South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-12-10
TAKING A SITUATION.

y
May night, when the rain battered a.
gainst the window panes and the poor
little dafrodis in the borders shoolS and
shivered as if they would fain hide their
( golden heads once more in the mother.
soil. Ny mother, Eleanor and /. The
first, pale, and pretty, and silver-haired.
with the widows cap AMI her dress of
black bombazine and Grape the sweet
est-looking old lady, think, that | ever
saw. Eleanor sat beside her, looking as
she always did, like aprinces, with large,
dark eyes. Diana-likc features, and hair
4 twisted in a sort of coronal around her
( queenly head. While I, plain, home-
spun Susannah-commonly called. "for
short" Susy-crouched upon a footstool
in the corner. my elbows on my knees
and my chin in my hands.
! Uncle Barnabas Bcrllclin sat i'm the
middle of the circle, erect, stiff and rath-
err grim. lie was stout and short. with
n grizzel mustache, Il little, round bald
spot on the crown of his head, and two
glittering black eyes that were always
sending their dusly lightnings i'm the lii
rection least expected. Uncle Barna-
has 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, if there was bal bargain
to be made. we were pretty sure to be
the ones to make it. Consequently, and
as n matter OF course, we looked up to
Uncle Barnabas, and reverenced his O.
| piniOns.
What do we propose to do about it?"
Eleanor slowly repeated, lifting her beau
tiful jetty brows
YES. that exactly it," said my moth
or. nervously; because, Brother Bar
nabas, 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 he done
And then my mother leaned back i'll
her chair with troubled face.
Yes" said Uncle Barnabas, "some
thing has got to be done. But who $
to do it?'
And another dead silence succeeded
Il suppose your girls are ciucated?'
said Uncle Barnabas. Il know | found
enough old school-bills when was look
ing over my brothers papers,
"Of course" said my mother, with CIV.
N'CuO l'iNics c'luCitlOu has DcSU
most expensive. Music, drawing. use
of the gl,bes -
Yes. yes, Of course" interrupted I'M
Gle Barnabas. but is it practical?--
Can they teach?"
Eleanor looked dubious. | was quite
certain that Icould not Nine Lcnoir
among all her list of accomplishments
had not included the art of practical
tuition.
Hump" grunte1 Uncle Barnabas
Queer thing. this modern idea of cdu
cation. "Wcll, if You can't teach you
can surely do something! What do you
say. Eleanor, to situaton?"
a situaton?''
The color fluttered in Eleanors checks
like pink and white apple blossoms.
Il spoke plain enough, didn't II" said
Uncle Barnabas, dryly. Yes, Situn
Honr'
"What sort of situation, Uncle Bar.
nabas?"
We'll, can hardly say. Part ser.
want, part companion to an elderly la
dy!' explained the old gentleman.
"Oh. Uncle Barnabas, | couldn't do
that"
-NOJ W II. huu WHY DOJ.
ITS too much-too much - whisper.
ed Eleanor, losing her regal dignity in
the pressure OF the emergency; like
going out to service"
And that is precisely wha' il isl''
retorted 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 FL.
eanor, who, between her distaste for the
proposed plan aud her anxiety not to
offend Uncle Barnabas Berkelin. didn't
quite know what to say. "But 1--we
always been educated to he n lady"
$50 You won't take the situation. eh ?''
said Uncle Barnabas. starting mp at q
wishy-washy little watcr.color drawing
sof Cupid and Psyche. an exhibition
piece Of poor Elcanor's. which hung a.
boye the chimney piece.
II couldn't indeed. sir"
Wages twenty five dollars n month"
mechanically repeated Uncle Barnabas.
rs if nc were saying OF n lesson
. Drive ont every day in the carriage with
the missus. cat and canary TO take care
Of modern house with ali the improve.
ments. Sunday afternoons to yourself
aud two weeks, spring and fall, 20 visit
your mother"
mo Uncle Barnabas," said Eleanor
with little shudder. II am a true Berke.
lin, and cannot stOop to mental duties"
Uncle Barnabas gave such prolong
cd sniff as TO suggest the idea Of very
bad cold in his head indeed.
"Sorrv," said he. "Heavcn helps those
who help themselves, and you can't OK
poet inc TO he any more liberal-minded
than heaven. Sister Rachel" 10 my
mother, "what do you say?"
My mother drew her pretty little o.
ure mp trifc more erect than usual.
II think my daughter Eleanor Is quite
right" said she. The Berkelins have
always been ladies'"
] had sat quite silent still with my
chin in my hands, during all this fami
" discussion but now I rose up and