Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-21
THE GREY GIRLS.

at does seem as If there was no place for
my girls" said Mrs Grey, as drawi ng long
sigh she laid her knitting on the table. and
looked mourniully across it at her nsighbor,
Mrs Lawson, who had just dropped in for n
short call. 81 don't know what they can do"
"Wby Mrs Grey, there is plenty of places
in the world for them. am sure, they are
well-educated. smart and healthy"
THAT is the trouble, we have expended so
much on their edulatIon that they ought to
be doing something to help themselves, in
stead of staying at home on their fathers
hands,
Mrs Lawson's eyes opened wide with as
constituent II hope their father does not
complain of the cost of a home for his daugh-
tersP"
mot really; but the times are so hard, and
VIC are getting old, and it does cost so much
to dress four girls, and it makes sight
of hard work to have to wait upon so many"
"But, Mrs Grey, they ought to wait upon
you, and give you an easy time" Now Nell
and Jennie have graduated, l was thinking
what rest you would have, and get your
sewing all done up"
81 should laugh to see my girls take hold
of homework, or sewing, either. i do not
even let them take care of their own rooms"
II am astonishedl Whatever were you
thinking of to let those girls come up SOP l
think, Mrs Grey, the best place tor the girls
is at home, till they learn TO work and take
care of themselves"
II thought the girls would be fitted for
teachers, but they say they are not going TO
tie themselves down TO Soho ol-room. and
they won't do this. and they won't do that,
and the Lord only knows what they will do"
Never fear Mrs Grey, they are smart,
sensible girls. and there is something always
for willing hands to do" Mrs lawson soon
took her leave without seeing either of the
young ladies, who had just returned home
from school where for two years and hall
they had been In constant attendance. and
had graduated with honor. She was rather
surprised Mt Mrs Grey's remarks, but she
knew her to be a nervous, weak minded
woman, and she knew also that Mr. Grey
was not in very prosperous Circumstances,
and that 1t must have cost him an effort to
have expended so much money in educating
his daughters, and there were two more com
ing on that would soon require the advan-
tages OF their older sisters. There were nc
boys in the family. Mrs Lawson's children
were all boys, and she often thought what a
comfort daughter IN the family would be
and half onvied Mrs Grey, the sweet looking
girls, that were bestowed upon her.
Mr. Grey was merchant, not merchant
prince 10y any means, but quiet merchant
in quiet couutry place and sold calico and
cotton, ginghams, molasses, OIL tea, etc, and
took in pay eggs, butter and country pro.
duce generally. For few years he was
very successful aud made money. and hii
wife thought it nice thing to be q merchant's
wife and really believed she was little
better than her neighbors, whose husbands
were farmers and mechanics, and she tried
to impress it upon her daughters that they
were round or two higher on the ladder oil
society than their associates.
There is notmuch need of teaching chill.
dren such notions, they get enough of them
by example, Nellie, the eldest girl was Il
good. commonsense girl. and she had moi
been at home three days before she compre
hended the situation of affairs in the famil,
aud ut the time of Mrs Lawson's call wa
over at her fathers store, not rs hesupposed
flirting with tho handsome clerk. but glanc
ing over things generally and pretty cor
rect idea OF affairs was presented to he
minds eye before the tea-bell rang at fiv
o'clock. Jennie, the second sister, VIA
practicing waltz upon the piano when sh
came in and the two younger sisters wor
stepping out the time on the carpet. NJ
Grey himself seemed to enjoy the music an
fingered till twice summoned into the dining
room by his wife who really looked and fol
tired.
MRS Lawson has been here TO call hi
afternoon, girls; she says there is alway
work enough for willing hands to do.lT !
"Whoever doubted thatP ami sure / d
not Just be easy mother, little; Jenn
and are not going to be burdens to you
we do mob choose to keep school because "