Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-23
SUMNER BOARDERS.

al SUPPOSE the old black trunk must come
down to-day from the garrett" dOlefully ex-
claimed Laura, twirling the spoon in her empty
coffee-cup. =" oh for the time when school va
cations ne'er break up
land homework has end" chimed in sis
ter Ruth, as she started with a pile of clean
plates for the pantry-door. Come, girls, il
you have finished, wish you would move out Of
Breakfast was a lazy meal with Laura and
me We had habit of lingering (''dawdling,'
oven Yisge nss SSIs; az ,ae .sSle, gHS,Ping
ener seriously discussing our vexed Question,
"How shall we earn a living"
IL was the same old story of genteel POVERTY,
and time. instead of mendinS matters, oniy
made them worse.
Laura and were twins. Ruth was our half
lister, and nearly dozen years our >enior. She
was a brisk, CHEEKY body, one in whom the an
kee gift, faculty" was largely developed. Her
face showed knowledge of evil as wen as good.
but il was the look OF pure, strong spirit, that
had the evil under subsection; often sorely
tempted, il may be, but conquered-neyer
Ruth was not one OF those who keep their Sun
day-dress nature for mere acquaintance, and let
their nearest friends have the souls deshdbiLle;
she always made the best Of every thing. turn
ing TO the world the bright side of her life even
as the market-wOman puts the fairest part or
her fruit uppermost.
During our fathers lifetime. he had done a
small business commission merchant, send
ing butter and cheese TO New York city for the
farmers in our little town of Berkeley. BY great
economy be had secured comfortable home:
but when Laura and were only year old, he
died suddenly Of heart-disease, leaving a deli
cate wife with three children to support A
short time previous to his death he had taken
the precautiOn TO have his life insured; but this
slender income hardly sufficed for our wants.
and since my earliest recollection lite with us
had been rather pinched, frost-bitten affair.
Ruth had faithfully shared with her step
mother all the heavy burdens / have often
thought it was one like her that Goethe had in
mind when he drew that charming portrait OF
the loving. helpful eldest daughter, whose life
was .seia etrI1ss Cohen und KOmmen.o
When Laura and were thirteen, Ruth mar
ried her old playmate, George Ames. He was
about as poor as herself, "but rieh," as he
laughingly said, Gin the chief elements Of sue
ees-a pair Of strong hands and n disposition to
work" The Young couple hired a small farm
not far from Berkiey, and for few years were
happy and prosperous.
Then came the Great Rebellion George was
anxious to volunteer, and bis wife's brave heart
would not hinder him. He disposed Of his stock
and lease of the farm, and Ruth came home to
Us. We all know the sad story of the Union re-
pulse OF Big Bethel. Ruth never saw her hu.-
band alive again.
Those terrible days. 1 do not like to recall
them.
Mothers health, always feeble, now began to
fail Before the war ended, she, too, left US,
and at the time my story opens we three sisters
were living alone together.
was very unlike my twin-sister. She was
and timd. When little child, 1 had received
an injury in my right foot from a push by a
rough boy ON the school playground, and the
prospect was that should be lame all my life.
For nearly two years now. Laura had taught
gymnastics in l. Seminary and this was
the last day of her spring vacation.
As said in the beginning, the weather was
dismal; and in the absence OF sunshine our ne
eessity seemed greater than ever.
"April, May, June, July-four weary months
before We see you again, Laura hate to have
you go back to l.. You are much too
pretty for hard work, poor pay, and poor fare"
and looked with loving admiration at the
fresh, rosy face opposite me.
The hard work and poor fare are nothing
Edna, DEAR replied Laura; ''but We ought not
l.. -.
can this be managed? Come, Ruth, do sit down
moment, and help Us plan What matter if
those dishes are not finished at precisely a GER
Ruth laughed and obeyed with the resigned
expression of one who could not possibly gain
any thing by complying.
90 Does II not seem, girls, that on this question
OF work and wages our thoughts travel in a cir
Gle? We always come back 10 Laura's plan Of
opening a small family boarding schOOl-the IA
vOrite resort of needy gentle-women. For nv
part, two years experience of district-schoOl
teaching has cured me of all further desire to
strain the young idea" wOuldsooner taken in
Washing"
Ruths tone was decided.
And a. for a situation in a school," she con-
tinued, There Is call nowadays for thoroughly
trained teaches who have made a specially OF
some particular branch. IL is not too late for
you. Laura and Edna; but my day has gone BY
There were plenty OF good seeds sOwn in my
mind, but have no good crop of any one thing
No; my talent. If have any. Is housekeeping,
and this mHst make pay somehow" and Ruth
a
very determined expression.
- How nice TO be POOR after the graceful fash
ion of English heTOines.' remarked Laura ir-
relevantly. They always have a maid II
their tea is weak and the bread and butter thin.
the meal u always sent into the parlOr, and
served in delicate china. They never blacken
their hands Peeling potatoes and apples, nor
blister them doing the family ironing; neither
have the dainty creatures any conception of the
moral courage II requires 10 plunge ones arm
INTO Tie brine OF the pOrk-barrel."
often stand
ter test, sand Ruth slyly.
But have had experience enough TO under
stand that il ! disagreeable," persisted Laura.
- Gray lives are interesting only ia romance"
sighed l.
her 1hOreau thOUE ht IL possible for one TO have
many happy hours even in Poor-hOuse."
- suppose reluctantly admitted Laura
shat q i weak. shallow soul that grumbles al
destiny and complains Of her lot. Better work
humbly labor
a. But TO come to the matter in hand,v said
practical sister Ruth, there is no denying that
we are getting behindhand each year. The
place Is running down, and We have no money
for rePairs. The house needs painting, the roof
leaks, the fence is shabby"
Her look of despair was 50 comical that Laura
and laughed outright.
" If We only did not live in little factory viii
lage I might make what musical taste possess
available, and 30 contribute NV share towards
our support Shall always have To be a bur
den on you girls" and my heart was heavy as /
spoke.
Their loving words OF sisterly comfort need
not here be repeated. After ali, were rich
IN one another.
How few possibilities there are for women.r
began Laura.
.. Nonsense" interrupted Ruth, cheerly
Possibilities are plenty. We might turn our
fine, large yard into a garden. Those fascinar
ting descriptions in Hearth and Home tempt me
sometimes 10 try my luck also"
"Nou would find more hard work than
poetry" and Laura smiled with An air OF SUI
perior wisdom.
There were a few moments Of silence, and
then Ruth spoke hesitatingly: 81 viii tell Won
what, in my opinion, IL our best cours for the
present, at least Laura must keep her situa-
zion at I-Seminary; Edna will stay home
and study music; and am going to take board
ers. Seriously, girls, this Is not new idea with
me. Do you remember the conversation the
other evening when Mrs Hubbard called? She
was telling how well the Johnsons had succeeded
since leaving Berkeley When they left the viii
lage they were in destitute circumstances, but
by keeping summer boarders they have had
comfortable living all the year, besides laying
by something towards paying for their house.
The secret ofsuccess In their case seems 10 be in
their deing most Of the work themselves, and 20
needing few servants; they raise all their own