The Portland daily press., 1870-04-23


cry over their troubles in books, but when we
have the real thing before us, we think it is
undressing and disagreeable."
It's tne genius that gets into the books,
wn,cn makes us feel the poverty fancy. But
cont quite agree with you that the real
thlng isn't interesting. l think it would De II
we knew how to look at and feel IL, sau
Polly, very quietly as she pushed her ch mar
out of the arctic circle OF MISS TerhihS' ih'o
the temnerate one of friendly Emma.
"But how shall we learn that? don't see
what we oirls can do, more than We do now.
We haven't much money for such things,
shouldn't know how to use it il we had; and
it ISN'T proper tor us t. go poking into DIRTY
places to hunt up the needy. Gong ABOUT
doing good in pony pbaeton, as someoody
says, may succeed in England, but 1t wont
work here" said Fanny, who had begun late
" 10 think a good deal of some one beside
herself and so found her interest in her fel-
low beings increasing daily.
"We can't do much, perhaps, just yet but
still there are things lett undone that natur-
ally fall to us. know house," said Polly, |
sewing busily when she talked, ''where every |
servant who enters it becomes an object of !
interest to the mother and her daughters
These women are taught good habits books
are put where they can get them, sensible
amusements are planned for them sometimes,
and they soon feel that they are not consi1-
cred mere grubs, to do as much work as pos
slble Tor as little money as possible, but help
| ers in the family who are loved and respected
in proportion to their taithtulness. This lady
feels her duty towards them, owes it, and
| does it. as conscientiously as she wants them
to do theirs by her; and that is the way it
ought to be, think"
As Polly paused, several keen eyes dscOv-
| cred that Emma's cheeks were very red, and
1 coxy iorlin n in hn of
moutl that tried to look demure, which told
them who Polly meant.
do the Biddies all turn out saints in that
well-regulated tamly?" asked the irrepressible
Trix.
mo; few of us do that, even in the parlOr;
but every one Of the Biddes is better for be-
ing there, whether they are grateful or not. l
ought not to have mentioned this, perhaps,
out l wanted to show you one thing that we
girls can do. We all complain about bad ser
wants most as much as il we were housekeep-
ers ourselves; but it never occurs to us to try
and mend the matter by getting up better
spirit between mistress and maid. Then
there's another thing we can do" added Pol
ly, warming up, most of us find money
enough Tor our little vanities and pleasures,
but feel dreadiully poor when we come to
pay for work, sewing especially. Couldn't we
give up few Of the vanitles and pay the seam
stresses better~
81 declare l winw cried Belle, whose con-
science suddenly woke and smote her tor
beating down the women who did her plain
sewing, IN order that she might have an ex-
ira fOunce on new dress.
"Belle has got virtuous fit; pity it won't
last week" said Trix.
''Wait and see," retOrted Belle, resolving
that it should last, just to disappoint that
spite'ul MINK" as she sweetly called her
schoolmate.
Nov we shall behold Belle galloping away
at a great pace on her new hobby. shouldn't
be surprised TO bear of her preaching in the
Jail, adopting nice dirty little orphan, or
passing round tracts at wOmans rights
, meeting" said Trjx, who never could forgive
J Belle for having lovely complexion and so
5 much hair Of her own that she never patron
lied either rats, mice, waterfalls, switches or
, puff combs.
swell, might do worse, and think of the
two I'd rather amuse myself so as some young
ladies do who get into the papers for their
FRANKS" returned Belle, with moral air.
suppose we have little recess and rest
while Folly plays to us. Will you Polly? 1t
will do us good; they all want to hear you
, and begged I'd ask"
went to the piano with such obliging readi-
f ness, that several reproachful glances fell up
} on Trix, who didn't need her glass to see them.
Polly was never too sad, perturbed, or lazy,
I to sing, tor it was almost as easy to her as
h breathing, and seemed the most natural outlet
4 for her emotions. For minute her hands
wandered over the keys. as if uncertain what
/ to play; then, falling into sad, sweet strain
4 she sang 1.-THE Bridge OF Sighs." Polly didn't
( know why she chose it, but the instinct seem
eo to have been true one, for, old as the
! song was, it went straight to the hearts of the
hearers, and Polly sung it better than she ev
er had before, for now the memory OF little
l Jane lent it gentle pathos which no arr
. could give. 1t did them all good, for music is
| beautiful magician, and few can resist its pow
: err. The girls were touched by the appeal
i Polly was lifted out of herself, and when she
turned round, the softened look on all the fac
es told her that for the moment foolish differ
. ences and frivolous beliefs were forgotten in
the one womanly sentiment OF pity for the
rsgQpgs and woes of which the listeners hap
e THAT song issRF %!aant.
as it had 10 right to 'bbees d re cry and fee
e Belle, openly wiping her eyes on crash tow.
q Fortunately lady, who re very rare,'' san,
v another young'such cases seldom read tn
newspapers.
:. IL wish they were, but Pm afraid they ar,
r. not; for only three weeks ago, l saw cir
younger than any OF us, and no worse, who
tried TO destroy herself, simply because she
1 was SO DISCOURAGED, sick, and poor" said Polly
=
i Telling that tn. song had paved the way fol
the story, and given her courage to tell it, Pol
ly did tell it, and must have done it well, fol
, the girls stopped work TO listen, and when she
/ ended, other eyes beside warm-hearted Bellies
were wet. Trx looked quite subdued; Miss
Perkins thawed to such degree that some
Thing glittered on her hand as she bent over
the pink pinatOre again, better and brighter
than her biggest diamond; Emma get up and
went TO Polly with a face full OF affectionate
respect, while Fanny, moved by sudden i'm
pulse, caught up costly Sevres plate that
stood on the etagere, and laying five dollar
bill ia it, passed it round, quoting POlly's
words
"Girls, I know you'll like to help poor little
, Jenny; begin again, and do cetter this time
1t was good to see how quickly the pretty
purses were out, how generously each gave Of
| its abundance, and what hearty applause
broke from the girls, as Belle laid down hel
gold thimble, saying with an April face
4 There, take that; never have any mon.
f ey; somehow it won't stay with me, but
, can't let the plate pass me this time"
When Fanny brought the contribute ions to
Polly, she just gathered it up in her two
hands with such glad grateful face the girls
wished they had more to give.
Il can't thank you enough" she said, with
an elegant little choke in her voice. "This
VIII help Jenny very much /; but the way in
which it was done will do her more good than
double the money, because it will prove to
her that she isn't without friends, and make
her feel that there is place In the world tor
her. Let her work tor you in return for his !;
she don't ask aims; she only wants employ
ment and little kindness, and the best char
1ty we can bestOw is to see that she has BOTH. -