Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-08
One of a Thousand.

VHt vi u lHOuShHus
whats the particular worry just now,
mother, dear p
There always was a worry of some sort
at the Selden's 1t generally had reference
to money, or the want of it, but that took
such a variety of shapes that Flo. could not
have asked her question better
"Mother dear" hesitated two or thres.
minutes before she answered. Hesitated still
when the answer came, looking up into her
daughters face as if she were doubtful
whether TO shadow its brightness by its
worries, general or particular.
"Only just the old trouble, Flo. Toms
sickness cost us as much as whole wears
living. Ramsey was over lately, and SAYS
he won't wait any longer about that mort
gage. And winters coming right along,
and where the children's clothes are coming
from | don't know"
But your Hea yenly Father knoweth.'
Don't you remember that motto with the
leaves and the lilies You painted it for
rue that time when | was fretting so, you
remember, for fear | couldn't earn enough
TO go back to the academy. You're not go.
ing to turn faithless mother, dear"
"I am afraid [ was beginning to be-
Where are you going in the rain, child 2"
as Flo. wrapped herself in her gray water
proof and tied on her second best hat Sc
curely.
cover to Squire Peach's to apply for the
school in the South District. Miss Brosser
is going to change her name, they say, (and
nature too, hope, for she is such a cross
patch) and / may be early enough 10 get
her place myself 1t won't be much, know
but it will be one of the Titles that help
till find something better. Wish me good
luck, mother - stopping to kiss away two
shining tears that told Flo silently what the
mothers heart was too full to put into words
Flo. tried her school three months, and then
gave it up Not that she was of the sort of
girls to give up undertakings easily. But
Flo had an idea of something better. Papa
Selden's cough grew harder and his overcoat
thinner, and school teaching in the South
District wasn't paying operation.
She thought it out one recess time, when
she was having one of her brownest studies
The other girls had always declared that
Flos fortune lay in her fingers. Papa used
to say, laughingly, that she had ten talents
one for each finger Every one has genius
for something, and Flo.'s was for millinery.
Nobody could give to ribbon such "per-
fectly lovely" twist as Flo. Selden, or find
the angle of jauntiness for the birds that
fashion commanded to perch on the pyra-
mids of lace and velvet. She determined to
find out the market value of such dainty
fingered skill.
She went over to Uncle Oldendorp's about
it that very night after school. She wanted
advice, which was easy to get, and money,
which wasn't.
Uncle Oldendorp was cautious, and dis
approved.
"Pay ye, don't they, for your school, down
there p
"Just enough to keep body and soul to-
gether I"
"Well," he answered coolly, that's more
than some people manage. Better stick to
your school-that's certain and this other
isn't. Don't act like crab, and leave
a house that fits you before you find a new
one.'
Flo. had no idea of doing business crab
fashion, so she kept on with her school all
the time she was using every effort to /" find
a house that fitted less snugly.
The end of the week found her as nearly
discouraged as it was possible for Flo. Sci
den to be.
"Oh, if could only find friend to help
me little till could help myself !" was
what she said to herself, with something
that was very like despair, as she was walk
ing away at rapid pace peculiar to her in
such intense moods-walking, she hardly
knew where, though it happened to be down
rather unfrequented road that led along
by the river.
Whittier away so fast 2"
Flo looked up into a pair of pleasant eyes
that looked down into hers with the friendly
interest they really felt, and answered, truth
fully, Nowhere, sir
"Then I'll go with you, by your leave,'
laughed the new conner, drawing Flo.'s arm
within his own and taking the familiar path
by the river.
1t was an old man, with kindly gray eyes,
under his grayer eyebrows old pre-
ceptor at the academy, who had known her
and loved her for her fathers sake, when
she was a little girl in pantalets and slip.
pers. The very one of all the world she
wanted most to see, Flo. thought.
The trouble all came out pretty soon. She
was SO tired and discouraged, and he was
such a good listener.
"I'm afraid-you Think was very fool
ish to think of such a thing" she faltered
at last when she found he only listened
without word OF comment.
81 think you are a very brave, wise, loving
little girl, my dear " was his answer given
so heartily that Flo. felt sure he meant it.
They sat down on gray ledge Just then
to look at the sunset on the river, and he
took out a pencil aud wrote something on a
leaf of his notebook.
"There, my DEAR he said, as he handed
it to her, carry this TO Harte Bros, Boston
| It's carte blanche for anything you want
there. No matter for thanks, child" as Flo.'s
| 1al h.. 4 .
hard to speak, "it's only part of the debt
of friendship | owe your father Glad to
pay it through you. Now tell me if he
works as hard as ever, A book-keeper's life
is sure death to him, anyway"
Irish, but true" replied Flo, smiling al
| his humorous way of putting it. And now
o, know can help him"
That hour was so comfortable TO tired
Flo, who felt like the rest of us, rested b,
sympathy. She was cheerful at home from
principle, but there were secret half hour
when the worry was almost more than sh,
could bear, and the sound of her father
hollow, ringing cough sometimes smote he
ears like knell. She went home from tn
sunset conference with lighter heart anC
brighter face than she had carried 70
weeks.
In two weeks Flo. had hired two large
light rooms Cn one of which was grea
bay.window); had seen Ilarte Bros, and IT
ceiyed her goods; had arranged her littl
shop as attractively as possible, and by Sal
urday morning everything was in readines
for quiet "opening" on Monday,
What nine days wonder "They " mad
of it, luquisitive people came by dozen
and that was Just what Flo, wanted. Pc
haps "They" laughed. "Who cares
, said Flo, brayely, though possibly she di
care little after all.
By-and-by the other girls began to fin
, out that nowhere could they find sue
Z Gloves of hats and bonnets as at Flo. Sc
den's. She always had the latest styles an
the freshest stock, and so her custom ver
/, naturally increased from week TO week.
+ Flo. kept her evenings to herself, and |
: sometimes, when she had had an especial
, good day, she would run down to papa
y den," as she called the little room where |
e scratched busily on ledgers and account bool
! all day, and book keep" for him. Il
L Il