Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-24

gravity. Something in Gertys words stirred In
her heart a new and,deep emotion. Over and
over in her mind she turned the question
"What might we not do to help papa, If we we're
boys ?" And by and by the question seemed to
lose it's proper shape, and take instead the form
" What can we do to help him, being what we
| are n
And Rae looking up from the patch she had
but lately finished setting in the cover of adivan
added fuel to tho fire already burning in Mabels
musing brain by asking, abruptly Pray why
don't you graduated young ladies go to work
teaching Poor folks shouldn't be proud.
| The worst is over, I'm sure. The what
| dye-call-it-that creek that Cesar or some
| body put his foot into-is passed. Everybody
knows our house has
"Gone down de hill.p
lyon girls might set to work and haul it up
again, If you only would. Who knows Y'
think they were all startled at this speech of
little Rae's. But no one answered 1t, and the
young girl continued
! "Ihere arc teachers bureaus and agencies and
things in plenty. All you have to do is to write
| TO them all and, while you're waiting for your
answers, apply TO the board of public schools
for situations right here at home and go TO work
and study up your ADMINISTRATIONS and
dates, and mountains, and capes, and preterit
dehnites, and thlngs-evefythin you've forgot
ten about, 30 as to be able to pass your examina-
| ton"
| "You seem to have given the matter. mature
consideration said her eldest sister, a trine
| ironically.
"Never Thought of it till this instant, respond
| cd Rae. "Force of circumstances, however,"
And the little maiden cast an expressive look
around her.
Mabel sighed, and arose and left tho ROOM
| She was soon followed by Gerty, who Joined her
IN the bed room which theyhad agreed to occupy
together.
f'what mercy they couldn't carry of the sta
tionary washstands, laughed Gerty, turning on
| the water
tsThav'Il no ,vha,, tJ al, time oo,oo. o1o,,, ,;t
the house, suppose" replied Mabel gloomily.
| ''Rae is right. We are going down hill rapidly
We shall soon reach the bottom, and then"
| Gerty did not reply at once. When she did,
| she spoke somewhat pettishly
81 never knew any one to be 30 utterly unfor-
| tunate as Papa. He has done nothing but lose
and lose and lose for the last five years, do be-
heye. At this rate, the result of his whole life
| il becoming failure"
"a failure, indeed, said Mabel, 'if with his
worldly possessions he loses the respect and es-
| TEEN of his children"
| Gerry looked around quickly.
"You know didn't mean-oh Mabel, did it
| sound like that? Poor Papa !" she said, in bro
ken sentences. And, with quickly-changing col
| or, and tried and tired and yexed with many
| things, most Of all with herself, she threw her
self upon the bed and cried.
For the next few days Mabel went into the
city regularly and remained from home half the
day.
Ono morning-it was Saturday-two weeks
later than the date of the sale, she surprised the
family around the breakfast-table by her simple
| announcement; 81 have got q situation as
trimmer in the dressmaking department of Mann
d Lumly. am to work ten hours day and to
receive twelve and half dollars week. be-
gin on next Monday morning. Can have my
breakfast at six O'Clock, Mammal"
| "Mabel Glenwood ~
| This from May, with hands a-lift, like two ex-
clamaton points.
| Are you in earnest, dear ~ from the mother
| with quiyering lips.
s'Never more 80 never half 80 much think.
| You will not be ashamed Of me, mamma, dear2 ?"
MY dear, brave darling" was all the mother
said but the tears were in her eyes as she
smiled fond, proud mother smile.
"How came you?" asked Rae. "Teachng
| pays better, and is rather more--the thing, you
| know"
ayes" said Mabel, quietly, 81 know. But 1
hate the bare idea of teaching. 1 like to sew
and trim and fuss up little prettinesses and l
don't sec the MORT in selecting for your work
| the thing you most cordially abhor, SO long as a
choice il open to you. II consider my sensi
bilties as capital, the difference in the pay
amounts to nothing"
GLOW did you manage it ?" asked Gerty.
~ first tried the old-fashioned, orthodox way
Of looking for place. " laughed Mabel ''and
with the usual result, L suppose. Then. in my
desperation, boldly presented myself to Mr..
| Mann, and with the conscious dignity and blood
| of all the Glenwoods' desired permission to 80
into his dressing department and personally to
| demonstrate to the forewoman my abilities
Promised to pay for any damage might do to
| dy in question and introduced me and my errand
| to her. She asked me what would like to do,
| and requested her to give me the fussiest and
most difficult piece OF trimming that she hap
| pened to have on hand. And truly think she
| complied For she gave me an overslSirt
of that slimsy slamsiest of stuff, Canton
crepe--black at that-to be trimmed in the
absurdest manner, with shells and leaves
wrought up of heavy English crepe. She point
| eddy informed.me that the Canton crepe cost five
dollars yard and the English nine. Well, 1
worked five hours ON that skirt, and the result
| of my labor was-my engagement. God willing,
next Saturday night I'll bring you my weeks wa
| ges."
Lots of our set have their dresses made at
Mann & Lumly's. You'll be in way to get "A
many snubbng, " said Rae, slipping her coffee.
~ suppose yes, replied Mable. II shall be-
come thereby better acquainted with human ma
ture. No amount of snubbing, however, can
effect my ladyhood. That did not come and l
trust will not go with papa's money.
Mr.. Glenwood, who had not spoken during the
meal, now arose from the table and went around
to Mable's seat and kissed her. Then without a
| word he quilted the room. A week later and
| Gerty had found her work. Through the agen-
| cy OF teachers bureau, she WAS directed to q
| position in seminary near her home-so near
| that her Sundays could be spent with her own
family. Little Rae, too, who was a brilliant
performer on kthe piano, secured three pupils
in music, whose lessons she gave after school
hours And thus in less than six weeks from the
dark day of the Sheriff's sale at GenwoodlBanks
| by the joint efforts Of these three, the family
were made richer by monthly income of ninety
dollars.
Nor was this the only result of these brave
helpers efforts to tighten their fathers heavy
burden. When one of Mr. Glenwood's heaviest
creditors heard of the action of these young la
| dies, he vowed that Glenwood should have an
extension Of six months on his paper held by
him. "For, said he, ''grit like this displayed
by those girls is bound to succeed and ought to
be encouraged. Glenwoodll come out all right
yet, and I'll give him lift Or be tormented."
After time May found her work also. She
had no special faculty for either teaching or Sow
ing. She could manage a household, though;
and she did that. She took boarders and made
| money.
Labor conquers all things. And by the united
labors of the family at Glenwood Banks the
debts are becoming smaller month by month,
and comforts are gathering again in the old
home, from which already honest work has
| driven away Hard Times.