The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-15

I
family governess no store a gir
for a clerk, no lawyer a eopyist, nc
milliner work-woman and they
had too many hands already, the
foreman told me, at the hoop-skirt
factory, the book-binderies, and the
! artif1cisl-fower establishment. The
season was dull, and labor drug in
the market. puglad my brain over
Fanny Gray's case till Fred said
laughing, I would soon become per
feet in the law ofsupply and demand
aud the relation of capital TO labor
and be able to talk with Ruskin oil
John Stuart Mills, and all the rest OF
the political economists. Meanwhile
tho weeks were slipping by, and with
them Fanny's little store of money
At last, in desperation, I told her che
could at least save her bosrd-bill by
! coming to our house to stay till she
found some employment and per.
haps she could help me a little about
the house, enough 10 relieve her from
obligation; but | could not offer to
pay her any thing, because Fred and
| had to practice economy, and did
not feel able to hire. Well, the girl
actually cried for joy at the offer, and
came to Us the very next morning
and must Say that during the few
weeks she steid with me l enjoyed
the very poetry Of housekeeping
She knew how to do every thing,
and had the nestest, deftest ways
and was perfectly splendid in taking
care of BERTHE. told Fred that ! be-
lieved Providence had never meant
her to work In e store or hctory, but
had destined her 10 be sunshiny
little wife and housekeeper and
mother.
On my first baking-day after abe
came she made me up the most de-
licioas little cakes and tarts that |
ever tasted. I told her jestingly she
would bea treasure In bakery and,
seizing the idea, she went out that az
ternoon without telling me her pur-
pose, and when she camo back, said
che had found q baker on s.
Street, who would engage her at fair
wage. II she could bring him some
satisfactory specimens Of fancy hsk-
ing. The next day We held high
festival in the kitchen, snd thosgh /
don't think much of cake generally.
that day It presented itself to me as a
fine art. Ifyou could have seen the
display on my shelves when the bat
tie was vonl Queen cakes, coca-nut
drops, cheese cakes which had read
of in English stories, but never
tssted6 jelly tsrts and cream terts,
trifos and macaroons. Ny little
pantry had never drerned Of such
diinties. We selected the incest
looking Of each kind, and wbc, had
borrowed two broad, shallow flower
baskets OF Mrs. Royal TO lay them in,
VIC started forth tsgether to visit the
baker. The moment saw him !
took dislike 10 him. He did not
seem to me like nice man, and ]
did not like hi. manner toward Fan
ny. But he professed himself satis
fed with the samples, and offered her
good wages if she would come
into the bakery. She would be eX-
pected to board IN his family. Fanny
looked at me IS if seeking my opin-
ion, when he named his terms. |
took the responsibility ofsayins that
she would like a for days tn think
the matter over and consul. her
friends. He showed q little bad spirit
then, and said he supposed she sp-
piled for the place because she want
cd f.
When we got home told Fanny
she must not go there; and think
she felt really relieved at my deci-
sion, though she had been so anxious
TO find employment that the failure
of this little plan quite disheartened
her.
But she had = bit ofgood luck that
very evening. Ihad told the Royals
about her, and Mr.. Royal happening
to drop in, l by-and-by got Fanny 10
sing. He was very much pleased
with the quality Of her voise, ssid It
was just the thing for church, and
asked her If che had ever sung in
choir.
al used 10 do 80 before we left
homc," said Fanny, softly; aud l
fancied there were tears ready to
start as abe thought of her early vii
lage home.
"Very WELL" said Mr.. Royal;
"there ia little church, a sort of
mission chapel, down town, in whose
success am interested. They need
a leading soprano, and, as | have
rather looked out for their mssic, !
suppose have az much right as any
one to offer you an engagement.
The salary is very small, but every
little helps; and would yoa accept
the position, Miss Gray, for a hun
dred dollars year77
"Indeed | would" she exclaimed.
"and be grateful for the chance. 1t
will 5e apleasure to me, a. well as a
great assistance"
SO that was settled. told Fanny
she would have enough to clothe
herself now: but she did not slacken
her search for a steady employment.
One day Mrs. Royal came in with q
long face, and said she was going to
lose her excellent nursery girl, No
rah. The girl was 10 be married in
fortnight She asked me If knew
any one trustworthy enough for the
place.
81 don't consider taking care of
children a menisl employment
said Mrs. Royal, in her noble way.
"lf l had not so many duties, /
should rejoice to give up nv time TO
them myself. late to loose q sin
gle one of their sweet smiles, and
pretty attitudes, and baby speeches.
And l want to hire some one who
looks at them in the same way do
as precious little treasures to DO
trained into good men and good
women. You know l have fitted up
pretty little sleeping-room opening
OF the nursery, and TO person who
really satisfied me, would give flf-
teen dollars month"
Fanny Gray, who had just been
getting BERTHE to sleep on the sofa,
rose at this, and came forward in her
calm, modest way, but with a little
tremble in her voice, and said:
Would l do, Mrs. Royal? Would
you take me? Mrs. Brown here will
tell you how much l love little
children"
You are just the one, my dear +"
exclaimed Mrs. Royal, getting up and
kissing her. "And I'll confess thlt
when L mentioned it lust now, was
il hopes you would hear me and tako
fancy to the place. Perhaps | am
partial to my own babies, but / do
think it must be great deal nicer
and better to take care of them than
to work all day in heated factory,
or stand from morning till night in a
store-or even mal-e cakes in a
bakery" She said this with an
arch smile.
"a great deal BETTER" said Fanny,
EnpsiblV al think IL Ia happipr