The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-08-10

Pu1 en- IN DID pan OF not
"The careless thingl Anything else,
George2"
Eyes; two Of the china cups, and
the cream Jug are broken, and three Of
the spoons and forks are missing"
"0nly three? Well. she wasn't very
sharp or she would have taken more
than that she had chance enough.
But / won't fret over that now. II !
can, only keep Lizzie West until i am
strong enough TO do my own work
again, I'll never have another Irish girl
in the house."
At the end of the week Mr.. Lane
said, " Lizzie, I never thought TO ask
what you are going TO charge for the
privilege Of making us so comfortable,
so I'll ask now"
"I had not thought OF that, sir j
came because Mrs. Lane was sick, and
Ithought / could make her comfortable.
l never once thought Of wages"
"That may be, but cannot let you
work for us for nothing. We want you
to stay a month or two, II you will. We
paid Bridget twelve dollars a month.
/ would willingly give you more II you
will stay; your work Is worth more
than hers, TO say nothing Of the waste
she made. What doyou say to fifteen
dollars y re.a
"Icannot tell now, sir; I shall have
TO speak to mother before I decide"
"Well, let me know as soon as you
have made up your mind" ia-
81 hope she isn't going TO disappoint
me now" he thought to himself. "I
thought her above the silly prejudice
against work."
Lizzie lay awake a long time that
night, thinking over Mr.. Lanes propo.
sition. The next evening she went
home for n short time, and, rs soon rs
the inquiries aflor Mrs. Lanes health
were answered, she said:
Mother, 1 think I shall stay some
time longer. Mrs. Lano wants me, and
Mr.. Lane offered me fifteen dollars a
month. ! shall stay and be earning
something for myself, instead OF
making one more for father to sup
port.
She thought she understood tho dis.
like her mother and sisters felt toward
such proceeding, but she was not
prepared for the reproaches that assail.
cd her on all sides. She tried for
time to answer them quietly and pa.
tiently, but OF last, turning TO her faith.
ef, she asked him II he would not help
her.
"There is no real need Of your do.
ing this, Lizzie" he answered, al
should like II, II you could end some.
thing your mother would like better.
For my own part, 1 can see no disgrace
in what you propose doing; my mother
and sister both occupied such positions,
and I,neyer knew that they were re.
spected the less Tor II. You must make
ysur own choice, my daughter, but
consider it well before you decide. II
may subject you to some very unpleas-
ant Sights"
Mr.. West was called out to speak to
aneighbor, and Us soon as the door
closed behind him, the girls began
again. Bat Lizzie brayely stood her
ground.
"There Is no use in talking, girls /; IL
father does not object, I shall go. You
say I have no pride. I have pride
enough 10 earn my own living II pos.
sibly can. lean state the whole case
in very few words. You all know that
father has mortgnged his farm 10 help
Uncle Charles in his trouble /; you
know, too, that this year il will be
nearly impossible for him to pay the
interest. ] try to got along with as
little rs possible, but everything
counts. Now here Ihave good chance |
offered me, and would be very foolish
not TO take it. I don't SEQ any more
disgrace in sweeping floors and wash.
ing dishes for Mrs. Lane, than doing II |
at home. You know that she is not the
woman TO treat one as th ugh I had no
rights Of my own"
"If you are bound to work, Liz,
why don't you try to teach?"
"Ihave neither the taste nor inclina.
ton to teach. Besides there are dozen
applicants for every vacant situation.
l should stand no chance ut all with
those who have spent time and money
in preparation for the work. You
know that my throat and lungs are not
very strong, and would last but short
time il tried teaching. / am sorry
you feel so badly, Jalia, but cannot
see that am doing anything wrong.p
"You are Just as obstinate in this as
everything. else. You know we shall
be cut by all our friends"
"No, don't know any such thing.
People whose friendship Is worth hav.
ing will respect me none the less forty.
ing to maintain myself honestly, and
others I do not care for. II is useless
10 talk any longer, II only makes mat.
ters worse. promised TO go back to.
night, and will go and get ready.
When she came down stairs again
her mother and sisters wero still in
tears. Neither OF them returned her
kiss or hardly spoke when she bade
them "good night" As she passed
through the hall her father stopped her
md said:
Lizzie, you will need stout heart
10 bear you through /; II you find IL loo
hard work, come home again. My chill.
iren are all welcome as long as can
keep home for them. II is better for
you all to learn 10 support yourselves,
Tor perhaps youwill have to do II some.
lime. Good night, my daughter
He gave her kiss and helped her
INTO the wagon (for Mr.. Lane had
sailed for her on his return from the
store). She told Mrs. Lane that even.
Ing that she had deci6ed to stay as long
rs they wished 10 keep her.