The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-15
JESSIE'S WAY.
Trade

Before beginning new story about jessie,
( shoHld, perhaps, state that, as you have
probably guessed, the young lady decided for
herself in the matter of school, and that papa
and cousin Patty meekly submitted o.thc dc
cision, as it becomcth the papas and cousin
Patics of our day and generation to do. But
in order to convince us that she did not intend
TO be idle, she placed her name on the high
school roll the first Monday after her return ;
and her tca-tablc rcctals Of the doings of mas
ter and pupils form the zcst of our lives.
One day, about two weeks before Thanks
giving, | was making the fruit cake; for it
has been the custom of this house, ever since
Jcssie's mother inauguratcd it few months
after her marriage to invite such OF the rcla-
iivcs as will be most benefited by the arrange
mcnt, to dine with us on that day. There is
never any lack Of guests--ours being large
Mmily with some number always in need OF
hclp-and like to make my mincc-meat and
whatever else will keep, in good season; there
is then no hurry and worry at the last to inter
lere with the days pleasures,
Jessie was helping me TO stone raisins, and
was very quiet for her At last she said with
y little smile:
Cousin Patty, isn't it rather selfish TO be
thankful because you have more than your
neghbors? | feel like showing my gratitude
by doing something to make somebody as
happy rs | am; but somehow can't see my
way exactly It's not just the thing to play
Lady Bountiul when ones father is III debt, and
there are none Of those lovely story-book poor
p,oplc hcreabout to fall down on their knees
a. | come out of church and bless me as their
prcserver just because | send them loaf of
bread and Il bowl of milk when they are starv-
ing Then had my sealskins and purple and
Inc linen for the year before | went back To
school; so | can't make my honored parent
weep for JOY by saying: 4 don't want it, papa,
give me the money for those poor Smiths
There's the washcr-woman, you know, but
those English never can be made 10 understand
our climate, and if | gave her Il few pennies
sor the children she'd put extra raisins in their
plum pudding, and I'd be responsible for the
stomach ache. Her Johnny and Polly were
eating the applc.pearings from the swill pail
the last time they carried It home, and | wish
you cOpld teach her to put more apples and
less swil into them. I'm going round with
! bushcl of apples some day, 10 give them
one good feed myself
The next day was Saturday, and we went to
STE Esther lIargraves. Jessie went with me
once in vacation and took such IA fancy To the
girl, that have been quite impatient TO show
her what we have been dong for her comfort
Esther used to earn a comfortable support by
teaching drawing, and her darling ambition
was 30 earn money for Il trip to Europe; but
she fell down the school house stairs last sum
ncr, and the doctor thinks ii will be more
Than year before she is able to do much The
money that was TO bring Rome within hcI
horizon pays the rent Of three small rooms
The doctors bills and very modest bills indeed
At the grocer's. Her cousin, a girl Of fifteen
for whom she provided in mere prosperous
ZINES, takes care of her and the little house.
The first time went there with our minis
ier's wife, the mile OF sitting-room lookeC
bare indeed but few Of us put our heads TO
gcther TO make it more suitable for delicate
woman. None Of US had very long purses
and we knew that our sensitive Esther woul,
b. 10th TO accept anything expensive; hut
remembered the balls Of carpetrags that Aun
Jane had stored in our garnet when she wen
South to die. had these woven into carpe
by poor Mrs. HILL who was glad to get work
30 that my little giving fund did double duty
this year. Libbie Cosgro, who is quite car
penter for a woman, made a very easy loung
ing chair with hinges TO raise and lower it
Mrs. Edwards cushioned this with some wei
worn comforts aud covered it with her ole
brown merIno trimmed with scarlet braid
We were 50 well satisfied with the result of oul
work, that was moi a little DISAPPOINTED by thu
view which Jessie took of il:
why, yes, cousin Patty, her body seems tt
be pretty well provided Tor, but 1t strikes m