Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-07-06
Her sehen, rather visionary

first introduced 10 her. She bad been
subjected to trial of which theagentle,
sensitive country girl had not dreamed.
While the young people are preparing
to go out on their boating excursion,
Harry Robinson, the farmers four
year old son came into the kitchen
where Ina was setting up the last row
of milk pans, saying:
L think the girls is just as mean as
they can be-
why Harry, said Ina, you mustn't
talk so, it is wrong to call them mean,
4 don't care, they is mean. said the
little fellow. tAnna Wilson and
Agnes Rathburn said if 'Manda was
goin' to ask hired girls to 60 along they
wouldn't go. Anna Wilson said that
her cousins IN the city never thought
of inviting hired help to go with them
and Agnes said it would be very I'M
proper, and them 'Manda said she
wouldn't ask you, I'm goin' to, tell
father.
o, no, don't Harry, let us 60 and
look for eggs before it is too dark, said
Ina, and SO abe kept him away until
the boat had gone, and then sending
him into the house she went away alone
to give vert to her pnhappiness in
tears. How long must / suffer this ?
she asked herself, as the girlish figure
leaned against the tree in a perfect
storm Of oonvulsiye sobs. Having
wept away the first burst of her grief
and humiliation she reasoned more
calmly. TO give up working here
would be to relinquish all hope of
education and improvement. cannot
do it. ! have done nothing that my
conscience does not approve and will
persevere.' 1t must be confessed that
thoughts of certain pair OF dark eyes
and q manly youth out there on the
lake, singing with bevy Of happy
maidens where she was not, added a
keener pang to her unhappiness:
IF Herbert Allen sights me for this
he is not SO noble as I thought he was
and will care for him no more, she
-.;l .---~l~+-ly and -thnn- sni-s e IL
lake she hathed away the traces OF
tears and returned to the house, and
taking up a basket Of half worn stock
ipgs she began to mend them.
!What does this mean, girl; !
thought you were ont there with the
rest of them, singing like whole flock
of nightingales. What are you here
for?
I'll tell you how it was, said master
Harry, they didn't want her because
she works for US, and the little one
gave his own version of the conversa-
ton that he had heard.
You see, said Ina, with a faint at
tempt at jest, that my occupation
debars me from genteel society
'Genteel society be BANGED, ex~
claimed Mr. Robinson angrily. DO you
suppose that l would have any but
respectable girl about my house 2 and
Will any one dare to tell me that living
in my family and doing the same kind
of work that is done by my wife and
daughter makes herless worthy? There
are good reasons why some people Gan
not treat persons in their employ upon
equal terms. 1t Is because their coQsse
of action has been such as to drive re-
spectacle people from their SERVICE, but
when employ equals they shall be
treated as such. You have not forfeited
your self-respect, Ina, and earning your
own way, and padding your own canoe
will be feather in your cap that other
girls will have pointed out to them
when you stand upon an eminence that
they will never attain As for Amanda
I'll teach her different lesson for to-
morrow night.
Please don't say anything about it,
Mr.. Robinson, said Ina, you know l
could not off they invited me because
they were obliged to-
When the boat touched the shore,
Mr.. Robinson, was there Come
again tomorrow night, he said, enjoy
your rides while the moon is bright,
there is nothing that gives me more
happiness thap providing innocent
pleasures for the young. Keep selfish.
ness from your midst and memory will
perpetuate your enjoyment.
And when Herbert Allen stopped
just moment to say, Don't disappoin
us Tomorrow night, Ina, for the enjoy
mept of the evening is gone when yol
2 are away half her unbappiness ha'
, vanished,
On the following evening as th
i moon again gilded the waters tn
t boating party prepared to embark :
Amanda had been detained in tn
house by her mother, and Mr.. Robin
i son bade the boys to row once or twic
= across the lake and come back for he
). You may stay and mend stocking
e tonight, Amanda. said Mr.. Robsnso
e as he again entered the house,
II Amanda looked up in surprise an