The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-15

you KNOW al Now EnSidlu HhhcS huch
of Thanksgiving-more than of Christ
mas. Papa was brought up to and he
never gave up the custom. 1t will be a
sad day to u.s." The conversation here
assumed a desultory tone, and soon
Grace Weir babe her friends good
night
Nell and Kathie Grey were sisters of
20 and Is years. A little more than a
year before their father died; they were
motherless from early childhood. Mr..
Grey, having always lived upon the
slender wages of a clerk, left his daugh-
ters almost penniless at his death but
kind friend interested himself in obtain
ing situations for them in one of our
largest dry-goods stores, where they had
since remained.
Grace Weir had been born and bred
in a suburban town, where her father, a
manufacturer, had amassed considerable
property. But, alas for Grace! her
mother died, and, in short time, a
stranger was installed in the vacant
place.
Grace had inherited high, proud
nature, which her stepmother was deter
mined to subdue. Weekly and daily
feuds existed between the two. Grace's
monthly allowance was lessened, then
entirely cut off, for her father was COM
pletely under his wife's influence. In a
fit of passion Grace finally avowed her
intention of leaving home as soon as
she was Is, and her father-in justice
to him, be it said, that ne keenly felt
the necessity for this step-obtained
for her the situation of correspondent
in a New York house. Chance in the
selection of boarding place threw
these three young girls together All
were earning their subsistence-all
mourning the loss of parents-and a
fellow-feeling was the bond knit be-
tween them.
That night Grace, like Nell, lay awake
to plan. She went to her friends room
the previous evening, intending to tell
them of her good fortune, that they
might rejoice with her; but after the
conversation we have recorded, could
not do So She had that day received a
letter from her father, containing a
postal order for $35, with his usual
apology little unexpected money
came in, and, though her mother did
not approve of her having much to
spend, fearing it might lead her into ex-
travagance, he thought she might like a
warm cloak and new dress for the win
ter. Let him know the letter of that
date was received; she need not refer to
the money"
The result of Grace's thoughts were
apparent, as she sprung from her bed,
and, hastily striking a match, drew forth
paper and pen and wrote the following:
WANTED An unfurnshed room i'm respect
able locality suitable for housekeeping. Rent
low. Address "Self-help," Herald Office.
"There! no new cloak or dress now.
Fathers gift, as well as the SO / have
saved, must go for something else," she
said, as she turned down the light.
After dinner the next evening Grace
tapped at the door of Mrs. Williams
room, an invalid lady boarding on the
first floor of the same house, and on adj
mittance asked if Mr.. Williams would
do her favor. His business obliged
him to pass the Herald office. Would
it be too much to beg him to take an
advertisement for insertion in Sundays
paper, and step the next evening for
replies?
'Lost your situation, Miss Grace?"
was the quick inquiry"
mo, SIR
"Not matrimonial? l won't help
you if that is it,"
Grace deliberated moment, then
said: It may as well take you into my
confidence. Maybe Mrs. Williams will
tell me if my scheme is too wild" And
she told the story; the conversation she
had held with Nell and Kathie the pre-
vious evening" that Kathie was not
strong, needed more nourishing food
and warm fire, and how opportune her
fathers gift seemed.
Tears stood in Mrs. Williams eyes ere
the recital was finished, and hearty CO.
operation was promised.
A large package of letters was brought
Grace on Monday evening, answers to
her advertisement, and her friends, the
Williamses, kindly lent their aid in de-
Gliding which seemed most desirable.
The next morning Grace begged half
days respite from business, and start
ed out to examine the rooms. Good
fortune aided her. She found large,
sunny room, on the third floor of a
well-kept house, with two ample closets.
The rent asked was $15 month, pay
able in advance; but Grace found the
landlady so motherly in appearance
that she instinctively related the cir
cumstances to her, and the sympathetic
German woman reduced the price to SO,
weekly.
Mr. Williams suggested the purchase
of q secondhand stove and table, but
bed and bedding Grace declared should
be new. The stove was bought for Sc
"a real bargain they told her. Bed
and bedding for the two sisters reduced
Grace's money from $43 to $21. A ia
BILE in good condition, but secondhand,
was bought for So; then there were
chairs, cooking utensils, dishes and coal
to be purchased; and the lounge for
Grace, with window-shade and carpet,
seemed distant indeed. But ingenuity
came to her assistance in planning the
last, and her landlady aided the first
necessity by Offering for her use an old,
well-worn sofa that had stood in her
store-room for two years past. The
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