Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28

DiaylnQ
BERTHE as II she felt at home. Fred came in di-
rectly, bringing Nevins, and flew to set NV
table. We had one of the contest little suppers
imaginable, and Fred had gone to the extrsva-
gance OF banasas, for which i pardoned him
when Kitty Lang said she never tasted one be-
fore in her life, and how delicious they were!
-, After tea opened the piano and played lit
Tie, preparatory to asking Fanny Gray to sing
for Kitty had said 50 much about her hymns
She made no apology when / entreated her.
butsaidsshe knew;little,besides fewtballads and
hymns. She had a sweet, powerful voice, with
great expression; and Fred nodded his pleasure
TO me as she sat there playing her simple ac-
compartments and singing. She gave us some
OF the anthems from the prayer-book FIRST, and
then took up the dear old psalm:
"As pants the hart for cooling streams,
When heated in the chase;
So longs my sonl, o God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace"
Her voice rose In such pure, thrilling pathos,
itseemed as If my heart stopped beating. Poor
old Neyins bowed his head in his hands and
wept- L suppose he knew well enough in his
hard, drudging life what 1t was to feel like the
heart painting for cooling streams.
There was a little pause after the psalm:
think we all had tears somewhere, In our hearts
II not our eyes, and did not want TO speak
voice took up that dear, beautiful hymn:
Come, We disconsOlate, where'er We languish
Come TO the mercy-seat, fervenfly kneel;
Here bring your wounded hearts, here bring
your anguish:
Earth hath no sorrows that Heaven can not
heal"
when this was done she turned round from the
English girl-once more. We all took her into
our hearts from that evening.
But what could we find for her to do? No school
wanted teacher, no family governess, no
store girl for clerk, no lawyer a copyist, no
milliner wOrk-woman; and they had too many
hands already, the foreman told me, at the
hooP-skirt factory, the book-binderies, and the
artifcial-hower establishment. The season was
dull, and labor a drug in the market. puzzled
my brain over Fanny Gray's case till Fred said
laughing, would soon become perfect in the
law OF supply and demand, and the relation of
capital TO labor, and be able to talk with Rus
kin or John Stuart Mill, and all the rest of the
political economists. Meanwhile the weeks
were slipping by, and with them Fanny's little
store of money. At last, in desperation. L told
her she could at least save her board-bin by
coming to our house to stay till she found some
employment, and perhaps she could help me a
little about the house, enough to 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 staid with me
| enjoyed the very poetry of housekeeping. She
knew how to do every thing, and had the neat
taking care of BERTHE. 1 told Fred that be-
iieyed Providence had never meant her to work
in store or factory, but had destined her to be
a sunshiny little wife and housekeeper and
mother.
On my first baking-day after she came she
made me up the most delicious little cakes and
tarts that ever tasted. 1 told her jestingly she
would be treasure in a bakery; and, selling the
idea, she went out that afternoon without telling
me her purpose, and when she came back, said
she had found a baker on S-Street who
would engage her at fair wages IL she could
bring him some satisfactory specimens of fancy
baking. The next day we held a high festival
in the kitchen, and though don't think much of
cake generally, that day il presented itself to
"A a tvQu oul hav tha
display on my shelves when the battle was won,
Queen cakes, cocoa-nut drops, cheese cakes
(which i had read OF in English stories, but
never tasted), jelly tarts and cream tarts trifies
and macarOOns. My little pantry had never
dreamed of such dainties. We selected the
nicest-looking of each kind, and when 1 had
Mrs. Royal to ay them in, we started forth to-
getler TO visit the baker. The moment | saw
him took a dislike to him. He did not seem to
me like nice man, and did not like his man
ner toward Fanny. But he prOfessed himself
satisfied with the samples, and offered her good
wages If she would come into the bakery. She
would be expected to board in his family.
Fanny looked at me as if seeking nv opinion.
when he named his terms. / took the RESPONSE
bility OF saying that she would like few DAYS to
think the matter over and consult her friends
He showed a little bad spirit then, and said he
supposed she applied for the place because she
wanted It.
When we got home told Fanny she must not
60 there; and think she felt really relieved AT
my decision, though she had been so anxious to
find employment that the failure Of this little
plan quite dsheartened her.
But she had a bit of good luck that very even
ing had told the Royals about her. and Mr.
Royal happening to drop in, 1 by-and-by got
Fanny to sing. He was very much pleased with
the quality OF her voice, said it was Just the
thing Tor church, and asked her if she had
ever sung in a choir.
So used to do so before we left home, said
amy, softly; and I fancied there were tears
ready TO start a" she thought of her early village
home.
every we'll" said Mr.. Royal; "there Is a little
church, sort of mission chapel, down town In
whose success 1 am interested They ne ID a
leading soprano, and, a. L have rather looked
right as any one to offer you an engagement.
The salary is very small, but every little helps:
and would you accept the position, Miss Gray,
Indeed would' she exclaimed; "and be
grateful for the chance. 1t will be pleasure to
me, as well as 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 long face,
and said she was going to lose her excellent
ried in fortnight. She asked me if knew any
one trustworthy enough for the place.
:. don't consider taking care of children a
menial employ ment," said Mrs. Royal, in her
noble way. q" Ii had not 50 many duties, L
should rejoice to give up my time to them my
self; hate to lose a single one OF their sweet
anu pretty dlUluucS ana D8Dy spec ches.
And want to hire some one who looks at them
In the same way do-as priceless little treas
ures TO ee trained into good men and good wo-
men, You know L have fitted up a pretty little
sleeping room opening of the nursery and 10 a
person who really satisfied me would give if
teen dollars a month"
Fanny Gray, who had just been getting BERTHE
10 sleep on the sofa, rose at this, and came for
ward in her calm, modest way, but with little
tremble in her voice, and said:
"Would do; Mrs. Royal? Would you take
me? Mrs Brown here win tell you how much
/ love little children"
"You are just the one, my dear!'' exclaimed
Mrs. Royal, getting up and kissing her. "And
I'll confess that when mentioned it Just now
was In hopes you would hear me and take q
fancy to the place. Perphaps Am partial 10
my own babies, but do think it must be q
great deal nicer and better to take care of them
than TO work all day In q heated factory, or
stand from morning TIL night In Q stofe-or
even make cakes In bakeryi" She said this
" A great deal better, )" said Fanny, sensibly.
more inspiring"
"And you win sing them such sweet lullables
at night" said Mrs. Royal, with motherly
pleasure.
IL was agreed, then, that Fanny should 90 10
her IN two weeks time, when Norah LEFT; and
for those two weeks, Of course, she would re-
main with me. began 70 think BERTHE and I
would not know what 10 do without her. While
Fanny had been with rs, behind I'll her sweet
usefulness and modest dignity, which pleased
US so, thu re seemed alWaya IN liza a ha~k0ro0nd