The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-28

taught to do any. Here was the true
cause of her inability to solve the
great problem. She had no object in
life, and her parents had failed to teach
her any except the usual one of mar
rying, which is taught to most girls of
the present day. Unfortunately how
ever. Ella was rather peculiar, and
was unable to persuade herself that
any one of the many gentlemen who
were callers and visitors at the house
would make for her such husband
az would render her life q happy one.
In their own room Fanny, who was
an old schoolmate and intimate friend
of Elias, resumed the conversation
which had been interrupted by Mrs.
Murphy. 81 know, Ella, why you are
unable to solve the problem, because
you have begun at the wrong end of
life. You have commenced at the idle
end and should be just now at the In.
dustlious end. Work, and work alone
will set you right
"But what need have I to work -
replied Ella. ''Father has money
enough and does not need any help
from me-
''That is true, but work does not
mean simply doing something which
brings coin into your purse, my dear.
It means persistent effort to accomp-
lish some particular thing. 1t may
not profit you a dollar; but it will
certainly go far towards solving that
problem for you.''
Horo tho oonvoroo+;oy oodod rbo
tea drinking and entertaining were
gone through with. But all through
the evening Fanny's words would recur
to Ella and set her to thinking. Even
at the time of their retirement, though
nothing was said about it.. the words,
sit may not profit you dollar, but it
will certainly go far towards solving
that problem for you," would ring in
her ears and were ever present. The
next day was set for the termination
of Fanny's visit and she departed.
Then Ella was more than ever low
spirited and lonesome. Still she pom
dered on those word: 'sIt may not
profit you a dollar" etc. Suddenly
breaking from her usual reverie one
day, she exclaimed, ''I'll try-I'l see
if Fanny is right Rising, she don.
ned her street dress and started for
the business street of the town. She
purchased an easel, some colors, some
brushes and the various materials used
by artists in their work. She had al.
ways possessed a taste for art and had
chosen this as her work. When once
she had made up her mind, Ella was
not the person to turn back. At first
she found herself beset by difficulties.
Her knowledge was meager, and she
had a few facilities for overcoming
the obstacles in her path. But reso-
| lutely and steadily she pursued her
plan. She drew and painted a certain
number of hours each day, and permit
ted nothing to interfere with her
! work, as she called it. Her mother
laughed at her and her father sneered,
while Ned took her part and insisted
upon it that ''Ell is trump. and will
some day be a great fellow
One by one the minor difficulties
! were overcome, a result which per-
severance never fails to produce.
Gradually many of the things which
at first appeared to be mysterious be-
came plain as daylight to her. Then
ambition stepped in. Heretofore her
efforts had been mainly directed to
copying in her room such pictures as
she could possess herself of. Now
however, as the fine summer weather
was at hand, she concluded to work
from nature. So, taking her material
she would sally forth on these bright
days into the woods and sketch what
ever of beauty in nature she could
find. The exercise and the occupation
conformity, brought roses to her cheeks
and bright sparkle to her eyes.
One bright sunny afternoon, as she
sat busily engaged sketching in the
woods she heard low whistle-a little
familiar ballad. Peering through the
foliage,sh perceived, in the direction
from which the sound proceeded, a
man approaching with a port.
folio under his arm and carelessly
swinging stout cane. He was walk
ing carelessly but sturdily towards
her when, raising his cudgel, he made
a dash at the ground with it, striking
about yard from where she sat.
Then raising himself up, lifting his
hat he said with a gentle but manly
voice ''My dear Miss, I am extremely
happy that I should have interrupted
your occupation just as did, or his
snakeship,'' pointing to the snake to
l - 49, - l1 T..