Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-08-27


education would enable her daughter tc
earn living hereafter in way more con
genial to her tastes; and she resolved t.
make every effort possible to continue bel
at school. In order to do so, it was necessary
to lind situations for her two boys, ana "a
earn money herself by her needle. With
the aid Of her sewing machine and the boy +
wages, she managed with the strictest
economy to exc out meagre living for them
ALL
! Ii was hard for Annie to see her mother
toiling as she did, early and late. Nothing
but the hope of being able to repay to her
by her own labors, as soon as her school
education should be completed, made her
patiently endure the trial.
aliss Thomas had been poor when Mrs.
Duncan was rich. It was a return for many
fayors that she had insisted upon Annie
sharing the superior advantages her school
afforded.
Helen Prices Indignation increased the
more as she thought of her insulted gentility.
She gave expression to it that evening.
when telling her mother of the poor new
pupil
Is it possible, asked Mrs. Price, that
Miss Thomas has done such an improper
thing? Well, if she is going to teach the
plebian classes, | shall certainly send you
where your associations will be of more
aristocratic kind We may be sorry for the
poor; bu it is not proper that we should
show our sympathy by associating with
them We must not endanger our social
position by doing so. What would the
Mortimores and Ashburtons say if they
knew of this =
Nonsense = was Mr.. Price exclamation.
that night, after hearing the news which
his wife had intended should shock him as
it had herself What harm is that going
to do to Helen? The child has too many
absurd notions. She must be told of her
origin, to bring little common sense into
her head This young lady may have been
the daughter of rich man. You surely
have lived in New York long enough to
know that fortunes are often made and lost
in day; and that some Of the handsomest
houses Of the city are occupied by the most
vulgar people-snobs and upstairs. Per
haps this pleJiaa, as you call her. is as
worthy as we considered ourselves when we
belonged to the same class.
Mr.. Price how horrible you are, ex-
claimed his wife How can you ever alluele
to such an unpleasant subject? | would not
for the world have you destroy Helen's
happiness by telling her anything of our
early life. l have always carefully kept it
from her.
Well, now, have been of the opinion
for long time that it would do Miss Helen
good to know that I was poor mechanic
aud you a tailoress in our young days. |
see no reason why / should be ashamed OF
the fact; and ifyou are, the sooner you get
rid Of such. ridiculous folly the better. For
L can assure you that one more venture like
that | have lately made will speedily reduce
US to our former condition.
Mrs Price began to weep. How can
you be so cruel? 'Tis very hard, after all
my struggles for gentility, cutting ola
friends, and just getting settled up town,
and firmly established in the most refined
and elegant circles, to be twitted about for
mer poverty, and threatened with coming
disgrace
An account Of Miss Thomas shocking dis.
regard for the patrician sensibilities of her
pupils was also given that evening by Julia
Monroe to her mother, with liberal use of
such adjeetives as vulgar, 'dowdy, and
low born
I am mortified, my daughter, to hear
such expressions from your lips, replied
Mrs. Monroe, after listening patiently to
J ala s excited account When will Jon
learn that true gentiHty is not in the purse,
but in the mind and heart? IF these are the
notions you are getting from your present
companions, l shall regret that I ever sent
you to Miss Thomas school have told
you many times that nothing in this country
is more uncertain than wealth. 4 family
may be in one generation rich in the next,
poor recall at this moment the misfor-
tunes of very dear friend of your father
and mine Ifit had not been for the kind
ness of her father, your parents would have
lost all the wealth they inherited, and would
now be among the class you so wickedly
deeDisn Annie Duncan was
Why, that is the name of this girl, IN
terrupted Julia
May it not be possible, asked Mrs Mon
roe, turning to her husband, who had put
down bis paper at the mention of the name,
that is our old friend. whom we lost sight
of when we were in Europe p
/ hope it may be-, he replied. We
must look into the matter Immediately, Ju-
liza and, if it should be the daughter of my
old friend and benefactor, she must not be
poor any longer. Money will never repay
the debt / owe Mr. Rallston and shall be
most happy to be able to make some return
to his daughter. Poor Annie Reared in
luxury, beautiful, graceful, truly accom-
plished and good as she was, she mus; not
want for means while we have abundance.
Annie Duncan a seamstress Comit be pos
sible Her marriage was very unfortunate.
l heard of her miserable husband death
and, when / went to see her in her former
elegant home, l found that the house and
furniture had passed into the hands of cred
itors, and that she had disappeared, no one
could tell me where
I will get her address in the morning
from Miss Thomas, SAID Mrs Monroe, and
drive around with some sewing. Ii it
proves to be stranger, that will afford an
excuse for calling. am really very impa-
tient to know all about it,
Julia listened to this conversation with
:, ,n,,ttor,b bIo dis,n NJ Gbo hoY,ad fba snonr