The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-18


and his four girls and two boys all un-
married, and looking to him for sup
port.
II had been a hard struggle with the
Doctor, from the time of his first setting
up to practice dentistry until that where
in our story opens. Had he been thor
ouyh disciple of old Esculapius, instead
of n follower of one of the branch trades,
urobably he would have done better, and
drawn in more of the golden substance
which he wedged into his patients
months. As it was, however, the Doctor
had lust managed, with the aid Of his
wife-who, somehow, had wonderful
knack Of making one dollar go as far as
MANY another would fve-to scrape
along from year to year, till the eldest
daughter, Isabel, had attained her TWEEN
tieth birthday. And this brings me to
the opening of my story, which was in
1857. when the great crash came, and
money was so scarce-consequent upon
which state Of affairs, the Hascomb fam
lily felt, more than ever, the pressing
pinchings of small means.
have said there were six children of
them-four girls and two boys. Unfor-
tunately for the girls, the boys were the
youngest, and this fact made them fully
aware that they must depend upon their
looks, and their fathers position in life,
for their final settlement. Doctor Has
combs standing enabled his family to
mingle in the circles of the city of their
birth; for it is we'll known that all pro-
fessional devotees are admitted into So
called "good society" Yet this was
source of trouble, as we'll as pleasure and
satisfaction, for the very slender purse of
the Doctor was often required to do mar
vels in the way of finding presentable
outfits in which the girls must make their
appearance.
But Mrs. Hascomb and the Doctor
had managed admirably, thus far. to sus-
tain their position, without really much
expenditure; although, as has been said,
this was owing more TO the tact of the
lady than to her husband. Women are
so much better diplomats in such mat
ters than their more awkward, less capa-
BILE spouses.
When Isabel left school at eighteen,
and, the following winter, came out in
society, there was call for extra manage
ment ON the part of Mrs Hascomb, for
suitable outfit for her presentation.
But this event had been calculated up
ON beforehand; so that, for the first year
or two, there was not perceptible drain
on the household purse, excepting that
the smaller girls frocks were required to
last little longer, and the boys were
kept in Jackets, and from the wearing of
the boots that their age and their clam
oring wishes would have demanded.
"But never mind thGtP' said their mo-
ther, when these juveniles, bubbling
over with grief and excitement, a Christ
mas, had burst into the room where she
sat, crying out against their own depri-
Vations.
ooh, mamma, frankie Howe had such
splendid pair of new boots" exclaimed
George. "Santa Claus brought 'em last
night; and he asked us why he didn't
stop at our house and leave us some too!
Why do you suppose he didn't mamma?
Didn't you or papa tell him to2 Oh,
wish YOU had!" "And don't he come
only at Christmas, mammal" asked little
Eddie. ave can't wait till next year;
can we, George? Won't papa get us
some New Years day." he Intercepted.
And the mother replied appeasingly!
"Never mind what frankie Howe has
got, my sons. Perhaps Santa Claus
hadn't sufficient boots for all his little
family this year. Well wait and see if
he doesn't remember my George and
Eddie next Christmas; and, until that
time, they can get along very well with
the stout, thick shoes they had this fall"
Eyes, Eddie, 1 s'pose Well have to
wait!" said the elder and more thought
full Geirge. "Father can't get them now,
1 know, for you know he's been sick this
two weeks, and hasn't been able to pull
out anybody's teeth and get much mo-
ney."
GWell, 1 don't care now, if do wait
till next year." exclaimed little Eddie,
as he and George were leaving the room
together. "But know that when l get
to be a man I'll just have as many boots
as l want. I'll buy a whole hundred
pairs to time; and wear 'em all, guess
if want to! Shan't you Georgie?"
Here the door closed behind them, and
Mrs. Hascomb lost Georges reply but
the smile Eddie's words had called upon
her countenance gradually gave place to
the perplexed look which she often
wore, and her fingers relaxed from her
work till it fell from her hands, and she
sat thinking, very wearily, of the hard
struggle they daily went through in or
der to perform that very common house
hold miracle of making both ends
meet"
During Isabel's first winter in society,
being more than ordinary pretty, she
had received much attention from the
opposite sex, and, more than that, had
these was in any degree eligible, and, as
the young girl had no particular fancy
for the other, she had refused BOTH
Lawyer Burrows, taking the pre-emin
ence in age ard wealth, had been tn,
first to offer Isabel his hand and fortune
but his age was forty-6ve and he was {
widower. She refused him, of course
tremblingly and blushingly, but decided
ly, for the girl had a heart. She wal
then eighteen, and had rosy-tintet
dreams of life-of a brave young suitor
delicious wooing, and happy bridal
and then of a pleasant home of her own
wish no necessary pinching restriction
in dress or household arrangements.
Tn other offer was from an appren
tice her father-a young man from
distant town, who wished to become
profcienk in the dentrifcial art ha,