The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-21
rho Ntory OF a aIiired GIRL

. would like TO say one word Of encour
agement to the girls "hired girls" as they
are generally spoken Of, showing them
how much depends on their own opinions
of themselves to gain the high estimation
OF those they consider their superiors
socially, and in many other respects.
will relate one little instance which &C
Cured within the last year:
One day last summer a friend Of mins
called upon me, informing me that her
girl wished to see me in regard 10 taking
music lessons. OF course, I was some
what surprised at the idea Of a hired gir
wanting 10 take music Lessons. Mrs. [
-, her employer, seemed to look npot
her with the greatest respect. The child
rem, from baby Lucy upt 10 big Tom place.
all confidence in her, and would run te
lille with their little troubles in prefer
encs to mama, sometimes. Alter seeing
Tillie, and making the necessary arrange
ments, it was her desire to come for her
lesson in the evening, when she was fret
from her days work. Mrs. D. had
given her the use Of the piano for an hour
or so in the afternoon. l was struck with
her promptness and lady.like manners,
and could but think her ambition was
quite natural. All the autumn and win
ter she came out untiringly, perhaps her
evening would pass and she would mol
come, but Us sure as the next day came
with Il came a neat note excusing herself
on the ground that "the ironing wa &C
large or "Mr. D. came so late fol
supper" but I always missed the bright
sunny face when she failed to come. How
fused to watch those poor red, stiFhandi
toilirg over the keys. "Music and kitch'
en- work do not agree very well, but l love
my music SO, it makes my task lighter ii
the Kitchen" che would say cheerfully
Can II be, l would think, that she is to Be
looked down on simply because she was
compelled to slave for somebody? All, no
che was doing her duty. It was the mis-
sion God had set out for her-and her re-
ward would come by and by. One even
ing Tillie handed me q letter saying y
want you 10 read the offer Of another sit
uation l have had" l little guessed the
contents as l took It from her. To my
astonishment and pleasure 1t was q manly,
noble heart pleading for her life to Be
placed in his keeping. Every word spoke
the true man, nothing sickly or sentlmen.
tai; just such a letter as | would want 10
receive under similar circumstances, and
the writer, l knew the name well, and
knew him to be a perfect man. / could
but say as I handed back the letter, ~
hope you accepted" "Yes," and there
was a wealth Of happiness in the clear
blue eyes, and some Tears, too, l imagined.
II never knew what II was to live before.
Just the thought that there Is one person
in the world 10 care for me Is such happi.
nesa.n Then she told me how, after re-
ceiying his letter, she wrote to him telling
him she was but a poor girl, 1t would be
better for them not TO meet-"he came to
me, in a few evenings telling me that he
knew exactly how poor l was, he asked
for nothing but my heart and hand could
1 retuse2' Blessings IN such girls In
place Of foolishly running the streets, she
devoted her spare moments 10 music aid
good reading. OF course, such girls are
rare (by rare we mean there are humid
reds Of such girls as Tillie, who have as
much talent, only they don't choose TO
cultivate their talents because they have
an idea that they are looked down on,
therefore abuse what talent they hGye);
but there are hundreds such, and they
need not consider themselves drudges-
0 will anybody else-if they only have
n mind to make Themselves respected.
My Tillie presides over u pleasant little
home all her own, and looks up TO her
handsome lord wondering like the old
woman, "can 1t beI% PEooorTY.