Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-07-07
TAKrNG A SITUATION.

4
to do about it :?
We sat around the fire in a dis
consolate semi-circle, that dreary
drizzling May night, when the rair
pattered against the window panes
and the poor little daffodils in the
borders shook and shivered a,
though they would fain hide theil
heads once more in the mother sol
my mother, Elanor and ], tho
first pale and pretty, and silver hair.
ed, with the widows cap, and hen
dress of black bombazine aud era pc,
the sweetest-lOOking old lady, ]
think, | ever saw; Eleanor sat be-
side her, looking as she always did,
like q princess, with large dark eyes,
Diana-like features, and her hail
twisted in a sort of coronal around
her queenly head, while /, plain,
homespun Susannah-eommonly
called Susey-crouched upon a foot
stool in q 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 a grizzled mustaehe, a
little round bald spot on the crown
of hls head, and two glittering black
eyes that were always sending their
dusky lightnings in the direction
least expected. Uncle Barnabas
was rich, aud we were poor. Uncle
BaTnabas was wise in the ways of
the world, and we were inexperi-
enced. Uncle Barabas was prosper
Gus in all he did, while if there was
a bad bargain to be made, we were
pretty sure to be the ones to make
it. Consequently, as a matter Of
course, we looked up to Uncle Barn
abas and reverenced his opinions.
What do We propose to do about
it2 Eleanor repeated, lifting her
beautiful jetty brows.
Yes, that's exactly it, said my
mother, nervously; because brother
Barnabas, we do not pretend to be
business women, and it's certain we
can not live comfortably on our
present income. Something has got
to be done.
And then my mother leaned back
in her chair with troubled face.
Yes, said Uncle Barnabas, some
thing has got to be done, but who's
TO do it
And another dead silence succeed
ed.
l suppose you girls are educated ?
said Uncle Barnabas. / know /
found enough old school bills when
/ was looking over my brothers pa
pers.
OF course, said my mother with
evident pride, their education has
been most expensive. Music, draw.
ing, use of the globes
Yes, yes, of course, interrupted
Uncle Barnabas, but is it practical !?
Can they teach
Eleanor looked dubious. / was
quite certain that ] could not. Nine.
Lenoir, among all her list of accom-
plishments, had not included the
art of practical tuition.
Humph! grunted Uncle Barnabas;
queer thing, this modern idea of ed
ncation. Well, if you can't teach
you can surely do something. What
DO you say, Eleanor, to situation.
A situation.
The color flushed in EIeanor's
cheeks, like pink and wLite apple
blossoms.
spoke plain enough, didn't I?
said Uncle Barnabas, dryly. Yes a.
situation.
What sort of a situation, Uncle
Barnabas?
Well, I can hardly say. Part SER
want, part companion to an elderly
lady, explained the old gentleman.
Oh, Uncle Barnabas, ! couldn't
do that. 1N
Not do it? And why not ?
It's too much-too much, whisper
ed Eleanor, loosing her regal digni-
ty In the presence of the emergency,
like going out to service.
And that is precisely what it is,
retorted Uncle Bsrnabas, nodding
his head. Servicel why we're all
out at service, in one way or an 9th
er, in this world.
oh, yes, yes, I know, faltered FL
eanor, who, between her distaste
for the plan and her anxiety not to
offend Uncle Barnabas, didn't quite
know what to say; but L-Pve been
educated to be a lady. .El
So you won't take the situation,
eh said Uncle Barnabas, staring
up at q Wish-washy little Water-color
drawing of Cupid and Psyche, an
exhibition piece of poor EleanoTs,
which hung above the chimney
piece. g
couldn't, indeed. sir.
Wages twenty-five dollars a
month, mechanically repeated Uncle
Barnabas, as if he were saying off a
lesson. Drive out every day in the
carriage with the missus; cat and
canary to take care of; modern
house, ali the improvements; Sun
day afternoon to yourself, and two
weeks, spring and fall, to visit your
mother.
No, Uncle Barnabas, no, said FL
eanor, with a little shudder. / am
a true Berkelin, and cannot stoop to
menial duties. Ja z3I14
Uncle Barnabas gave such q pro-
longed sniff IS to suggest 8 very
bad cold in the head, indeed.
Sorry, said he, Heaven help those
who can't help themselves, and you
can't expect me to be any more lib
eral minded than Heaven. Sister
Rachel--to my mother--What do
you say
My mother drew her pretty little
figure up 9 tFiAe more erect than Us
uaL -t1.are
i think my daughter Eleanor is
quite right. The Berkelins have al
ways been ladies. lGl,l
had sat silent, still with my chin
on my hands, during all this family
discussion; but now L rose up and
came creeping to Uncle Barnabas'