The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-08-24
HER OWN LIVING.

TALL and slight, with blue, wistful
eyes, lips like a wood-berry, and COM
plexion all carmine and white like a
damaSk rose i'll sunshine. Erminia
HalPS was face that an artist would
have fallen down and worshipped
But it is ever as philosophers tell us
there is compensation in all things
The pOck-marked girl who sat across
the aisle from her in church was a
millionaire daughter, and this young
thing with the angel-face was ON the
outlook for an eligible position as
governess.
For Erminia Hall was penniless, and
it was necessary for her to earn her
livelihood in some way or other and
the trade Of governess was at least
genteel.
keep a day school," suggested old
MI. Prince, who had been wont to dine
every Sunday with Judge Hall during
that eminent bankrupt's lifetime, and
to consume quantity of lobster salad,
champagne and boned turkey, which
was appalling upon those festive occa-
sions. Nobody would come to me-
said poor Erminia, with tears in her
eyes. She had supposed, inexperienced
child that she was, that Mr.. Prince
would have been ready with a twenty
or fifty dollar bill in this her ne
cessity.
"Needlework," suggested Mr.. Clay.
who had mysteriOusly made money out
of the very speculation that beggared
the dead man.
~ never learned to sew" faltered
Erminia. q could not earn a cent
that way"
"Humphn' grmted Mr.. Clay, ''the
education Of women in the present day
is outrageously defective. 1t should
all be reformed"
"DO you suppose, meekly hazard
ed Erminia, THAT | could obtain any
o01,.-i,>e. f,.~-,> .-~.... ~n'--"
ferne used to say / wrote an elegant
hand. Here is a specimen.
Cup strokes thin, down strokes
black, long tails to the 'gs' and VS.
Italian school, Ell? PshaW! Your
writing may do for a perflmed note,
or a young lady's album, but no law
yer would look twice at it. But I
| dare say you'll scratch along some
| how
"How?" murmured Erminia, resO-
! lutely repressing the tears that were
rising to her eyes.
| Glow? Why, there are ways
enough. Nobody needs to starve in
this country. dare say if you keep
on the lookout, something will turn
up"
And that was all the satisfaction that
Erminia Hall got.
She went next to her rich cousin,
Mrs. Bellairs Bolton.
Il am sorry you came this morning,
Erminia," said that lady, coldly. 81
am busy with my accounts
II won't detain you an instant"
said Erminia, with a sinking heart.
"I-I-need something to do very
much"
Mrs. Bellairs Belton shut her lips
together, as if her mouth was new
patent portmonaie, and penciled down
her figures without looking up.
'And L thought" went on Erminia,
her heart failing her more and more,
II could perhaps teach your little
children. l would work for very lit
tie, and"
"Quite out of the question" said
Mrs. Bellairs Belton. Il have just en-
gagged Swiss bonne, who will give
them the regular accent
And Erminia turned away, feeling
almost desperate. Lunch was now in
progress could perceive the fra
GRANGE of the chocolate, and see the din
ing-room girl setting French rolls and
spiced salmon on the table, yet Mrs.
Bellairs Belton never asked her to stay
and break bread with them.
"Oh, how strange and cruel the
world isp' thought Erminia, with a
choking sensation i'll her throat. Il
had SO many friends when poor papa
was alive, now l have not one except
Maj. Miles, but l will not go to him.
He was always criticising and carping
even in the days Of our prosperity
now he would be simply intoler-
able"
And so poor Erminia Hall crept in
to a cheap restaurant to appease the
gnawing pangs of hunger. For she
had a lodging and boarded herself in
order to screw the greatest possible
amount of livelihood out of the least
possible amount of ready cash, and
she had eaten but little the whole
day.
An oyster stew and a cup of tea
, It seemed like boundless extravaganza
to the girl; but she was faint and
hungry, and felt the sore necessity fol
food. She was early yet; there were q
few customers at the neat little white.
draped tables, and the proprietor was
leaning against the-counter, talking to
woman who seemed to be some
: relative.
"They'v We struck, everyone of 'em, y
said he. "The ungrateful fellows
, after 1 paid 'em regular waiter!
, wages all the autumn when no ont
} else did! And now, if shut up shop
/ won't have one of 'em back again
: I'll employ women, hanged if
, don't
+! 81 don't see why you shouldn't,
said his interlocutor. They'll com'
\ for less and work harder. Women al
| ways do"
/ $50 I've heard" said the restau
: rant man. "And I'll advertise to
morrow for lot of girls to wait here.