The Democratic advocate., 1879-11-15
Select Sturg.
THE PRICE OF A CURL.

AhllNC was tIc ltuDItHslOu
that you were rather a sensible young girl,
but | am now heartily ashamed Of YOU
behaving like baby because circumstan-
ces arc not as you would have them won t
help you out Of your difficulties, so you had
better dry your eyes, and think Of earn
ing living, like sensible young woman"
The young lady who had thus admon-
ished herself, hastened at once to bathe
her face and arrange her dress. While
thus occupied, VIC will look at her. She
is slender and graceful, about the medium
height. Her form is nearly perfect, but
her face is hardly pretty. The features
irregular, aud almost loo strongly marked
for woman The forehead is high aud
broad, and the hair is combed away FROM
it, revealing it 10 its full proportion. Her
skin is very fair, and her eyes are soft
gray, but alas she is very short sighted,
aud has to hide them behind spectaelcs.
Now, my lady readers, | know that you
nre hardly satisfied with my heroine, but
if you had her face | know that you would
render it almost beautiful, by surrounding
it with soft laces and wavy tresses.
Alice was practical little body, aud
thought il Of no use to spend half her time
in arranging her toilet.
She wished her friends to love her for
herself alone, and not for her beauty or
wealth, il she had either.
Her one beauty was her hair, and her
one failing was her vanity Of it.
She was standing before the patched
mirror, winding the long golden strands
around her fiugers, soliloquiriug as she al
ways did when alone.
"Now, Miss Alice Grey, know that you
are in bad fix, and you must make an cf-
fort at once to help yourself for an empty
purse won't sustain an empty stomach. l
almost expected to get an answer to my
advertisement to day, but suppose will
be disappointd as usual.
"IIow stupid not to have read to-day's
advertisements, there might have been
something suitable for me-"
Taking up the paper she read over the
list of Female Help Wanted.
There was nothing there, aud she was
turning the paper over with sigh, when
her eye caught something which attracted
her attention.
"lf the young lady who applied in last
Thursdays paper for position as govern
ess, will send her address to No.-Clay
street, she will hear of place"
Her heart stood still for moment, and
then commenced 10 beat In a most uncom.
Portable manner.
"l am so glad Twill hasten there i'm.
mediately," she said standing before the
mirror to don her hat and threadbare
jacket. 81 wonder why curled my hair
to-day! These long curls are quite an
improvement on the bob at the back Of
the head. do believe that they make me
almost pretty. Well, when am comfor-
tably settled, shall have curls every day
and then perhaps shall catch lover, or
rather they will catch one for me"
She laughed merrily at the idea of hav-
ing lover, and FASTENED down the creaky
stairs, that interviewed between the garret
and the first floor Of four story, third.
class lodging house.
On arriving at No.-Clay street she was
informed that the gentleman was not in,
but he had left note for her which she
eagerly read.
DEAR MADAN.-If you are willing to take
charge Of two headstrong girls, six and eight
years old-salary three hundred aud fifty dol.
lars ayear-leave your address and | will
call for you next Saturday afternoon at half
mn a fuvr, nj 3.La g
home. Yours respectfully,
JouS BALFoUR.'
Leaving her address, she was Fastening
home, when she became conscious that she
was hungry, aud was without money.
Happening to pass a hair store, the
thought suddenly occurred to her that she
might sell her hair. ~ ~
IL must get something to eat, for am
very hungry, and Il is lcDg time until
next Saturday. This is but Monday. |
hate to part with you, my dear old curls,
but / suppose must, so here goes r
She entered at once, aud noticing gen
ileman sitting behind the counter, marched
straight up to him and demanded Of him
In her decided fashion
"How much do you give for curls, such
as theseg holding up one for inspection.
REALLY, miss, TIN not in the habit of
buying shy curls. !"
"Very we'll, and she turned to 20.
Gone moment, miss, will take one, If
you are willing % sell H. awa
"And why not all9" she demanded
"Well, you sec have no immediate use
for them"
"But why do you keep so many Of those
artificial things, lpointing to sonle) when
you can SET tliesa natural ones, which
think would sell much better 2"
His eyes were twinkling lnerrily at ,he
yehemence Of the little lady.
eyes, they would sell better, II the price
we're the same, but you must know that
natural curls cost US more than those. l i
cannot afford to buy yonr curls at present.