Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-05-21

elapsed ere my mother, with all our
goods, was in the new quarters. 1t did
not take us long to place our furniture
and make things look quite snug and
coy.
After we had them all arranged and we
were seated before comfortable fire /
noticed with real joy how the clouds
seemed to clear away from my mothers
brow and she began to look quite like
herself again; still she did not enlighten
me as to the cause of her perturbed man
ner during the day, and l studiously
avoided the subject.
Our new abode seemed like palace to
me. had left all the ghosts behind. l
laid myself upon the bed that night with
a feeling of happiness which had not
felt for years before. The clouds which
had been hanging over US so long and so
darkly seemed to be clearing away, and
the rainbow of hope and promise to be
stretching across our hitherto darkened
horizon.
MY mother and myself were two lonely,
isolated beings. Our only communion
was with each other. We had but little
in common with the great world around
us; yet, dependent as we were upon each
other, / was not confiding in everything.
With the munitions of a child woman i
soon learned what would distress my
mother; learned, too, that she had too
much TO endure, and that must keep the
disagreeable from her as much as posi-
BILE. Actuated by such motives / some.
times carried out my plans without con-
fding them to her, knowing that she
could only feel the reality without, as in
most cases, suffering that which is far
worse, the anticip alton.
The next morning I arose early and
dressed myself for another excursion. /
had determined upon situation in some
store. The principal Of the school where
graduated was my friend, and had prom.
Used to assist me in securing place as
teacher when / wished it. had, upon
reflection, concluded that was too young
for a teacher, and, besides, not well adapt
ed 10 the profession; l enjoyed a more
active life. was at this time not quite
seventeen, although was mature enough
for eighteen. Few could realize that /
was such a child in years.
was sanguine and feared no rebuffs,
nor did / find any here, for my friend
seemed happy to carry out his promise,
rather, however, giving the preference
to teaching. Getting his hat and cane we
were soon upon the street. l was sur
prised when he took me into large
wholesale and retail establishment, and,
taking me into an office, introduced me
TO the principal of the house. saying:
"Here is little friend and pupil of
mine to whom l wish you to give stu.
alton, If possible"
When looked in this gentleman's face
| Immediately recognized our former
benefactor. He too gave me momentary
look Of recognition, but we neither OF us
alluded to former meeting.
eyes," he promptly replied, II can
take her on trial at small salary, say
twenty-five dollars per month, if that will
suit, and promise to make it more when
she understands the business, if she stays.
Many young folks get tired very soon and
give up"
I gladly accepted the situation and
promised to be at the place in the morn
ing, as they happened to need sales
woman very much.
AS soon as these preliminaries were all
thanking my friend, left the
NY SUCCESS had made me SO happy. Like
all sanguine temperaments | felt my feet
Just on the road to fortune.
There was one unpleasant duty con-
nected with the affair which / earnestly
wished was well over. That was telling
my mother. / was not quite sure IL would
meet with her approval. Yet my sole OBJ
iect was to relieve her Of wha: seemed to
toll xiaf-
ence.
When | reached home / found my
mother had been anxious about my long
absence. She had been busy making
many new arrangements in our rooms
cheerful appearance.
Like my sex generally was anxious
to get rid of the diagreeable at once, so
preached the subject Immediately.
Mother" said, al hope you will not
be displeased with me when l tell you l
have made an engagement to go into
store as saleswoman tomorrow"
My mother was a quiet, undemonstra-
tive person, but at this announcement she
left her chair and came toward me with
look Of displeasure and surprise l had
never seen before, saying, in tones severe
IOr neT
"Virginia, you are not surely in earn:
est. You cannot mean to act for yourself
without even having the courtesy TO con-
suit my wishes. / have allowed you to
have your own way in many things lately,
because thought your judgment could
be trusted, but / had no idea that you
would thus abuse my indulgence"
"Forgive me, my dear mother" re.
piled. 81 should have told you, but
feared you would not sanction my course,
and could not go in direct disobediencee
to your commands; SO | had concluded
that when it was done you would not re-
fuse your consent. What Is there before
us but life of labors To sit and sew as
you have done for years--to wear out all
the freshness of my youth in such dull,
stupid work, without earning more than
sufficient To keep body and soul together
is asking too much of me. No, no! you
must not ask or expect it,
NV mothers face had softened. She
had seated herself beside a table, her Ell.
bow resting upon 1t, whilst her hand
shaded her eyes so as to conceal her
tears whilst l was talking. At length
wiping away her tears she looked up and
answered me:
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