Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-15
NO.. 27l
Gales and Sketehes.
For the Journal.
AEEPING UP APPEARANCES.
BY CONSTANCE STERLING.

Eieahor Drown came quietly into the
small cottage she called home, Just as the
dusk was making it unpleasant for a lady
TO walk alone In the streets of the large
town. She heard her mothers voice in the
sitting room. which opened from the hall,
and, hanging her hat on the rack, she
opened the door. Mrs. Brown was sitting
before the fire, which burned cheerfully in
the CRATE, and Della. a girl of twenty,
stood by the window which overlooked the
street, umming on the pane. fretful,
dlscontented look on her pretty, fair face.
On the noor sat two children, Willie and
DAISY, both under twelve years of age,
looking at some pictures pasted in an old
ledger.
Mercy, Eleanor, don't come in like a
hurricane" exclaimed Della pettishly, as
her sister entered, ''vou are SO noisy that
you keep us all with aching heads.S
docs your head ache, mother P" asked
Eleanor. quickly, going to her mothers
side. and kissing the soft, worn cheek.
When does it not achep" responded Mrs.
Brown, 81 have enough to make any wo-
mans head ache. Four children and moth
ing to keep them on. have been worry-
ing all the afternoon about sending Willie
and Daisy to school, and getting Della q
winter cloak"
1.-The free school, hear, is an excellent
one, mother" said Eleanor" and they can
start next Monday"
Where are their new shoes to come
fromP" asked Mrs. Brown. IL won't
have them go looking like paupers. It's
bad enough having to live in this small
house. and keep but one servant, but as
long as have breath left in me, l will keep
up "a respectable appearance. have but
one hope now to see you two girls COM
fortably married off. | shall struggle on
even il l have to 60 into debt"
THAT would be too horrible, mother,
don't think OF it, pray, don't. i do not
need any clothes. would rather beg
than go into debt"
Every fine speeches are very cheap" said
the mother, half angrily, "but they don't
buy meat and bread and new shoes. have
just eighty dollars month, and this house
and furniture. We must do the best we
can on it, and hide our poverty from the
world"
al at least will be no burden on you,
mother said Eleanor, IL have secured a
place this afternoon and"
"Eleanorn shrieked her mother, "you
have not dared to do such thing. Do
you mean to disgrace usv'
''Is it a cook or housemaid ?" asked De-
liza with a sneer.
at is as book keeper in the large crock
cry house of Messrs. Henderson & Co.,
on Broadman street," replied Eleanor
with deep flush dying her pale face. II
could not live dependent on my mothers
pittance. l am to get twelve dollars q
week, and it will keep us along wonder
fully. We have no rent to pay, and with
my salary we can get along. At least
until Della makes that great match" she
added with smile.
"You have ruined your prospects, Flea
nor" said Mrs. Browne, mo man will
marry book keeper l shall have to
depend only on Della, now"
Il am content to help you mother, and
If the prince never comes to find me, WHY
| can go through life without him. Don't
be angry, mother, did it for the best.
and now the little ones can go to school,
and we must only be very economical and
above all things, let us avoid debt. Once
in debt we could never get out OF it
again"
Mrs. Brown sobbed while, and re-
preached Eleanor for her lack of refine
ment in being willing to be book keep
er. Then she calmed down and the fam
lily all went into the next room TO supper.
Mr. Brown had died suddenly, leaving
his family u cottage and two acres of land
and an income OF eighty dollars q month.
Mrs Brown had been fashionable wo-
man, her whole heart being wrapt up in
the effort to make as grand display. and
keep up as fine an appearance as the rich
est of her neighbors. She was therefore
terribly cast down and mortified when she
found that her large, handsome house WAS
TO be sold Tor debt, and her elegant furni-
iure was also to go. She was only too
glad to remove to The distant town where
the cottage was situated, and hide her
modification from her former acquxin-
tances. Della had felt the change in their
circumstances as keenly as her mother,
and during the two weeks since their re-
moval from their old home, she had done
nothing but fret and repine, and make her
mother more wretched than she other
wise would have been. Eleanor, who
was three years Delia's senior. had had
little time tor repining. Her every mo.
ment was taken up with fixing up the
cottage. and making it appear homelike,
and engaging servant, writing business
letters. aud keeping Willie and Daisy out
OF mischief. She had also been for week
Ou tue lOOkOut iOT u SIludtIOu, anu was
overioyed when at last her efforts had SCI
cured her the place OF book keeper for
the firm OF Henderson & Co.
Eleanor possessed IA talent for writing,
and after her days work was over, she
was won't to "burn the midnight oil, 'ov-
or manuscript. Mrs. Brown and Della
laughed at her aspirations, but Eleanor
persevered, hoping TO win in time both
money and renown.
Six months went by with out any start
ling events disturbing the quiet OF the
family in the cottage. Every morning
Eleanor went to her work with q cheerful
smile, and contented spirit, and Mrs.
Brown still lamented their poverty, while
Della idled her time away over her cro-
chetng and the novels she borrowed.
One evening when Eleanor returned
from the store, she found her mother and
sister in the middle OF long discussion.
1t seemed that Mrs. Perry. the vile OF
rich merchant in the town Was to give .
party two weeks from that day. and had