Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-22

nent benevolent society in the city. Sucl
valuable acquisition was her infuenc,
and her--purse, that she was immediatel,
elected President, Then, indeed, he
good deeds were manifest. Many new
plans of benevolence were proposed
and put into execution. With retinues o
followers, she visited the widow and thu
fatherless in their Affections, and her yea
became proverbial.
When the day came for reporting, the
cousins were greatly surprised to learr
that their uncle knew all that they had
done before they had told him. When
each made her report he said:
'.Prim, your motives were purely mer-
cenary, still the ends accomplished have
not been trifing for your money has fed
and clothed the hungry; besides, to you,
it has been financial discipline. Well,
Wild Oats, praise you wanted, and praise
you shall have from your old uncle, las from
the world. Your course has sobered you,
given you a sense of responsibility, and
the result, of your active year are clear.
And little Moses, you've done something,
but you have given the least thought to
your work of the three. Now, girls, the
award shall not be yet, but you have all
done so well, here are a hundred dollars
for each of you to spend as you wish, this
summer.
1t was aggravating not to know the re-
suit, but then that was just like uncle Tru-
man. At any rate, two of them said they
were through, that was one comfort, and
agreat relief.
CHAPTER Ill.
They agreed to go together, to the sea-
side. Fred Palmer, and others, were 60
ing, too, it was to be gleeful summer.
The next day ''little Anna" went to her
dress-maker's, and found her ill., worn out
with over-work. Inquiring into her case
one story led to another, until she learned
that many poor women, within few
streets Of her home, were without employ.
ment and nearly starving. They had tried
in every place, but could find no work in
the city. Yet those who had employment
were over-worked. "And here | am
spending life in pleasure" thought Anna
1t then occurred to her that she heard heI
father say his uncle, living about a hun
dred miles out in the country, was build
ing an extinsive cheese factory, requiring
the work of many women. She immedi-
alely wrote to ask him if he would engage
that he wanted no set of strange women,
inexperienced in that business. She plead
ed their need. He was close, hard man,
so here she had touched the wrong chord
Finally he thought to silence her by say
ing he would take twelve if she would
come with them and oversee their work.
This was unexpected and stunning, but it
did not silence Anna Lynn. Could she
rive II har anficinafa6 Sup,voar trim I'm
the other hand, what was her pleasure to
the lives of those poor suffering ones
Had she not talked against life of indo-
lenceP Should she shrink now from put
ting her theory into practice Brave little
spirit! she made the sacrifice. With re-
luctance, her father gave consent But
what should she tell her cousins? Her
good Uncle Trumanp That was the hard
est.of all; how angry he would be She
did not tell them her object in goirg, she
simply said she had changed her mind,
and should spend the summer with grand
uncle, in the country. The two cousins
were astonished; they questioned, coaxed
threatened, but they found her non-com.
initial and firm. A sorrow it was to her to
see her companions leave for their pleas
ure trip, but sorrow not uninterming led
with sweetness. But the hardest blow
was unexpected. A week after her arri-
val in the country, she received this letter
from Fred Palmer, her lover:--.
DEAR ANNA OF late have observed
so many thoughts in you, inharmonious
with my own vague theories of woman s
work, ideas of impraciicable action and
know not what; finally this unaccount-
able wandering off into obscurity, and
this wilful leaving off the society of your
mates, that think it proves conclusively
that if we were united in life we would be
unhappy, because uncongenial. There
fore, ask to be released from our engage
ment. One with such fantastic ideas
could not make a kind and practical COM
panion besides, wish my wife to follow
q life of ease and fashion. Wishing you
well. FRED PALMER.
The shock which this caused her nearly
threw her into fever. Her love for him
was strong, but the soul within her was
stronger. What was duty worth, if it
cost no sacrifice? She gave herself to
her work, and her heart to Heaven.
New was that work to the slender girl.
What did she know about cheese facto-
ry in the country? But Love made la
Dor light Love? For whom Those
for whom she had given her money and
time, were bound to her by no tie of friend
ship or relation; none but the universal
tie of sympathy for the suffering, for hui
mainly as such. 1t was surprising how
quickly she learned the whole business OF
cheese making, on the one hand, and or
the other the various capacities of the
different women. She, the child of ten
derness and ease, put herselfon par with
those illiterate and poor, and worked will
them. They came to her as guide
though so young and so little, when Their,
were troubles among them, or when they
felt their labors were too severe. 1t was
a heavy care to her, but it grew ever
lighter, week by week, especially as he
cold, hard uncle, looking at matters from
a purely business point of view. began t.
repose more and more confidence in her
till after few months her presence
seemed indispensable to the well working
of the factory. 1t had been a discipline
to her spirit and healthful to her frame