The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-01-06
TAKING A SITUATION,

"Well, girls" said my Uncle Barna-
bas, and now what do you propose to
do about it ?"
We sat around the fire in disconso-
late semi-circle that dreary. drizzling
May night, when the rain pattered
against the window panes and the poor
little daffodils in the borders shook and
shivered as if they would fain hide their
golden heads once more in the mother
soil. My mother, Eleanor and 1. The
first, pale and pretty, and silyer-haired,
with the widows cap and her dress of
black bombazine and Grape; the sweet
est looking old lady l think that l ever
saw. Eleanor sat beside her, looking, as
she always did, like a princess, with
large, dark eyes, Diana-like features, and
her queenly head. While /, plain, home
spun Susanna-commonly called, " for
short" Susy-crouched upon footstool
in 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. He was stout and short,
with grizzled mustache, little round,
bald spot on the crown of his head, and
two glittering black eyes that were al
ways sending their dusky lightnings in
the direction least expected. Uncle Bar
nabas was rich and we we're very 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 bad bargain to
be made we were pretty sure to be the
ones to make it. Consequently, and as
matter of course, we looked up to I'm
Gle Barnabas, and reverenced his opin-
ions.
"What do we propose to do about it ?''
Eleanor slowly repeated, lifting her beau
tiful jetty brows.
"Yes, that's exactly it." said my
mother, nervously; because, Brother
Barnabas, we don't pretend to be bust.
ness women, and it's certain we cannot
live comfortably on our present income.
Something has got to be done.'
/ My mother leaned back in her chair
with troubled face.
eyes," said Uncle Barnabas, "s some.
thing has got to be done but who's tc
do it I"
Another dead silence succeeded.
!" / suppose you girls are educated, u
said Uncle Barnabas; I know l found
enough old school-bills when was look.
ing over my brothers papers,"
"Of course" said my mother, with
evident pride: "their education ha!
been most expensive. Music, drawing
use of the globes"
Yes, yes, of course" interrupted Un
Gle Barnabas. "But is it practical ? CaI
they teach p
Eleanor looked dubious. was quit,
certain that 1 could not. Nine. Lenoir
among all her list of accomplishments
had not included the art of practical tut
ton.
Humph |" grunted Uncle Barnabas
"Queer thing, this modern idea of edu
cation. Well, if you can't teach yol
can surely do something. What do yo1
say, Eleanor, to situation p
IA situation p
The color futtered in Eleanor's cheek
| like pink and white apple blossoms
"1spoke plain enough, didn't 1 ?" sal
4 Uncle Barnabas, dryly. '' Yes, situa
tion."
"What sort of situation, Uncle Bal
nabas?" ---=- -
"Well, can't hardly say. Part Sc
want, part companion to an elderly lady,
explained the old gentleman.
40, Uncle Barnabas, 1 couldn't d
: that"
"Not do it? And why not?'
seIts too much-too much" whispere
, Eleanor, losing her regal dignity in th
, pressure of the emergency, like goir
out to service"
t "And that is precisely what it is" r
torted Uncle Barnabas, nodding b
= head. "Servicel Why, we're all out
e service, in one way or another, in tn
world"
!, "Oh, yes, know" faltered poor Ele
nor, who, between her distaste for IL
: proposed plan and her anxiety not
l. offend Uncle Barnabas Berkelin, didn
n quite know what to say; but II
4 always been educated to be a lady"
$50 you won't take the situation, eh
i said Uncle Barnabas, staring up at l
q tie wishy-washy water-color drawing
is Cupid and Psyche, an "exhibitio
Ii piece" of poor Eleanor's, which hui
N above the chimney-piece.
"I couldn't, indeed, sir"
"Wages twenty-five dollars month
as mechanically repeated Uncle Barnab
lg as if he were saying off lesson. "Dri
le out every day in the carriage with t
N missus, cat and canary to take care
j. modern house with all the impro'
+ ments. Sunday afternoons to yOurss
ID and two weeks, spring and fall to vi
le your mother"
"No, Uncle .Barnabas, mol" said Ell
nor, with a little shudder. 81 am tt
a Berkelin, and l cannot stoop to men
of duties"
IT, IIncla Rarnahas gave such q nrnloni