Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-12-23

81 couldn't, indeed, SIR
"Wages twenty-five dollars a
month" mechanically repeated I'm
Gle Barnabas, as If he were saying off
lesson. "Drive out every day in
the carriage with the missus, cat and
canary to take care of, modern house
with all the improvements, Sunday
afternoons to yourself, and two
weeks, spring and fall, to visit your
mother"
"No Uncle Blrnabas." said Elean-
or, with little shudder. 81 am Il
true BerkeIin, and | cannot stoop to
menial duties"
Uncle Barnabas gave such a pro-
longed sniff as 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 llber-
al minded than heaven. Sister
Rachel" to my mother, what do
YOU say? ?"
Nv mother drew her pretty little
figure up trife more erect than
usual.
Il think my daughter Eleanor is
quite right" said she. THE Berke>
! lins have always been ladies"
| had sat quite silent, still with my
chin in my hands, during all this
family discussion; but now | rose up
and came creeping up to Uncle Bar
nabas' side.
"Well, little Susie" said the old
gentleman, laying his hand kindly
on my wrist, "what is il y
IF you please, Uncle Barnabas,
said |, with rapidly-throbbing
heart, Il would like to take the stu
ton"
"Bravo." cried Uncle BarnaLas.
MY dear child" exclaimed my
mother.
".Susannah !" uttered Eleanor, in
accents by no means laudatory.
"Yes," said |. "Twenty-fve dol
lars a month is a great deal Of money,
and | was never afraid of work. |
think | will 90 to the old lady, I'm
Gle Barnabas. I'm sure | could
send home at least twenty dollars a
month to mother and Eleanor, and
then the two weeks, spring and fall
would he so nice. Please, Uncle
Barnabas, I'll 90 back with you when
YOU 90. What is the old, ,Iady's namer'
"lIer name ~ said Uncle Barna-
bas. Didn't | tell you? It's Pru-
dence-Mrs. Prudence !"
"What nice name" said |. 81
shall like her.
"Well. think YOU will" said Tn
Gle Barnabas, boxing kindly at me.
"And | think she will like you. Is
it bargain for the nine o'clock train
to morrow morning."
"Ye>,' | answered, stoutly, taking
care not to look in the direction of
NV mother aud Eleanor.
"You're the most sensible of the
lot" said Uncle Barnabas, approv~
ingly.
But after he had gone to bed il
the best chamber, where the rutfied
pilIow-cases were, and the chintz
cushioned sy-chair, the full strength
of the family tongue broke On my
devoted head.
81 can't help it, quoth |. holding
valianily to my colors. I'VE cant
starve. Some of us must do some
thing. And YOU can live very nice
", mother darling, on twenty dol
lars Il month"
That is true" sighed my mother
from behind her black -bordered
pocket-handkerchief. "But | never
thought to see 4 daughter Of nine
going out to-to service"
"And Uncle Barnabas isn't going
to do anything for Us, afterall, cried
out Eleanor, Indignantly. "Stingy
old fellow; | should think he might
at least adopt one Of us! Hes as
rich as Crnsus, and never 4 chick
nor child"
"Hc may do as he likes about
that" [ answered Independently
Il prefer to earn my own money.
SO the next morning set out for
the unknown bourne of New York
! life.
Uncle Barnabss," said I, as the
train reached the city, "how shall !
find where Mrs.. Prudence lives -
"Oh, I'll go there with YOU said
he"
care YOU well acquainted with
her." yentured to ask.
ooh, very well indeed. :" answered
/ Uncle Barnabas, nodding his head
Sagcly.
We took hack at I've depot and
drove through so many streets that
my head spun around and around
/ Ike tcctotum before we stopped at
a pretty brown-stone mansion-it
/ looked like palace to my unaccus-
toned eyes and Uncle Barnabas
helped me out.
Here is where Mrs. Prudence
lives" sad he, with a chuckle.
4 neat littIe maid, with a frilled
white apron and rose-colored ribbons
/ in her hair, opened the door with a
courtesy, and was conducted into
an elegant apartment, gliding. exotic'
and blue-satin damask, when plump
old lady. dressed in black silk, with
the loveiest Nalenciennes lace at her
throat and wrists, came smilingly for
ward. ike Il sixty-year-old sunbeam.
$50 you've come back, Barnabas,
have you," said she. And brought
one of the dear girls with you
/ !