The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-05-30

Going to school! What are you
going to live upon 7"
an earn my living"
And she did. She worked at one
place for year. She earned twenty
shilIings per week. She spent ffty
cents a week, 50 that at the end Of
. year she had $i04. Now she was
ready to start for school. She select
ed the best school in the State-tbe
State Normal. She rented q room
for City cents aweek. The school
term for the year is forty weeks.
Twenty dollars Of her money was
gone. Some few friends, seeing that
she was determined to go to school,
furnished her room very plainly and
cheaply.
She then resolved to live on one
dollar a week; this necessitated the
strictest economy. Thus sixty dol
lars Of her money was spent. That
left her but forty -four dollars with
which to pay her tuition, buy her
books and get the needfuls.
To be sure, she was not noted for
the number of her dresses, nor was
her hair frizzled aud pufed in just
the latest style, nor did she appear at
every social; bat one thing she was
noted for, perfect lessons. She gave
attention to he- studies so that at the
end of the year Ler scholarship was
such that she received q training cer-
tilicate, emitting her 10 teach without
a public examination. Whatever
she undertook she did well. Her
motto was: Whatever is worth do
ing at all is worth doing we'll"
The next two years she taught,
receiving $500 per year. AT the end
Of two years she managed to save
$4OO, to send her to school the re.
naming two years. With the ut
most economy, it served Der purpose
She had SO little left that she had not
enough money TO buy a new dress in
which to graduate.
But when the bouquet was thrown
her at the close of reading her essay,
| hardly think she thought as to
whether her dress was new or not.
Aftera ard | heard the Governor and
the State Superintendent congratulat.
ing her. :.
The next year she was offered an
excellent situation 10 one of our union
chools. But, her health having suf-
fered during the last term she was 10
school, she went out doing house
work, instead of accepting the posi-
tion. Did it degrade her any! No;
she did her work just as faithfully as
iii, were the chosen business of her
life.
At the cad of six months, her
health being established, she CON-
meuced teaching. She was q sue
cessful teacher.
Where is she to-day? The wife Of
au eminent professor in one of our
Western colleges.
4 know another lady who borrowed
the money to take her through school,
and paid it after she commenced
teaching. To-day she is one Of our
most successful writers.
Another who had no means of her
own, had brother who was a farm
er. He had not much ready cash,
but b. gave ber enough provisions
for he's. + sad a little girl boarder.
For the board of the little girl she re-
ceived five dollars per week. The
FIVE dollars per week carried her
through school After graduating
she taught Her health failed, and
the physician advised her to give up
teaching and go to doing housework.
Fortunately for her, she knew how.
She had piano, and was very
fond of music So her pext thought
was, could she not find some place
where she could earn her board and
little more, and take music lessons
She went here and there to find such
a place. She succeeded at last, aud
was offered one dollar week She
accepted the situation, and did her
work so faithfully and well. that the
lady paid her two dollars instead of
one. She told her she earned it.
Was not that better than to have sat
down and folded her hands and be-
moaned her fatel
At the end of the year her health
was established, and TO her other at
taiBments she had added that of
music. Do you think she lost one
womanly grace during the year she
did house-xork k? Far from it. She
had gained in many things that
which makes the true woman, and to-
day few are her equals.
Girls, you need not say, mother
was to blame; she never taught me
to work. Put your mind to it, and
your heart in it, and 10 years time
you will be mistress of housework.
Mary Mead was left penniless;
she was then seventeen. A few days
after the death of her parents she
came TO me.
What shall l do?," she said, Il
know nothing which viii
enable me to take care Of myself"
And it was so. She could sing q
little, play little, and paint q little.
Her mother bad done all the work
jus, as a good many other mothers
are now doing. and left Mary to
romp and play. aud have good time
generally.
what shall / do?" she said,
bursting into sobs IF knew any.
one who would teach me housework,
would work one year for my
board"
told her | would 6nd such a
place, and did so. and 80 thoroughly
and well did she learn, that at the
Hose of the year, the lady of the
house was glad to keep her and pay
her wages She stayed six years.
At the end of that time the son. q |
noble young man, who had just en-
cred into business with his father,
bis mother one morning
~ saying:
Il am going to ask Mary Mead to
,e my wife Mother" said be, mot
! word. Do not say anything you
will wish uasaid II / mistake not.
Mary will be just as astonished as