t was over the
children's nursery"
Il said | would not mind;
but | confess | was weary long
before | arrived at the fifth
floor. There | was ushered
into-scarcely know how to
call it a room; il was more like
a closet. Only in the centre
could one stand upright. 1t
was the garrett. No carpet
covered the floor, which was
scrupulously clean. A little
trundle bed stood in one cor
ner, covered with a coarse
white linen sheet, instead of a
counterpane. Under a calico
curtain hung her scanty ward
robe two black drcsece. One
chair, a little pine table, a bit
of cupboard in one corner
these was all that were visible,
with the exception of a small
bathing tub in one end of the
poor little garret.
Trembling at my own i'm
pertinence, | opened the cup
board. One cup and saucer, a
snoon a knife, and fork, a loaf
of bread. The teas rushed to
my eyes. She, who had lived
in comparative luxury, to be
reduced to this!
"No sooner had | made my
observations than Coroline
came in. shall never forget
her look as she saw ME, not Of
pride, but astonishuent.
81 thought l had so COM
pletely bured myself that no.
body would find me" she cried
"How kind you are"
"My dear girl, YOU could
surely live better than this"
l exclaimed. |
"But not cheaper" was her
reply. My expenses are next
to nothing, you must know, and
mamma could not live as she
does if l allowed myself lux,
uries. She is vey old, and
must not want tie comforts
she has been accustomed to.
Besides, | have everything
really need. My bread and
water are sure, and [ am
healthy. If you box out you
will sec the swallows nest just
under my window | feed the
pretty brides every day, and
/ belive they knew me. My
books and my pap,rs are pleas
ant companions; | am sur
rounded with a Iurer atmos-
phere; l have n, neighbors
opposite to watci me, and |
want you to beliGe that | am
very happy; an( if you see
mamma tell he, also, that
Carrie is as comfortable as
possible"
"But, my child do you re-
gret the past!"
What good whld that DO
me9 Regrets are as useless as
dreams. Of coure, if | could
have poor papa lack again
her lip trembled , little. She
ram to the chest, fted her LOAF,
and laughingly sked me If 1
was hungry"
"Pray don't iIagine that |
want for anything" she added
merrily, 81 havta little store
of figs, and nuts and raislns,
that eat for n esert; one or
two of the servats are very