Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-01-14
a Washerwoman's Daughter


artless carelessness upon the fancy ta
bic of a charity far; but who can pain
It's magic power upon an unwary youth
when its huttering ribbons span slen
der, dainty waist and the pink-tippe'
Snsers of two plump little hands play
at hide.and.scck IN its apologies TO-
pockets?
Could q mortal man help stopping Il
speak to Tinie Blair, as she stood be-
hind the great album Of autographs
alert and ready to register subscriptions
az fast as they were secured?
1t must have been the alron tha
made her SO radiently charming, for M
other table made such a stoppage in th'
lire Of travel, although the hall wa
lined with tables, temples and stands
covered with bats for the charitable
and presided over by the beauty an(
fashion of Ofport. So, at least, san
the Ohport Weekly, and if newspaper
is not to be believed, then what's!
Still, in spite offacts, tho young men
most did congregate around that littl'
table Of Tiuie's. She had sheo small
shower of tears when it was condescend
incly offered to her, but il was that Oh
nothing. and it would not even have
been that if the good rector had no
teen so obsolete in his notions as tc
suppose that the child Of a shiftless
drupkard. whose widow took in washing
was fit TO associate with the daughters
octhe upright and solid men who sat II
the rody of the church and solemnly pu
their regular contributions into tht
weekly plate, carefully pushing thell
aims well under, that their five cents
need not be known of men.
However, having seen his little par
lshionor pointedly left out IN all the
preparatious for the ladies' fair and fes
tival, he did insist and carried his point
that she should have position among
the fair amateur saleswomen.
The richest old woman IN the con
creation had donated 10 the charitable
enterprise a huge collection of stupeud
ously unlnteresting autographs which
were not even genuine. but attested fa'
Smiles Of the signature of every man o
note. from Moses TO Treasurer Spinner
who had ever been rash enough to pu
his name on paper.
The ladies regarded the gift as
white elephant, ard forty wild horses
could not have dragged any other girl IL
Ogport to take charge oft.
The amiable first directress OF th'
sewing society was a Tallyrand in pet
ticOats.
She brought the two difficulties to
cether. and let one take care OF tn
other. that is to say, ifthat low, odiou
little creature was to be forced upol
them. let her undertake the book
which. of course, would never be dis
nosed Of. but which must appear, o
The offended donor would promptly re
move herself aud her fortune TO the rlva
church.
After the ecstasy caused by the dea
old rector's pledge that she shoul
baye a share in the delight OF waltln
at the fair, it was something Of heart
break when, by request, she presented
herself before the committee OF arrange
ments, TO find herself appointed TO
most unenviable post.
She might not have known, in her in
nocence, that it was station 40 abhor
red. but the ill-concealed mirth OF th
others at her appointment to 1t mad
her aware of the small esteem In whic
| il was held.
Then there were other drawbacks
and altogether it was a sad little lac
that TIME wore as she swept Of tt
porch Of their little ble-dewn, blac
cottage that she called home.
"There's no use trying" she said,
she bent her lovely curly head low
and lower to keep the tears out
sight-"No use trying to be like CIR
who have money and nice houses, al
clothes they're not ashamed OF. l d
clare. if il wasn't for mother, I'd Wi
[ was dead"
"What did you say, Timer" sa
her mother, looking up from the iro
p ing. g.table.
81 don't know; think 1 must ha
been talking to myself" said the gl
looking in, with her forget-me-not bl
ewes dewy with tears. But, moth'
after ALL, think 1 won't 90 to t
! fair"
Mrs. Blair finished ironing a col
b, before she spoke; then, with a please
lighting up Of her worn face, she SAID
{" If you want to stay at home
= cause you have nothing TO wear 81
worrying, dear, for I've thoughtit
out. III press out my old black mer
2 for you--the rustlress won't show
l, night-and we'll cut up your little
y white dress and make fancy ap
70 like the one had here TO do up Tor
a young lady that boarded at the h'
last summer; and we'll take the
bons Off your hat to put on 1t; you
Or nut them back before Sunday"
u a cloud at the idea Oft distep'