Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-08-18
TAKING A SITUATION.

TAKING A SITUATION.
swell, girls" said Uncle Barnabas
land now what do you propose to do about
it?'
We sat around the fire in disconsolatt
semi-circle, that dreary, drilling MAY
night, when the rain battered against the
window panes, and the poor little daffo
dis in the borders shook and shivered as il
they would fain hide their golden heads
once more in the mother soil. My mother
Eleanor and I. The first, pale and pretty.
and silver-haired, with the Widows cap
and her dress of black bombazine anG
Grape, the sweetest looking old lady think
that ever saw. Eleanor sat beside her
looking as she always did, like princess
with large Diana-like features, and hail
twisted in a sort of coronal around hel
queenly head. While I, plain, homespun
Susanna commonly called for short
Susy-crouched on footstool in the cor.
ner, my elbows on my knees, and chin in
my hands.
Uncle Barnabas Barkelin sat in the
middle of the circle, erect, stiff and rath.
er grim. He was stout and short, with a
grizzled moustaches a little, round, bald
spot on the top Of his head, and two gilt.
tering black eyes that were always send.
ing their dusky lightning in the direction
least expected. Uncle Barnabas was very
rich, and we were very poor. Uncle Bar
nabas was wise in the ways of the world,
and we. were inexperienced. Uncle Bar.
nabas was prosperous in all heidi, while
if there was a 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 Uncle Barnabas, and re.
verenced his opinions.
"What do you propose to do about it?''
Eleanor slowly repeated, lifting her beau
tiful eyebrows.
eyes, that's exactly it, p" said my mother,
nervously; 'sbecause, brother Barnabas,
we don't pretend to be business women,
and it's certain we can't live comfortably
on our present income. Something has
got to be done."
My mother leaned back in her chair,
with a troubled face.
eyes, said Uncle Barnabas, something
has got to be done; but who's going to du
it?n
Another dead silence ensued.
81 suppose you girls are educated" said
Uncle Barnabas; 81 know found enough
old school bills when I was looking over
my brothers papers,
"Of course,'' said my mother, with evi
dent pride; ''their education has been most
expensive. Music, drawing, use of the
globe
eyes, yes, Of course" interrupted Un
Gle BarRabas, but is it practical? Car
they teach?"
Eleanor looked dubious. I was quite
certain that could not. Nine. Lenior
among all her list OF accomplishments, had
not included the art of practical tuition.
'sHumph!" grunted Uncle Barnabas
"Queer thing, this modern idea of educa
ton. Well, if you can't teach you surely
can do something. What do you say to a
situation, Eleanor"
GA situation!'
The color fiuttered in Eleanor's cheeks
like pink and white apple blossom.
81 spoke plain enough, didn't -" said
Uncle Barnabas, dryly. "Yes. situa
tion.''
'What sort Of situation, Uncle?" ask
ed Eleanor.
"Well, 1 can hardly say. Part servant
explained Uncle.
go, Uncle Barnabas, I couldn't do that
It's too much-too much" Whispered
Eleanor, losing her regal dignity in the
pressure Of the moment, selike going Out
to SERVICE"
"And that's precisely what it is" said
Uncle, nodding his head. s'Service! Why
we're all out to service in one way OF
another in this world.''
"Oh, yes, I KNOW faltered poor Flea
nor, who, between her distaste for the pro
posed plan, and anxiety not to offend
Uncle Barnabas Barkelin, didn't quite
know what to say; "But 1--we always
been educated to be lady,"
$50 you won't take the situation, eh?'
said Uncle Barnabas. staring up at little
wlshy-washy water-color drawing of Cupid
and Psyche, an Exhibition piece' Of poo
Eleanor's which hung above the chimney
piece.
II couldn't, indeed, sir"
wages twenty-five dollars month, ,
mechanically repeated Uncle Barnabas, as
if he was saying off a lesson. 'sDriye Out
every day in a carriage with your missus
cat and canary to take care of, modern
house with all the improvements. Sun
day afternoon to yourself, and two weeks
spring and fall, to visit your mother"
mo, Uncle Barnabas, no ~ said Flea
nor, with a shudder. 81 am true Barke
lin, and I cannot stoop to mental duties
''Sorry," said Uncle. "Heaven helps
those who help themselves, and you can't
expect to be any more liberal minded thar
heaven. Sister Rachel" to my mother
"what do you say?"
My mother drew her pretty little figure
up a trif1e more erect than usual.
81 think my daughter Eleanor is quite
-s-l.L i - ~ 1~N1. hHrr< ~