Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-11-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
TAKING a SITUATION,

s, 80 TAKING A SITUATION.
ELL, girls, = said my Uncle Barnabas,
u, ,Ss$T y land now what do you propose to do
about it?""
We sat around the fire in discopsolato
semi>cirele, that dreary, drizzing May night,
.wheen, t the rain spattered against the window
,papes and the poor little daffodils in The bor>
.ders shook aud shivered as il they would Iaini
| hide; their golden heads once more in the
mother,soil, My mother, Eleanor and L.
The first, pale, and pretty, and silver, haired.
With the widows cap and her dress Of black
bonbaziue and crspe tho sweetest>looking
old lady, | think, that ever saw Eleanor,
sat beside her. locking, as she always did,
like princes, with large, dark eyes, Diana
like features, and hair, twisted in sort of
,coroIal around her queenly head.s While I :.
PLAIN, homespun Susaunah-commonlyc called !,
'for short,," fSusy crouched upon footstooi
'in the corner, my elbows on my knees and my
chin in my hands.
- U6cle Barnabas Berkeln satirtho middle
Of the circle, erect stiff and rather g:im.--.
He was stout and short; with grizzed mus
.tache, little, 'rbund bald spot on the crown
of'his head, and two glit,ering black eyes tha,
wete' always sending Cher dusEy lightniugs
in the direction least expected. Unclc Bar
|
Bur rGabas was wise in the ways of the world,
and 'wet were uexperienced Uncle Barua.
bas was posperous in oil he did; while, ir there
was a bad bargain obe made, VIC were pretty
| sure to be the ones to make it, Consequently,
and as matter of course, we looked up to
'uncic Barnabus, apd reverenced his opinions
"What do VIC propose 70 do about it 2''-
Eleanor slowly repeated, lifting her beautiful
rjetty brows: l-s
+ 9 ayes, that's exactly it," said my mother,
nerVously ''bccaLse, Brother BArnabas we
+ don't pretend to be business woman, and its
certain that we cahnot.Iive comfortably on our
present income, Something has got to be
dunea" 1 > = sl sL
:. And then my mother leaued back in her
| chair With Troubled face .
. "Y6s," said iUnce! Barnabas, something
has, got to: be doRel But who's to do it 2" ,
Er And another dead silence succeeded.
II suppose your girls arc educated 2" said
'Unclc' Barnahas. n know I found enough
old schdolsbilIs when was looking over my
; brothers. papers,"
yot'Qfcourse," said my mother, with evident
pride !; their, education has been most cx.
pensve. Music, drawing, use Of tho globes
h:aA ~ .na' sar. al ~
Psa eyes, yes, of COURSE" interrupted Uncle
biBarpabas.as "But is it practical2 Can they
teach T. .y ,.-f ys,3,.5 -.
Eleanor looked dubious I was quite GER,
tain That I could not. Nine Lenoir, among
nll'her listAof accom- pIishmcnts, had not in.
cluded the artof-practical tuition: - ~
bdI Hump r. gruuted Uncle Barnabas. =
i"Qqecr thing, this modern idea of education
Well, if you can't teach you can surely do
Asomethihg! What do you say, Eleahor, to q
lsituation?" n as7 srs e. -.
~ ssA. situation p a1.-s a., -s
asaT The color fluttered in Eleanor's cheeks like
| pink and white apple blossoms,
~ smoke plain enough, didn't I 2" said
nUdcle .I3ariabas, dryly. eyes, Stuaiiou!'
'.:What snrtof situation, U Gle Barnabas2"
"Nell l can hardly say. Part servant,
past tcompdnion to an elderly lady ~ ex-
/ Plained ahe old gentleman. "a r
(.7 sob, Unole Barnabas, l couldn't do that"
~ Not do it !? And Why not Z"
It's too much-too much r'iwhispered
'Eleanor, losing her regal dignity in the pres
sure. of the emergency; ''like going out to
service ss.I5e s1ssfs, ..-zg.s
h, "SAlpd - nd that is precisely what it is!' re.
torted Uncle Barnsbas nodding is head
''SeTvice! Why, we're all out at service, in
1oEeyway or another, in this worIdw y
lis f1"Oh, yes. know" faltered poor Eleanor,
sghp, between ber distaste for the proposed
] pau anu HeI du1Iety uoI 10 CLenu Oocle bar
nsbaas Berk e1in, didn't quite know what to say.
Bat live always been educated to bc a
lady.".tas III.
so you won't take the situation, eh ?'
said Uncle -Baruabas, starting up at wishy-
washys little water.oolor drawing of Cupid
and Psyche, an. Exhibition piece" of poor
Eleanor's, which hung above the chimney
piece.
F. az couldn't, indeed, sir.' iea'
ssa:' Wsges's#enty Eve dollars month, " me-
Chemically repeated Uncle Barpabas. as if he
sNere saying of q lesson. :...Driye out avery
day iu the carriage with the missus. cat and
,caoaEy to take care Of modern house with all
| the improvements. Sunday sfternoons to your.
self, ard two weeks, spring and fall. to visit
your mother 7gS gaias 81. .ec-
sls" No, Ituele Barnabas," said Eleanor, with
little shudder.. Il am a true Berkelin, and
cannot stoop to menial duties"
Uncle Barnabas gave such prolonged sniff
as to. suggest the idea of very bad cold in
iEis head indeed.
ts'g"s6fry." said he. "Heaven helps those
Who sRelp themselves: and you can't expect me
to be any more liberal. minded than heaven.
Sister Baehel,", to my mother, what do you
f6S My mother dfew her pretty little figure up
FriAnI fSnya4 arants than if5uaiS = f7ryAks