Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-01-25


come into the bakery. She would be
expected to board in the family. Fanny
looked at me as if seeking my opinion,
when he named his terms. took the
responsibility of saying that she would
like few days to think the matter over
and consult her friends. lie showed
little bad spirit then, and said he sup
posed she applied for the place because
she wanted it.
When we got hone l told Fanny she
must not go there and l think she felt
relieved at my decision, though she
had been so anxious to find employ
ment that the failure of this little plan
quite disheartened her.
But she had bit of good luck that
very evening. l had told the Royals
about her, and Mr.. Royal happening to
drop in, by-and-by got Fanny to sing.
He was very much pleased with the
quality of her voice, said it was just the
thing for church, and asked her if she
had ever sung in choir.
81 used to do so before we left
home," said Fanny softly and fancied
there were tears ready to start as she
thought of her early village home.
Every WE'LL" said Mr.. Royal; there
is little church, sort of mission cha
pei, down town, in whose success 1 am
interested. They need leading So
prano, and, as / have rather looked out
for their music, l suppose 1 have as
much right as any one to offer yod an
engagement. The salary is very small,
but very little help; and would you
accept the position, Miss Gray, for a
hundred dollars year ~
Indeed | would y she exclaimed !:
" and be grateful for the chance. 1t will
be pleasure to me as well as a great
assistance"
So that was settled. I told Fanny
she would have enough to clothe her
self now; but she did not slacken her
search for steady employment. One
day Mrs. Royal came in with long face,
and said she was going to lose her ex-
cellent nursery girl, Norah. The girl
was to be married in fortnight. She
asked me if l knew any one trustwor-
thy enough for the place.
81 don't consider taking care of chill
dren mental employment" said Mrs.
Royal, in her noble way. off l had not
so many duties, should rejoice to give
up my time to them myself l hate to
lose single one of their sweet smiles
and pretty attitudes and baby speeches.
And l want to hire some one that looks
at them in the same way / do-as price
less little treasures to be trained into
good men and women. You know
have fitted up pretty little sleeping
room opening off the nursery, and to a
person who really satisfied me I would
give fifteen dollars month"
Fanny Gray, who had just been get
ting BERTHE to sleep on the sofa, rose at
this, and came forward in her calm, mo-
dest way, but with little tremble in
her voice, and said:
" Would | do, Mrs. Royal? Would
you take me? Mrs. Brown here will
tell you how much 1 love little chill
dren."
Z" You are just the one, my dear u
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 a
fancy to the place. Perhaps 1 am par
tial 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 morn
ing till night in store-or even make
cakes in bakery T. She said this with
an arch smile.
A great deal BETTER" said Fanny,
sensibly. ~ think it is happier work,
and healthier and more inspiring"
And you will sing them sucn sweet
lullabies at nightli said Mrs. ROYAL,
with motherly pleasure.
1t was agreed, then, that Fanny should
go to her in two weeks time, when
Norah left; and for those two weeks, of
course, she would remain with me-
began to think BERTHE and l would not
know what to do without her. While
Fanny had been with US, behind all her
sweet usefulness and modest dignity,
which pleased us so, there seemed al
ways to lie background of sadness. |
had spoken of it to Fred, and said was
afraid she had SOM mental trouble
"Oh no." he ans,. cred, cheerily; cit
is only her anxiety about the future.
As soon as she gets a good place, you
will see her as merry as lark"
The good place was found now, and a
great deal of the shadow did certainly
pass away. | thought Fred had been
quite right when heard her singing
through the house, and telling BERTHE
the most. bewitching, joyous little sto-
ries. But at twilight. or when she was
singing hymns, or when she had been
alone and l came upon her unawares,
there was a touch of pathos lurking
there still, hint of tears, a look of pa
tience, that went to my heart. | told
Fred it seemed just like the way l felt,
before we were married, when he had
gone off on that long business voyage
and | did not hear from him for months,
and l believed Fanny had a lover some
where.
Nonsense, dear y said Fred, kissing
me. "You are the most romantic little
woman on earth, and think more about
love than Fanny does, I'll warrant p
The next Thursday we were expect
ing Kitty Lang to tea, with two home
sick girls she had discovered, who had
come up from the country to learn the
nnilliner's trade. Fanny and l few
around making preparations for |
meant to have delicious chicken salad
for supper, biscuit and coffee, and some
of Fanny's wonderful cakes and tarts.
| II L Al