The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-01-04
Taking q Situation.

'NANNAA - ~ NttfStAOAs
" Well, girls laid my Uncle Barna
has, aud now what do you propose TO d.
about il p
We sat around the fire ia dscousoai,
semicircle, that dreary, drizzing Ma,
night, WHEN She rain battered against tht
window panes, aud the poor little doffo
dis in the borders shook and shivered a.
il they would iain hide their colder
heads once more in the mother soil. NJ,
mother, Eleanor and |. The first, pale
and pretty, and silver haired, with the
widows cap and her drcss Of black BON
baSlnc aud Grape: the sweetest old lady
| think, | ever saw Eleanor sat beside
her, looking, as she always did, like O
princess with large, dark eyes, Diana.
like features. and hair twisted in a coro.
nal around her quocnly head. While
plain, homespun Susanuah--commonly
called, "tor Short" Susy--crouehed upon
lootstoo in the corner, my elbows on
my knees aud my chin in my hands.
Uncle Barnabas Berkelin sat in the
middle of the circle, erect, stiff and
rather grim. He was short and stout
with a grizzled moustache a little round
bald spot on the crowd of his head, and
two glittcring, black eyes, that were
always sending their dusky light
ming in the direction least expected
Uncle Baroabas was rich and we were
poor Uncle BarDabas was wise in the
ways o! The world and We were inexperi.
enccd Uucc Barnabas was prosperous
In all h" did while if there vas a bad
bargain to be mode We were pretty sure
to be the oues TO make it. Consequent.
ly, and as IA matter Of course. We looked
up to uucle Barbabas and revercnced his
opinions
What do we propose to do about il ~
Eleanor slowly repeated, lifting her beau.
tiful, jetty hrows.
" Yes, that's exactly it," said my
mother neryously, because, brother Bar.
nabos, we don't pretend to be business
women, and it's certain that we cannot
live comfortably on our present in.
come Something has surely got to be
done"
And then my mother leaned back in
her chair with a troubled face.
Yes" said Unclo Barnabas, some.
thing has got to be done But who's to
do it?"
And another dead silence succeeded.
| suppose your girls arc educated 2"
said Uncle Barnabas II know | found
enough old school bills when | was look
ing nvar my hrntha-'a r"r~-e"
"Of course" said my mother, With
evident pride their education has been
most expensive. Music, drawing, 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 Madam LIE.
noir, among all her list Of accomplish.
ments, had not included the art of prac
tical tuition.
Hurph !" gruuted Uncle Barnabas.
"a queer thing this modern idea Of edu.
cation. Well if you can't teach, you
can surely do semethiug What do ycu
say, Eleanor, to a situation ?"
A situation ?"
The color futtered in Eleauor's cheeks
like pink and white apple blossoms.
81 spoke plain enough, didn't II"
said Uncle Baruabas, dryly. "Yes, a
situation."
What sort of situation, Uncle Bar.
rabas ?"
Well, | can't hardly say. Part ser.
want, part companion to an elderly lady. "
explained the old gentleman.
"O Oh, Uncle Barnabas. couldn't do
that"
Not do it? And why not ?"
4" It's too much-too much," whispered
Eleanor, losing her regal dignity in the
pressure of the emergency, "like going
out to service"
And that is precisely what it is
retorted Uncle Barnabas, noddiug his
head. Service Why. we're all oui
at service, in one way or another, in this
world 7"
"Oh, yes, l know" faltered poor
Eleanor, who, between her distaste fol
the proposed plan and her anxiety not tc
offend Uncle Barnabas Berkeln, didn't
know what to say. "But 1--we always
been educated to be lady"
So you won't take the situation, en- p
said Uncle Barnabas, starting up at q
wishy-washy little watcr color drawing Of
Cupid and Psyche, an exhibition
piece" of poor Eleanor's, which hung
above the chimney piece.
4" l couldn't, indeed, SIR"
Wages twenty-five dollars a month,
mechanically repeated Uncle Barnabas
as if he were reciting off a lesson
"Drive out in carriage every day will
the missus, cat and canary to take car,
Of, modern house and all its improve
ments, Sunday afternoons all to your
self, and two weeks, spring and fall, t,
visit your mother"
"No, Uncle Barnabas, no." sal,
Eleanor, With little shudder. 81 am ,