Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-05-25
TWO "FEMALE CLERKS"

lew days ago, III one 9t the manl
ea'ing-houses - scme Of them designc
equally for ladies' and gcntlemen-whicl
have sprung up within few years il
Washington, two ''leuale clerks" sat a
one Of the little tables together at dinner
They take their dinners there only, ans
pay half board. Their breakfasts the,
provide for themselves 10 their own rooms
and in that way save trife. a.
One Of the ladies bore marks Of somt
years past her prime but more Of trouble
and habitual anxiety, m{gaa with those o
i'll health and physical pain. Yet, whel
she was animated and caoered, she seem
cd to throw off all these marks, as if they
were mask and her face and manner
surprisingly assumed u youthful appear
ance.
The other lady was older. She mus
have passed 60 years She was settlet
down, in dress and manner, into a self
confessed oldncss, which comported wei
with her gray hair, and the lines, ye
light, Time had craven on her face. He
early physical beauty was strongly attest
ed by what Of it remained. But tht
beauty of character Of her face year,
probably had only perfected. 1t was one
of the sweetest and most cheerful face'
one meets in a lifetime.
A good many clerks Of both sexes has
Just been dismissed; and the demonstra
tions of gri:f on the part of some Of tht
displaced ladies was the subject Of con
versation between the two diners under
notice.
Elder Lady.-Poor creatures! 1t il
plain that they have never been seasoned
to m;sfortunes. How mcrciful it is thai
the more misfortuncs we have, tae more
we can bear, or the better we can beal
them. Ny experience would enable mt
to bear a dismissal with great equanimity
| don't know who can need the the salary
more than do; but | have lived without
it before and | should try to 90 SO once
more.
Younger.-If you wouldn't think it III
trIsive, | would like to ask what expert
cnce you allude to--ghap your experient {
has been. From your cheerful face |
certainly never would have picked you
out as one Of those whose lot has been
cast in the hardest Of places; although
know it is not always safe to judge from
appearances.
Elder.-I am a widow, as you know
My husband was an Episcopal clergymar
aud We lived in - in Connecticut
when he died. Twas left without proper.
ty with daughter and two sons, | took
lcw boarders, and managed TO give my
children an education with the aid Of New
England facilities. My sons grew up tt
he a'mo t young men; anl good boys they
were. My daughter, who was the Oldest
was married, and she and her husband
boarded with me. | had received a let.
ter from my oldest son, telling me that tho
mercantile firm he was cierk with, had
proposed to take him iptopartnership, ans
asking my advice in the matter. | wrote
him that as he was not Of agc yet-hC
lacked more than year Of 2l--l thought
he had better defer it; il was taking toe
much responsibility and care upon him
aud would oyertask him. lie was very
ambitious, and very anxious to get along
and had succeeded remarkably well.
had, also, just then received letter iron
my youngest son, who was also a mcl
chants clerk, proposing to leave his pres
ent employers and find place in -----
so that he could board with me, and save
as much more money in the family as hi
was now obliged to pay others. He wa'
getting along finely, too. He had growl
up to mans height; and he promised t,
be fine man in appearance and in char
acter. | wrote him that | contemplated
moving to Boston, and that when go
there would like to have him come ant
with me /; that | had not worth while tc
come to me before | moved, for so shor
time. These two letters | had givel
to my son-in.law to put in the Post Office
In the course of the day he returned.
asked him if he had dropped the letters
lie replied: "No. | have heard fron
Roberts employers" "ls be dead 7
mo. Here is their letter." One Of hi
employers had written that'my son ha'
suddenly been taken raying crazy, anC
they had been obliged to have him pa
under restraint. lie had injured h:s.brail
by too severe application. | procure'
hia admission into a lunatic asylum. 500
they pronounced him incurablc, and re
questeu tohave him removed, as they di
not keep incurables in that institution.