The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-07-28

were worth a whole bundle of fine
ladies'"
"Did she?" and Lettice smiled again.
She was beginning to look cheerful in
spite of her dismal story. There was
something so inveterately cheerful in
that temper that nothing could entirely
subdue it. The warmth of her generous
nature it was that kept the blood and
spirits flowing.
at was sad day when we parted from
it. My poor mother! How she kept
looking back-looking back-striving
not to cry-and Myra was drowned in
tears"
"And what did you dor
81 am sure l don't know; l was so sor-
ry for them both; quite forget all the
rest"
"But how came you to LondonT asked
Mrs. Danvers. Everybody, without
other resource, seems to come to London.
The worst place, especially for women,
they can possibly come to. People are so
completely lost in London. Nobody dies
of want, nobody is utterly and entirely
destitute of help or friends, except in
London"
"a person we knew in the village, and
to whom my father had been very kind,
had son who was employed in one OF
the great linen warehouses, and he prom
ised to endeavor to get US needlework;
and we fattered ourselves, with industry,
we should, all three together, do pretty
we'll So we came to London, and took
small lodging, and furnished it with the
remnant of our furniture. We had our
clothes, which, though plain enough,
were a sort of little property, you know.
But when we came to learn the prices
they actually paid for work, ii was really
frightful. Work fourteen hours a day
apiece, and we could only gain between
three and four shillings a week each,
sometimes hardly that. There was our
lodging to pay, three shillings week,
and six shillings left for firing and food
for three people. This was ill the weeks
of plenty. Oil it was frightful!"
"Horriblen" echoed Catherine.
eve could not bring ourselves down to
it at once. We hoped and fattered our
selves that by-and-by we should get some
work that would pay better; and when
we wanted little more food, or in very
cold days little more fire, we were
tempted to sell or pawn one article after
another. At last my mother fell sick,
and then all went; she died, and she had
pauper's funeral" concluded Lettice,
turning very pale.
They were all three silent. At last
Mrs. Danvers began again:
"That was not the lodging | found you
inT'
"No, madam, that was too expensive.
We left it, and we only pay one-and-six-
pence a week for this, the furniture be-
ing our own"
"The cab is at the door, Miss Melwyn,"
again interrupted Reynolds.
ooh dear Oh dearl | can't go, indeed,
Mrs. Danvers, l can't CO." with a plead
ing look, "may l stay one day longer~
"Most gladly would | keep you, my
dearest love, but your father and mother.
\ And they will have sent to
meet you"
"And suppose they have; John must
90 back-but stay, stay-Sarah shall so
and take all my boxes, and say am com
ing to-morrow-that will do"
"And you travel alone by railway?
Your mother will never like that"
Il am ashamed" cried Catherine with
energy, "to think of such mere conven-
tional difficulties, when here | stand in
the presence of real misery. Indeed, my
dear Mrs. Danvers, my mother will be
quite satisfied when she hears why /
staid. | must be an insensiDle creature
if | could 90 away without seeing more
of dear Lettice.
Lettice looked up so pleased, so CRATE
full, so happy.
DWELL, my love, | think your mother
will not be uneasy, as Sarah goes, and |
Just remember Mrs. Sands travels your
way tomorrow, SO she will take care of
you, for taken care OF you must be, my
pretty Catherine, till you are little less
Young, and somewhat less handsome"
And she patted the sweet, full, rosy
cheek.
Catherine was very pretty indeed if
you care to know that, and so it was set
tied.
And now Lettice, having enjoyed a
happier hour than she had known for
many long day, began to recollect her.
self, and to think of poor Myra.
She rose from her chair, and taking up
her bonnet and shawl, which Catherine
had hung before the fire to dry, seemed
preparing to depart.
Then both Catherine and Mrs. Dan
vers began to think of her little bill,
which had not been settled yet. Cathe-
rine felt excessively awkward and un-
comfortable at the idea of offering her
old friend and companion money; but
Mrs. Danyers was too well acquainted
with real misery-had too much S.pro-
baton for that spirit which is not above
earning, but is above begging-to have
any embarrassment in such case.
"Catherine, my DEAR" she said, "you
owe Miss Arnold some money. Had you
not better settle it before she leaves~
Both the girls blushed.
"Nay, my dears," said Mrs. Danvers,
kindly; "why this?--I am sure" coming
up to them, and taking Lettice's hand,
II hold an honest hand here, which is
not ashamed to labor, when it has been
the will of God that it shall be by her
own exertions that she obtains her bread
and part of the bread of another, if /
mistake not. What you have nobIy
earned as nobly receive. Humiliation
belongs to the idle and the dependent,
not to one who maintains herself"
The eyes of Lettice glistened, and she
could not help gently pressing the hand
which held hers.
Such sentiments were congenial to her