Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-23
Miss Mint's Friend.

to us at the dinner table e? Miss Mint,
they call her. Is she a teacher, or
what ?"aH.a org lo aiLp
Frank Hastings young man who
for six months had enjoyed ''all the
comforts and conveniences of q private
home" at Mrs. Starkweather's ''select"
boarding house, No. 16 - street
lighted a fresh cigar before he answered,
rather languidly: m
"No; she's something ten times worse
"a sort of reporter. She goes round to
churches and lecture-rooms, trying to
pick up the few stray crumbs the other
reporters leave behind 'em. There's
only one paper employs her regularly,
and that at a starvation price. She
wears one dress all the year round,
sports a bonnet handed down to her by
her great at-grandmother, and rooms in the
attic, for which precious privilege and
her dinner she pays Mrs. Starkweather
three dollars week. Bah p concluded
Frank, in tone of disgust, as he threw
one leg over another, and sat gazing
into the fire.
"Poor soul s! She's to be pitied, I'm
sure" said Caleb barley, who, being a
hard-working reporter himself, and a
| tender hearted man besides, felt some
sympathy for the little creature they
were discussing. ~
| o"Nonsense! !' said Frank, sharply.
"Why don't she try her hand at some
thing else ?-dressmaking or teaching,
or some other work fit for woman ?''
perhaps she hasn't the chance or the
talent to do either" barley replied.
'sYhen let her stay at home and help
about the house. Come to think of it,
though, believe she has has no home
She's an 'orphing.' S'pose 'tis rather
rough for the poor thing said Frank,
with a slight tinge Of compunction in
his voice. "But come, Darley, let's
drop Miss Mint as seedy subject.
Have another cigar?'
"Thank you, no must be off. I've
got to report IS sermon tonight >
"Poor fellow Glad I'm not in your
line of business" said Frank, who was
clerk in large wholesale store. "Won-
der If little Mint's going? You might
escort her home barley tt would bo
quite new sensation for her, and just
think low all the fellows on the street
would envy you'
"Oh, leave poor little Miss Mint
alone !" said barley, as he walked to-
wards the door. Remember she's
swimming against stiff stream like
the most of US, and finds it hard work
to keep her head above water. Don't
throw stones at her. av asv9s UdL
''Pon my word, you're developing a
poetical vein. This is really getting
dangerous. Well, goodbye for the
present. old chap; look in again after
church, will you u?"- q aos
j"No; must 60 to the Office" said
Caleb, as he went out ~
In her little room, two stories higher
up, Miss Mint was putting on her bon
net, quite unconscious of how she was
being discussed below. M g -
She was very small and slight, this
poor little heroine of ours, with face
that might have been pretty before pri.
walton and anxiety stole its bloom and
plumpness away. Her glossy brown
hair was brushed in smooth waves ovel
her forehead; she had large tender gray
eyes, and mouth that, for all its reso
. luton and character, had pathetic
e droop at the corners that seemed to hav.
become habitual. She was nearly TWEEN
t ty-three, but looked at least two year
r older. .b9liia e7as el9 a1ea aas3ti3e
Her little room was as bare and com
FORTRESS place as could be imagined
9 No furnace heat could penetrate up here
!. and Miss Mint's hands were SO NUM-
g with cold she could scarcely pin he
= shawl. The floor of the room unpainte
& and bare save for strip of rag-carpe
{ by the bed; the ugly little wash-stan
d in the corner, with its clumsy bowl an
I" pitcher; the stiff looking wooden chai
p" that made your back ache to look at it
!. and the bed itself, with its tawdry, fac
- ed counterpane-it was dreary pictur
ID for poor little Ellen Mint's beauty-loy
Z ing eyes to rest on. She had done he
lie best to brighten it: two or three picture
IN she had brought with her hung on th
:, walls, the little table by the windo
,s was covered with books, and delicai
id glass vase she was too poor to fill wit
he flowers she loved, stood on the burea,
at There were couple Of hanging shelv'
" ON the wall, Of which only the upp,
:. one with her work. basket on it, was vi
al ible a green and white calico curtai
/; hid the rest. This was her cupboard.
In But we return to Miss Mint hersel
ne who is down stairs and out of the do
no no by this time. She is quick walk
re and in few moments finds herself
in the entrance to the church. already b
sieged by an anxious crowd, who a
ZEE kept in check by the ushers and a co