The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-05
A Washerwoman's Daughter

A little Swiss mHslin apron, with
ruffles, pockets, and ribbons, is q very
seductive thing, even when tossed
with articles carelessly upon the fancy
table of charity fair; but who can
paint its magic power upon An unwary
youth when its futtering ribbons span
a slender, dainty waist and the pink
tipped fingers of two plump little
hands play at hide-and-seek in it's
apologies for pockets?
Could mortal man help stopping to
speak to TIME Blair, as she stood be-
hind the great album of autographs,
alert and ready to register subscrip-
tions as fast as they were secured2
1t must have been the apron that
made her SO radiantly charming, for
no other table made such a stoppage
in the line of trayel, although the hall
was lined with tables, temples and
stands covered with bats for the char
liable and presided over by the beauty
and fashion of Offport. So, at least,
said the OGport Weekly, and if news
paper is not to be believed, then what
is?
Still, in spite of facts, the young
men mostly did congregate around
that little table of Tinie's. She had
shed small shower of tears when it
was condescendingly offered to her,
but it was that Or nothing, and it
would not even have been that if the
good rector had not been so obstinate
in his notions as to suppose that the
child of shlftless drunkard, whose
widow took in washing, was fit to
associate with the daughters of the
upright and solid men who sat in the
body of the church and solemnly put
their regular contributions into the
weekly plate, carefully pushing their
aims well under, that their five cents
need not bo known of men.
However, having seen lis little par
ishioner spointedly left out in all the
preparations for the ladies fair and
festival, he did insist and carry his
point that she should haye a position
among the fair amateur saleswomen.
The richest old woman in the con-
gregation had donated to the charita-
BILE enterprise huge collection of stu
uninteresting autographs
which were not even genuine, but at.
tested fac SMILES of the signature of
every man of note, from Moses to
Treasurer Spinner, who had ever been
rash enough to put his name on paper.
The ladies regarded the gift as
white elephant, and forty wild horses
could not have dragged any other girl
in Offport to take charge of it.
The first directress of the sewing
society was Tnllyrand In petticoats.
She brought two difficulties together
and let one take care of the other, that
is to say, if that low, odious little
creature was to be forced upon them,
let her undertake the books, which of
course, would never be disposed of,
but which must appear, or the Offend
ed donor would promptly remove her.
self and her fortune to rival church.
After the ecstacy caused by the dear
old rector's pledge that she should
have a share in the delight Of waiting
at the fair, it was something of heart
break when, by request, she presented
herself before the committee of ar
rangements, to find herself appointed
to a most unenviable post.
She might not have known in her
innocence, that it was station so alb
horred, but the uDconcealed mirth of
the others at her appointment to it
made her aware of the small esteem in
which it was held.
Then there were other draw backs,
and altogether it was a sad little face
that Tinie wore as she swept off the
porch of their little tumble-down,
black cottage that she called hcme.
There's no use trying she said, as
she bent he lovely curly head lower
and lower to keep the tears out of
sighN'No use trying to be like girls
who have money and nice houses. and
clothes they are not ashamed of. 1
declare, if it wasn't for mother, I'd
wish 1 was dead
What did you say, TIME p said her
mother, looking up from the ironing
table.
Il don't know think l must have
been talking to myself, said the girl,
looking in with her forget-me-not blue
eyes dewy with tears, But, mother,
after all, 1 think 1 won't 60 to the
fair
Mrs. Blair finished the collar before