Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-03
Taking a Situation.

| like a princess, with large, dark eyes Diana
like features, and hair twisted in sort of
coronal around her quecnly head While I,
plain, homcspun Susannah commonly
called. for short" Susy-crouched upon a
| footstool ia the corner, my elbows on my
knees, and my chin in my hands
Uncle Barnabas Berkelin sat in the middle
OF the circle erect stiff and rather grim.
| lie was stout and short. with a grizzled
moustache, a little, round bald spot ON the
crown of his head, and two glittering black
eyes that were always sending their dusky
| lightnings in the direction least expected.
| Uncle Barnabas was rich, and we were poor.
| Uncle Barnabas was wise in the ways Of the
world. and we were inexperienced. Uncle
Barnabas was prosperous in all he did /;
while il there was bad bargain to be made,
we were pretty sure to be the ones to make
it. Consequently, and as a matter of course,
we looked up to Uncle Barnahas, and rever-
cnced his opinions.
"What do we propose to do about it 2"
Eleanor slowlyrepeated, lifting her beautiful
jotty brows.
"Yes, that's exactly it" said my mother
nervously "becausn, Brother Barnabas we
don't pretend TO be business women, and it's
certain that we cannot live comfortably on
our present income. Something has got to
be done"
And then my mother leaned back in her
chair, with a troubled face
Yes" said Uncle Barnabas something
has got to be done. But who's TO do it 2"
And another dead silence succeeded
81 suppose your girls are educated ?" said
Uncle Barnabas. 81 know found enough
old school bills, when was looking over my
brothers papers"
"Of course, said my mother with evident
pride; their education has been most eN-
pensive music, drawing, use Of the globe"
Yes, yes, Of COURSE" interrupted Uncle
Barnabas. "But is it practical? Can they
teach p
Eleanor looked dubious. was quite GER
tain that I could not. Madame Lenoir,
among all her list of accomplishments, had
not included the art Of practical tuition.
Humph o. grunted Uncle Barnabas. "A
queer thing, this modern idea Of education.
Well, if you can't teach, you can surely do
something What do you say, Eleanor, to
situation 2"
A situation 2"
The color huttercd in Eleanor's cheeks
like pink and white apple blossoms
81 spoke plainly enough, didn't ?" said
Uncle Barnabas, drily. " Yes, situation"
What sort of situation, Uncle
Barnabas?"
"Well, | can hardly say. Part servant,
part companion to an elderly lady" explained
the old gentleman.
90, Uncle Barnabas, | couldn't do that !"
"Not do il ? And why not ?"
It's too much-too much" whispered
Eleanor losing her regal dignity in the pres
sure of the moment "lke going out to SER
vice"
"And that is precisely what il isl" re.
torted Uncle Barnabas, nodding his head.
=" Service Why, we're all out at service, in
one way or another, in this world !"
"Oh, yes, know" faltered poor Eleanor,
who, between her distaste for the proposed
plan and her anxiety not TO offend Uncle
Bamabas Berkelin, didn't quite know what
TO say. But I've always been educated
to be Il ~"
So you won't take tho situation, ell ?"
said Uncle Rarnabas staring mp at a wishy-
washy little water color drawing of Cupid
aud Pysche an "eXhibition piece of poor
Eleanor's, which hung above the chimney
piece.
81 couldn't indeed, sir"
Wages twenty-five dollars nonth,"
mechanically repeated Uncle Bainabas, as if
he were saving off a lesson. "Drive out in
the carriage every day with the missns, cat
and canary to take care of, modern house,
with all the Improvements, Sunday after
moons to yourself, and two weeks, spring aud
fall, 10 visit your mother"
No, Uncle Barnabas, no." said Eleanor,
with little shudder. " am true Berke-
lin, aud | cannot stoop to menial duties"
Uncle Barnabas gave such prolonged
sniff, "a to suggest the idea of very bad
cold in his head, indeed
Sorry" said he. Heaven helps those
who help themselves, and you can't expect
me TO be any more liberalminded than
Heaven. Sister Rachel" to my mother,
"what do you say?"
My mother drew her pretty little figure
up trifle more erect than usual.
Z" think my daughter Eleanor is quite
right" said she. "The Berkelins have al
ways been ladies'"
| had sat quite.silent still with my chin
in my hands, during all this family discus
sioni but now rose up and came creeping
to Uncle Barnahas' side.
Well, little Susy," said the old gentle
man, laying his hand kindly on my wrist
"what is itp"
"If you please, Uncle iiaruabas," said |,
with rapidly throbbing heart, Z" would
like TO take the situation"
"Bravol" cried Uncle Banabas.
"My dear childl" exclaimed my mother
.SudanaLl" !" uttered Eleanor, ia accents
by no means Mandatory.
Yes" said l. "fwrntv-five dollars n
month is great deal Of money, and | was
never afraid Of work. | think will 90 TO the
old lady, Uncle Barabas. I'm sure | could
send home at least twenty dollars a month
10 mother aud Eleanor, aud then the two
weeks, spring aud fall, would he so nice
Please, Uncle Barnabas, III go back with
you when you CO. What is the old lady's
naWe2"
'Iler name 2" said Uncle Bamabas.-
" Didn't tell you2 It's Prudence-M
| prudencel"
"What a nice nalne!H said L 81 know
shall like her."
"Well, think you will" said Uncle Bar
nabas, looking kindly at me. And think
she will like you. Is il bargain for the
nine o'clock train tomorrow morning Z"
Yes" answered, stoutly, taking care
not 10 look in the direction Of my mother
and Eleanor,
"You're the most sensible of the lot, said
Uncle Barnabas, approvingly.
But after he had gone to bed in the best
chamber, where the ruiiled pilow-cases were,
and the chintz-cushioned easy chair, the full
| strength OF the family tongue broke on my
devoted head.
81 can't help it," quoth |, holding vallantly
to my colors, ave can't starve. Some Of
ns must do something. And you can live
very nicely, mother, darling, on twenty dol
lars month";
" That is true" sighed my mother from
behind her black-borlered pocket-handlSer-
chief. " But lneyer thought 10 see daugh-
ter of mine going out TOTO service"
"And Uncle Barnabas isn't going to do
anything for us, after ALL" cried out Eleanor,
Indignantly. stingy old fellow should
think he might at least adopt one of us.
Hes as rich as Cresus, and never chick
nor child"
lie may do as he likes about that" an
swered, Independently 81 prefer to earn
my own money"
So the next morning set out for the un-
! known bourne Of New York life