Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-01
naiscella
MAEING A LIVING.

fact to observe that my brother did not seem
to sympathize in my feelings, which truly was
not new state Of things had but taken the |
trouble to think Of it, As | took my bag
with one hand | reached him the other. He
took it in a mechanical and Indifferent man
ner, and before | had time to say word, he
said hastily, as if it was something disagree
able, that he wished to burt out and have it
over with,
It seems to me, Kate, if that Mrs. What
yer-call-her, where you're going is as much
your friend as you pretend, she might put you
in a way to do something for yourself"
And with that he was gone. [ don't think
| was ever so stunned in my life before, or
not since that morning when father was found
dead in his office / turned and entered the
car, found a seat and dropped into it with n
dazed feeling. | was hurt and angry both,
something as | should have been had per-
son who until that moment | supposed on
good terms with me, suddenly shut door 10
my face or dashed a cup Of water over me.
A multitude Of unhappy thoughts rushed upon
my excited mind | had ample space to in
dulge them, for amidst the throng that nearly
filled the car, mostly like myself, summer
travellers in the direction Of the White Noun
tains saw no one whom knew aud no one
intruded upon the seat had taken. My Bit
ter thoughts eliminating rapidly in keen
}, sense of injured friendliness, was glad to
bow my face on the window ledge aud cover
it with an ample palmleaf fan to hide my
tears. There is a proverb that "eyes that
are washed by tears see clearly" BE that as
it may, when mine had been pretty thoroughly
washed could think more collectedly, and
saw and thought somewhat to this effect
Do something for myself " The words
kept repeating themselves What could he
mean? could explain it but in one way !;
that my brother wished | would and thought
ought to find another home take care Of
|, myself; in short, earn my own living The
, idea had been hinted at before but as | al
ways tried to ignore all disagrecable things it
had troubled me little. 1t had never been so
pontedly, ill naturedIy it seemed to me,
, brought out as in his parting words. And
how mean in him to take that opportunity
Just as my heart was full Of pleasant antici-
! pations and there was no chance to reply, no
one to take my part as felt sure that in this
: case mother would do. | was sure that Fred
/ would never have lot mother hear him speak
}, to me like that but should let her know
B. how unkindly he had sent me away with 90
s worm in the rose" of my pleasure.
0 Were we rich Had | been brought W
s with high notions Were my parents o
!. those who feel that for daughter to tax,
$ any desirable position in life, she must not b'
/ expected ever to support herself2 Not a
It all. While father lived we had, or though
y we had what is called ga genteel competence.
n Our associates were neither of the highest no
e the lowest in the social scale, yet there wa
e something about my parents that drew arounC
them select circle of friends mostly OF great
d er wealth and advantages than themselves
r. Fred was several years older than |, an
Il father had taken him into his business, tn
a law, as soon as he was out Of school. Mothe
k was devoted to me, her only girl, and coul
y i'll spare me what time | went to school, an
when that was over there seemed to be littl
niche at home that just filled, and never
till father died, thought to do otherwise, vi
less should step into niche in the home {
somebody else.
My brother had married early and a litt
family had sprung up about him, and the
lived out of town; so they we're seldom at OF
house to stay any. Father and Fred m'
every day and Fred often dined with u
Mother went out to see them now and thei
but my visits had never been frequent.
had not liked Ellen very well from the frs
and never was fond of the children. | da
say | should have learned to like them if
had grown up with them and been used
them. | cannot say they were either Il
no best or the worst brought up, but when
~ went there or when they came to grandpa
90 they broke in upon all my preconcev
an notions of propriety and the quiet and COZ
On fort of my home; so somehow | took no pal
bo to cultivate a better acquaintance with thel
~ presume was like most only daughter
nj rather selfish. Then, too, my mother was
ie. embodiment of capablity and refined atfectic
"a Ellen seemed to me neither.
~, You can imagine what change life took
e after that terrible day when father was fou
IN sitting at his desk, dead, when Fred went
os the office in the morning dead, trying to 5
"A tie affairs that never could or would be 5
in tied. He had been in i'll health for two
Ion three years in truth, his share in the bu
10 ness had been for sometime almost nomin
though of course had not realized that Il
,oA made any difference to us otherwise than Il
,si. we were sorry to see papa ailing. l did
noe comprehend fully why it was best that Il
"a should sell his house out Of town, and M
oro his family to ours. | could understand {
- il was more convenient for him and might
better for us to have man Of the house.
ob that it would be far less agreeable to mot
,ro aud me | could see plainly. They came,
,at | had gradually fallen into the habit Of try
,oos to live the old life in the midst of the nj
i a that is, living in my own and mothers roc
,ta. when in the house, passing my time in NEE
,IIy work, reading, writing letters, and exchang
2 .eey visits with girl friends. had goodly n
I I,orp Der of these, like most girls Of eighteen
. or twenty. Looking back from point of gr
ond er discretion than | had then, | can ca
ons see how Ellen, " numbered with much servi
ons and the wear of little ones, should have
/, ne feeling Of envy and dislike towards me
'oLs the careless life | led, and because thi
80 never offered TO share or tighten her bur
nan She openly showed her feelings to Fred,
, sc but i'll concealed them from mother and
rinc So it happened in moments Of irritabi
y 20 and sometimes when We met at the ia
,yn Fred would hint that my presence was
,ved desired, by such remarks as;
,een " 1t is fine thing to live like lad
other peoples expense
"a il, Or, if some other person was spoken OF
Of "Well, pity any man that has two {
osvn lies on his hands" Or, to me perhaps
,rre 90 Say, what are girls intended for? 4
hor. seem to be brought up with no prospect
'om- all, unless they chance to get married.
, ho But as | said before, paid no heed to
oval deemed only the murmurs Of a discoute