The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-02-20
TOMS SISTER.

Her father, who was q bookkeeper,
had never earned over thousand q
year. lvah's rearing, therefore, had
been on a basis of simplicity and frugal
ity.
People said the new duties would
prove too heavy for her, for there was
a hint of the fragile III her slight little
body, though there was nothing sickly-
looking about her.
There was a fresh though delicate
color III her cheek, life in her blue
eyes, and in all her movements free
ness which asserted an elastic nature.
When she was eighteen, her father
was found dead at his desk. AT once
all the family income was cut off.
Tom, at the time, was studying
bookkeeping, and in assisting his faith
er had had some practice in the work.
You must ask for fathers place,
Tom," Ivah said.
1t was the day after the burial. Tom
had his face in his hands, the picture of
abandon. lie raised his head. Ills
eyes were swollen and rcd with weep-
ing.
81 don't see how you can bear to
think of such things in our great sor-
row." said Tom. az want nothing but
to lie down and die."
lvah's face was white and pinched,
but she seemed looking away to the
guiding star of duty.
But dear" she said, "wo have got
TO go on living. 1t would be selfish
and cowardly for either of us to die and
leave the other. And then, too, there
is our baby. There is Just one way,
Tom; we must find where our duty
lies and go to meet it. Our duty is to
live for each other and for baby. To
do this we must work. We can't at
ford to lose day from work. We owe
for the coffin in which our dear father
is buried. | have been making plans.
| have discharged Mrs. McGill. l can
take care of baby and do our house.
work, and can keep our table expens-
es to three dollars a week. But we
haven't even that to spend unless you
can get work. You ought to go right
away and ask for papa's place. If you
prefer, will go and ask for YOU"
" Harris Brothers would not pay me
thousand dollars" said Tom.
''Of course not" said Ivah. " You're
new hand. Perhaps they would not
pay you anything at the start; but it
would be much if you could even Sc
cure the place"
"Thcy need an experienced book
keeper. could not do their work."
Tom said, dcjectcdly.
81 could help you, T 'm,' said Ivah,
cheering. "You could bring the books
home and we could work together at
night after get baby asleep"
GIVE no idea that they would give
me trial"
"May go and ask them to?"
Toms silence gave consent, and Ivah
went.
Her father had been in the employ of
Harris Brothers for twenty three years.
They were kindly disposed toward her
and Tom; they would like it if he
could fill it. Yes, they were willing
he should try it.
Tom was beginner; his brain was
clouded with sorrow; his heart ached.
lie felt such dread of the future, with
its sudden responsibilities, that hc
must have failed but for Ivah's words
of courage and hand of help"
In the most dcsponding mood, when
he was ready to let go, to let fate come
on, there was the sister, patient and
brave, to bring forward reserved
forces and save the day.
| Never word had she about her own
heartachc, never word of the hard
day passed at washing or ironing oil
baking, with baby's hindering little
hands to be kept away from the scald
ing water or the hot irons or the swell
ing dough.
Never word heard Tom of the
sweeping day, when she went into
every corner OF the desolatc house, dis
covering reminders of the dear father
which brought severe spasms of pain
10 be borne alone. Not a word did he
hear of the backaches and armachcs il
soothing frctting baby to her afternoon
nap; nothing of the lonely time whei
she sat in the silent, silent house, wear
lily patching and darning; nothing o
the drudging over the hot stove, of til,
dish-washing, of the mopping.
She planned her work and hurried i
along to keep the unpleasant out o
Toms sight and hearing.
Returning at night he would fint
baby in bed, having had her bread ant
milk supper.
The little round table would be set
looking cherry and inviting with cleal
linen, clear glass and polished silver
while, perchance, flowers on the man
tel frightened and sweetened tn
room.
And when the supper table wa
cleared lvah would sit by Tom to d
the multiplying and dividing, and add
ing and verifying-tho drudgery of tn
bookkeeping.
AT length the anxiously expected da,
came when Tom was to hear the judg
ment as to his trial.
When he returned at night Ival
scrutinized his face, her heart full a
perceiving that it was not very cheer
full. She refrained from asking ques
tions, leaving him to choose his tim
and manner of communicating the re
suit.
Harris Brothers offer me the plac
at forty dollars month";" he said afte
supper.
"Oh, Tom, how glad we ought to be
how thankful! I've felt all the tim
that God meant to take care of us,
lvah said, and she broke down an,
cried.
"Bnt if | can do the work of tn
place." said Tom, grumbling, +"
don't see why / shouldn't have tn
wages which belong to ii. I've abou
decided to tell Harris Brothers that
will not work for half pay"
"Oh, don't, Tom, don'tp erie,
lvah, taking alarm. "Think how
much il is worth to have secured tn
place. Take what you can get till yol
have gained skill and demonstrate,
your value. When you are sure O
your skill, and they are sure, you ma
ask for higher salary. We can man
age well with forty dollars. l find new
ways Of economising every day."
On and on she went, till Tom wa
persuaded to close with Harris Broth
ers' offer.
He would not have been able to dc
serve this but for his sisters watchfu
help.