The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

printer S ink, and Harry stood look
ing at her, half laughingly, half
| lovingly, for he did think his lovely
sister too nice for everyday work.
s.Never mind my lily fingers" said
Nell impatiently; ''they'll wash, sir,
and they're all the handler for being
little.''
''That' so y said Harry. emphati-
cally. Il don't believe they'll bungle
on the type-as mine do. But Nell. I
ought to have told you to put on old
buds; it's very dirty work.
Il haven tany old buds, and because
it's dirty work for you, is no sign |
shall soil myself. Besides, / won t
make myselfa fright for any old news
paper; SO you stop criticising my dress
and begin your lesson, or we'll never
get the paper out.
That motive silenced Harry's mis-
givings, and he proceeded at once to
teach her the mysteries Of type-set
ting.
BY way of explanation. | will say
that Harry Brown was spending the
Winter in Minnesota for his health.
and Nellie came with him because lie
was her only living relative. and her
greatest desire was to restore his
health.
Besides, she was tired of city gale
ties, and wanted q change.
A change she got, too, for B.
like other small Western villages,
furnished very little cultivated So
ciety.
Wearied of doing nothing Harry
had bought out the one paper in the
town, and was really interested in pub
fishing it. He had learned to set type
and print the paper from curiosity
and lack of employment and now,
when his factOtum, Smith deserted
him, because Nell would not receive
his addresses, pride as well as interest
in his work, urged him on to continue
its publication.
Nellie had found relief from her
ennui in writing for the paper, and
was now as much interested as her
brother in getting it out all right.
She did look rather odd in that office
dressed in a gay, fashionable street
suit, suitable for promenading Broad.
way, from the jaunty hat, with its
white ostrich feathers shading her
golden hair. to her delicate French
boot.
But she applied herself seriously tc
her work. She was quick, and handy
and before night; Harry was obliged
to confess that she would soon go ahead
Of him in type-setting.
1t is unnecessary to give a history OF
every day S proceeding. when every
Il Il l-n i+c ,,ra1annccnr
morning. Nell came to the office, and
every day, from breakfast, at seven.
till dark, she persevered in her work.
She soon learned to ''set type; tC
''distribute. to .'empty the stick >
and to correct proof" She would
sit perched on the tall stool before the
case till her back ached. then she
would stand on Il low stool till her feet
ached, and so by changing the place OF
the ache she managed to get through
the day. and every day for two months
After tea. she went to her room. an(
wrote articles for the paper, looked
over exchanges. and made selections
till late at night.
The paper came out regularly. anG
became more spicy and interesting
tNStlIl W HiObC IIOlII lily
Empress.
Hard work though it was, there
was Il facination about it. and Nellie
began to taste the pleasure of a bus,
life, and find reward of labor. She hat
never been so happy in her life.
Toward Spring. one of the editors O
a st. Paul daily paper, travelling
through the country on business. wa
obliged ty stay all night in B; ant
calling to mind the improved appear
ance of the Empress. he thought hi
r would call on the editor.
The door was pointed out to him b,
a boy. and he went in.
1t was an unusual scene for prin
ting office that met his eye as h
entered the room.
. Harry was-as usual-on his knees
, persuading the fire to burn. while n Ell
, sat on stool by the stove. both fee
, on the hearth. reading aloud con
tribution she had just opened. 1t wa
from the poetical genius of the village
, who happened to be the wife of tn
, minister. and it would not do to con
sign her to the waste box.
1t read somewhat thus:
'.Oh woe is me that am here,
, O. woe is me, thou art not near"
, Nell was giving it with oratorica
ilourishes and tragic tones. and ende
. the couplet with a ringing laugh. i
> which Harry Joined. in the pause be
| tween blowing the fire and poking
! with sticks:
t They did not see the amazed visitor
/, who hastily came forward.
is this the office of the Empress.
: he asked.
J. Harry sprang to his feet. and Ne
turned in dismay to meet Yer
e amused look ina very fine pair of eye
Q 1T is. sir" answered Harry.
sAre you the editorl' went on til
: stranger.
S well. yes-sometimes," said Ha
ry. demurely.
d Just now l m devil in few M
a ments l shall be 'compositor' and N
It editorial hours are few, but they
d come once in while.
, Il am glad to make your acquail
a | - CTR oHy-1naIr