Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-11-22

4
a far nobler occupation; but, as Uncle
Job had said, an education would cost
money as well as time. and where was IL to
come fromS At last. without a word TO
| any one she stole up to her room in the
dark and threw herself on the bed to think
it out. She was the eldest of the five. and
so brave and helpful that the frail little
mother had long ago learned to lean on
her.
Just now, however, she felt ANYTHING
but brave. Like every maiden Of seven
teen she had a headiul of bright dreams
and aspirations, and this sudden shatter-
inc Of them seemed simply cruel. She
was almost tempted 10 rebel against God
for taking away her father just when they
all 50 needed him. What could Ray do,
mere child that he was: And Dell, who
was three years younger than herself, and
fraii like their mother at that? And the
mother herself, she whom their father had
cherished so tenderly-to think of her
wearing her life out at the sewing ma
chine That was hardest of all. Lefty
wrrIng her hands ct the thought of it, feel
ing that something could and must be
done to avert it. Perhaps Uncle job was
right. She certainly had a gift for any
sort of work that required artistic skill,
and millinery was one of her favorite
pastimes. Ever since she could use a
needle she had made bOnnets for the dolls
in the neighborhood, and of late had made
her own and Dell's. But the pleasantest
pastiIne loses Its charm when we come to
making a business of it, and Lefty shrank
from the thought of spending her days at
anything so seemingly insignificant. Yet
if this use of her gift would bring bread as
well as bonnets to her mother and sisters,
had she any right to refuse TO use it to that
end? But she shut her eyes against it,
and, tired out with the struggle, went to
sleep and dreamed that she was the mother
of six children and took in washing for
their support. All the next day she went
about with grave face, stealing away now
and then to pray q little-Letty always
prayed when anything troubled her-and
to hide her tears; but when Uncle job
came to make his evening call she was
ready to talk business. With Lefty to
Know duty was to do it. and the conclu-
sion of the whole matter was that before
week went bv she was hard at work in
Madam Mapes's millinery store, learning
! the trade. 1t was n sore thrust to hel
pride, for many who had been eager tC
claim acquaintance with the Doctor;
daughter passed the little milliner by un-
noticed. There were others. however, tho
| few whose friendship was worth having
who stood by her close and true. And sh,
needed all their help. poor child, forit Wa;
10 easy task to which she had set hei
| hand-sewing from seven in the morning
| till six at night. with only time for hasty
lunch at noon; and during the busy sea
son often compelled to return after supper
and work until ten. But on the latter oc
casions she was more fortunate than mos
of her fellow-workers, for Uncle job, ole
and feeble as he was, was always in wait
ing to see her safe to her mother's door.
ats a shame. child, for you to have tC
work nights! Madam Alapes ought t
know better than to send young thing
| like you into the street at this hour" salt
the old man Indignantly; :" but you ar
not coming home alone as long as Unclt
Job has leg left to hobble On.' Anl
Lefty thanked her ancient escort with al
ardor that might have been fiattering to
younger man.
For many a girl of Letty's age it woult
have been place full of temptation, TO
Madam Mapes kept the largest milliner.
establishment in the city, employing from
| fifteen to twenty girls and three or fou
| salesmen--a thoughtlesS set for the mos
1
| iy inclined to ridicule the advocates of
quiet life. 1t took no little courage OF
Letty's part to Withstand them, for scarce
ly week passed in which she was no
beset with invitations to some of thei
merry-makings, but an evening at hom
with mother and the children was WORT
more to her after her hard days work thai
all the '.bopsr and card parties in tn
world. She could not understand at frs
the eagerness with which these young pee
pie sought excitement, but when she cam
toknow their mode Of life-without homes
the majority of them living in rooms an
| eating at restaurants-she was no longe
surprised, only sorry and troubled abou
them. As an experiment she venture
one evening to invite them TO her owl
/ home. where they chatted and sang an
had games and puzzles, and enjoyed then
selves generally in an old-fashioned way.
..No wonder, Lefty Norton, that yo
don't clre for any of our fandangoes whe
YOU have such home as this" said one {
the girls. "Why, one such evening q
we've had here is worth dozen of them.
ssCome as often as you like, dear, yo
will ALWAYS be welcome" said Mrs. No
|, ton. in her motherly way. And so it hal
pened that once week, when busine'
was not too pressing. they met in the plal
, little parlor and spent a sensible, homeiih
| eyening-the only taste that many of tbel
had of genuine home life.
Now that's what call real missionar
/ work. said Uncle Job. ''It's giving the
Z Young folks a liking for something bett'
than restaurants and bathrooms. El
: child, didn't | tell you that here was
? chance TO become a reformer" And u
! Gle Job settled back in the easy-chair, az
5 watched the merry company with an emp
, pipe between his lips and "a dream of OF
3 er days y in his dim old eyes.
..Thev are the incest parties of the Sc
D SON. the girls declared, in spite Of d
t fact that there was nothing but rag ca
f net on the door and the only refreshmen
I afforded were popped corn and ginge
: bread. So Lefty was more than satisfi'
\ with the result of her experiment, AZ
Y worked with all the better zeal for the co
e sciousness that she was helping to maj
e others happy Yet cheerful and sunshiI
5 as she was, she had weary time the fiI
r wear or two. The very readiness wi
which she learned made it the harder I
Y her. for Madam Mapes soon found her tas
\ and skill invaluable, aud called them in
e constant service.