The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-01-06

expect to be any more liberal minded
than Heaven. "Sister Rachel" to my
mother, what do you say?"
My mother drew her pretty little fig
ure up trihe more erect than usual.
II think my daughter Eleanor is
quite right" said she. "The Berkelins
have always been ladies'"
sat quite silent, still with my chin in
my hands, during all this family discus
sion; but now / rose up and came creep
ing to Uncle Barnabas' side.
"Well, little SUSIE" said the old gen.
tleman, laying his hand kindly on my
wrist, "what is it?"
"If you please, Uncle Barnabas," said
l, with rapidly-throbbing heart, 1"
would like to take the situation"
Bravo !" cried Uncle Barnabas.
"My dear childp exclaimed my
mother.
"Susannah !" uttered Eleanor, in ae-
cents by no means laudatory.
Yes" said /, twenty-five dollars a
month is a great deal of money, and
was never afraid of work. Think Twill
go to the old lady, Uncle Barnabas. Pm
sure could send home at least twenty
dollars a month to mother and Eleanor,
and then the two weeks, spring and fall,
would be so nice. Please, Uncle Barna-
bas, Pll 60 back with you when you go.
What is the old lady's name~
"Her name ?" said Uncle Barnabas.
Didn't tell you. It's Prudence-Mrs.
Prudencep
"What nice name," said I. "Iknow
shall like her."
Well, 1 think you WILL" said Uncle
Barnabas, looking kindly at me. "And
think she will like you. Is it bargain
for the nine o'clock train tomorrow
morning"
"Yes," 1 answered, stoutly, taking
care not to look in the direction of my
mother and Eleanor.
"You're the most sensible of the lot, !"
said Uncle Barnabas, approyingly.
But after he had gone to bed in the
best chamber, where the ruffled pillow
cases were, and the chintz-cushioned
easy-chair, the full strength of the family
tongue broke on my devoted head.
81 can't help ii" quoth 1, holding val
iantly to my colors. "We can't starve.
Some of us must do something. And
you can live very nicely, mother darling,
on twenty dollars month"
"That is true," sighed my mother
from behind her black-bordered pocket
handkerchief. "But l never thought to
see daughter of mine going cut toto
service |"
"And Uncle Barnabas isn't going t. do
anything for us, after ALL" cried out
Eleanor, Indignantly. "Stingy old fel-
low; l should think he might at least
adopt one of usl He'sas rich as Cresus,
and never a chick nor child"
"He may do as he likes about that, 1
answered, independently. "I prefer to
earn my own money"
So the next morning I set out for the
unknown bourne of New York life.
Uncle Barnabas," said l, as the train
reached the city, chow shall find
where Mrs. Prudence lives?"
"Oh, Pll go there with you," said hev
care you well acquainted with her"
ventured to ask.
!"Oh, very well indeed" answered
Uncle Barnabas, nodding his head sagely.
We took hack at the depot and drove
through so many streets that my head
spun round and round like a teetotum,
before we stopped at a pretty brown
| stone nansion-it looked like palace to
my unaccustomed eyes-and Uncle Bar
nabas helped me out.
Here is where Mrs. Prudence lives, u
said he, with chuckle.
A neat little maid, with frilled white
apron, and rose colored ribbons in hel
hair, opened the door with a courtesy
and l was conducted into an elegant
apartment, all gliding, exotics, and blue
satin damask, when a plump old lady
dressed in black silk, with the loveliest
Valenciennes lace at her throat an6
wrists, came smilingly forward, like 6
sixty-year-old sunbeam.
$50 you've come back, Barnabas, have
you ?'' said she, and brought one of the
dear girls with you. Come and kiss me
my dear"
ayes, Susy, kiss your aunt" SAID
Uncle Barnabas, hinging his hat one way
and his gloves another, as he sat com
placently down on the sofa. ..,
"My auntF l echoed.
"Why, of course" said the plump ole
lady: don't you know? Pm your Aun
Prudence"
"But 1 thought" gasped /, "that
was coming to situation"
"Well, SO you are" retorted Uncl
Barnabas. "The situation of adopted
daughter in my family. twenty-five
dollars month pocket-money, the car
of your Aunt Prudence's cat and canary
and to make yourself generally useful
ooh, UncleP' cried !, "Eleano
would have been so glad to come if sh
had known il"
Fiddlestrings and little fshesp i
logolically responded my uncle. "Pve n
patience with a girl that's too fine fo
work. Eleanor had the situation offere
her and she chose to decline. You d.
cided to come, and here you stay. Rim
the bell, Prue, and order tea, for Pm 8
hungry as a hunter, and dare say littl
Susy here would relish cup of goo
tea."
And this is the way l drifted into m
luxurious home. Eleanor, in the cOul
, try cottage, envies me bitterly, for 81
has all the tastes which wealth and
metropolitan home can crafty. Bl
Uncle Barnabas will not hear of my e.
changing with her.
, "No, mop says he. 'The girl T.
4 got is the girl l mean to keep. Mi
Eleanor is too fine a lady to suit me"
But he lets me send them liberal pre-
ents every month, SO 1 am happy.