Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-08-19
What Was She Coed For Z?


bowling outside, and the drifts of fast
falling snow binding the vision of all ad-
venturous pesestrians but within Cyrus
Wards home circle all was snug bright
ness and warmth. 1t was a plain little
room, nevertheless, where Mr.. Ward sat
at his table writing busily, with a pile of
dictionaries, encyclopedias, and periodicals
lying beside him for reference a tall, re-
fined-looking man, with grey hairs al
ready beginning to CLEAN in the thin locks
that overhung brow and temple. His
wife was like himself-pale, slender, and
worn-,and the three girls sitting round
the fireplace completed the circlet of fam
lily jewels; Bessie. Nellie, and Ida
three dmpled, rosy, soft-eyed girls, all of
them with sweet voices like birds, and
pink cheeks, and lips coral red and ripe
all them seemed alike to casual locker
on, in degree that was almost puzzllng
and all of them dissimiar as possible,
when you became acquainted enough to
distinguish them.
Bessie-she e was the tall one, with the
tiny scar on her left temple, where she
fell down stairs in the palmy days of ba-
byhood, and the mischievous sparkle
in the hazel eyes-sat at her own especial
table coloring photographs, AN amusement
whereby she contrived to add numerous
little comforts to the family housekeeping.
Nell was ripping apart the breadths of a
mcrino dress, which was to be dyed black,
afterwards made for mamma in the very
newest style; and Ida was, according to
her usual fashion, doing nothing.
For Ida Ward was the useless member
Of the family. Bess would not trust her
with the photographs, because she was al
ways sure to spill blot Of carminc on
the nose Of the subject" instead of de-
posting it, in an orthodox manner, on the
cheek Nellie shrank from the assistance
of one whose scissors were fatal IN their
clips Whatever she sewed had labor
iously to be taken out-whatever she
cooked was looked upon suspiciously, as
somewhat akin to poison; and with all
the intelligence III the world to rerdcr
herself generally useful, Ida found her.
self ANONYMOUSLY reduced to the condi-
tion of domestic do.nothing.
Il really don't know what Ida is good
for" Mrs. Ward said, tboughtfully.
Mr. Ward looked up smilingly from
his manuscripts, and said, encouragingly,
in the midst Of Nellie and Bessie's laugh.
ter, III know what she is good for; she
makes the incest little pet in the world"
And he parted Ida's curly head as she
nestled close to his chair, never dreaming,
as he plunged once more into the vortex
Of the encyclopedias, how grateful the girl
was for the kind word and lcok for Ida
was painfully sensitive on the subject Of
her own incapacities.
Il wish l could do something like you
girls" said Ida, piteously. "Could't |
teach as a governess, Bessie 2"
"You teach !" said Bessie, with good.
humoured scorn. "Why, you'd run away
and begin to cry if a canary bird looked
at you!'
II might embro ider, perhaps. ifopc Of
you girls would 60 to Madame Chiffnon's
and get me little work."
"And toll six months for as many shil-
lings Z" laughed Nellie. "No. no, IDA;
work isn't your 0rte!'
"Well, what is my .forte?" demanded
poor little Ida. with the courage born Of
desperation.
Nell shrugged her shoulders. Bessie
only laughed; and Ida, receiving no hu.
man sympathy, took the cat on her lap.
and with her wet eyes buried in pussy's
white fur, whispered, "Oh, pussy! pus-
sy! am very miserable !" For it is sad
problem to overshadow the brightness of
any young human life. What am !
good for? Lcan't even get married J"
thought Ida, with thrill Of secret morti-
fica,on; '.for no gentleman ever looked
at me twice | could learn blacksmith's
trade, If were man, or printers, or
silversmith's. Oh, why wasn't | a manY'
It was hard enough, under the most
propitous circumstances to"nake both
ends meet" in the Ward family; but
when the quiet, Woodworking MIR. Ward
himself suddenly fell i'll with congestion
of the lungs, panic came over them
shudder Of lncxpressible dlsmay. For
the literary toll wberewith he eked out
the family resources must perforcc come
to staad-still when brain and hand alike
refused to perform their duty.
The rent was coming due; the unpaid
grocer's bill stared them in the face with
its undeniabe facts and figures; and poor
Bessic.s small photographs were all that
STAYED off the inevitable battalions ofI
| Wanti Not fAynrahle state OF things