Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-12
pRACTiCAI-OR UTOPlAN7
BY MARION HARLAND.
Published by permission.l
PART ].
(Continard from last ueek. }


"Of artists in music and painting,
there are, perhaps, twenty in this
city," she observed. ."Of pretend.
ers and drudges in these arts, there
are more than thousand. Since
not one of you has developed any
decided talent for such pursuits, or
for literature, and, since teaching
for a living has become but another
name for bondage and starvation,
my plan is this: You, Emma. shall
learn book keeping; lmogen, dress,
making; Blanche, millinery. Don't
look Mortified. | shall not expose
you to the uncongenial associations
or unwholesome atmosphere OF the
crowded shop or work room. All
that affection and money eau do to
make the term Of your nOvitiate
pleasant shall be done. You shall
tit up the old nursery as your acad,
envy Of the useful arts, if you choose
to call it by 30 dignified a name. l
shall engage competent instructors
for You and pay well for the lessons.
But there must be no play. work, no
superficial, amateur performance on
either side. When your trades are
learned, | shall expect you to keep
yourselves in practice, and up with
the latest improvements and fash,
ions by practice in domestic manu-,
features. Milliners' and dressmak.
ers' bills shall he among the things
that were. Emma shall have charge
of the housekeeping accounts and
papa's books. He will pay her as
he would any other skillful account.
ant, aud what you, Imogen and
Blanche, shall adjudge to be rea.
sonable price for every dress and
bonnet made for yourselves, your
sister, or for me.r
The, for once, dumb trio found
simultaneous voice at this.
"Mamma! would that be right!
Would it not be an imposition~
at is his own proposal. We
talked it all over last night after he
came home, and again this morning.
| need not tell you that he is the
best, most indulgent father that
ever loved and spoiled three loving
daughters. | had some difficulty
in persuading him to let me try the
experiment. The tears stood in his
dear eyes, while he debated the
pros and cons of the case"
AMY bonny bairnsr lie said. IF
| could, l would be their shield al.
ways. They should never dream of
privation; never ink or prick their
pretty fingers except for amusement,
if l we're sure of ten years more of
life and prosperity
She stopped to steady her voice.
lmogeu was crying outright; Em.
mas gray eyes were cloudy. Blanche
broke forth, half,lauehing, halfsob.
bing:-
"The angelic old papa! isn't he a
born seraphi 1 would peddle rags
with a lean mule, and q string of
bells across the cart, to save him
an hours anxiety. l wish he would
wear French bats-al1 flowers and
moonshine! And have four every
season. Would not furnish them
for nothing, kisses thrown into the
bargainr
The others had to laugh at the
vision of papa's six feet of stature,
broad shOuldera. strong featurea.
and iron gray hair crowned with Q
fancy bat of the prevailing mode.
Mrs. Hitler went on
"'But,' he added, Il will not,
while l can take care Of them, de-
rive one cents profit from their
work. There is no surer way OF
learning how to take care Of money
than having money to manage. l
will furnish each of the pusses with
. bank. book. She shall make out
quarterly bills against YOU, or me: