Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-07
From Potter's American Monthly.
The LITTLE BUSINESS WOMAN.
BY ANNA MORRIS.

On the steps Of a wfetched tenement
house in New York, sat a slender, pale
girl, sorting out some bits of ribbon
which had been given her by neigh
boring milliner, in return for doing
some errands.
Kate's father, Mr.. Reed, WAS al in.
dustrious carpenter, who had always
had comfortable home for. his family
until few months before, when he re-
ceived severe injury by falling from q
building on which he was at work. Still,
the physician spoke hopefully of bis
soon being out again, and all seemed
going well, when the news that the man
in whose hands he had deposited all his
little savings had absconded, and left
him helpless and penniless, caused a
most dangerous relapse. Mrs. Reed
sold article after article of furniture and
wearing apparel, and struggled on till
at last, everything being gone, they
were obliged to take refuge in one room
of wretched tenement house. There
they had been for some weeks, when
our story opens.
Kate, always rather delicate child,
had grown thin and pale, and COM
planned so much of headache that the
doctor advised that she be taken from
school Time now hung rather heavily
on her hands. She shrunk from much
intercourse with the rough, vulgar
children in the house, and passed most
of the day in her own room; but occa-
sionally, as when we now see her, she
would take advantage of their absence
at school, and steal down to the door
step for short time.
81 wish I could help mother" she
thought, sorrowfully. CT wonder if
there is nothing that little girl can
do"
Just then the milkman drove into the
ward. He was an honest, pleasant-look-
ing man, who always spoke kindly to
the pale, gentle girl, so different from
the noisy crowd that clamorously de-
manded ride. He drove fine gray
horse, with which Kate had formed
great friendship, and she always
stroked and patted him, or gave him a
handful of grass, if she could find any
In the dusty street.
So when the miikman had passed into
the house with his cans, she commenced
patting her dumb friend, and talking to
him as usual, when bright idea struck
her, and deity knotting some of her
ribbons together, she fastened them
near the horses ears. Just then the
milkman came out.
sAh, Miss Kate" he said, shave you
been trimming up my horse ?"
"Yes, sir, answered the child, rather
timidly, "do you mind %
"Mind Oh, no; am much obliged
to you, and SO, dare say, is Billy !
See how proudly he holds up his head
He will have to come and take you out
to ride, in return for your kindness.
And with friendly good morning he
drove rapidly away.
She had sat perhaps half an hour
longer, when an ice cart came lumber
ing by. Somewhat to Kate's surprise,
it stopped, for IN that wretched house
no one could indulge In such luxury
as ice.
The driver, good -humored looking
lad. Jumped out, and coming up to Kate
asked. with a mixture of frankfulness
and bashfuiness. "Was it you, miss,
who made some rosettes for Mr.. Gray's
horse 2"
.The milkman?" answered Kate,
worderingly. Oh. yes, I put some
ribbons on him just now"
81 met him down the street, and
asked him how he came TO be SO gay ;
for you see," he continued, cit just
happened to take my fancy, as I've got