Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-02-14
A WsHER wO,IAN,s DAUGHTER.

A little Swiss muslin apron, with ruff
fies, pockets and ribbons, is very seduc-
tive thing, even when tossed with artless
carlessneSs upon the fancy table of a
charity fair, but who can paint its magic
power upon an unWary youth when its
fiuttering ribbons span slender, dainty
waist and the pink-tipped fingers of two
plump, little hands play hide-and-seek
in its apologies for pockets.
Could a mortal man help stopping to
speak to TIME Blair, as she stood behind
the great album of autographs alert and
ready to register subscriptions as fast as
they were secured?
1t must have been the apron that made
her so radiantly charming, for no other
table made such stOppage in the line of
travel, although the hall was lined with
tables, temples and stands, covered with
bats for the charitable, and presided
over by the beauty and fashion of OffpOrt.
So, at least said the 0ffpOrt Weekly, and
if newspaper is not to be believed, then
what is?
Still, in spite of these facts, the young
men most did cOngregate around that lit
tie table of TIMES. She had shed small
shower of tears when it was cOndecend-
ingly offered to her, but it was that or
nothing, and it would not have been even
that, if the good rector had not been so
obsolete in his notions as to suppose that
the children of a shiftless drunkard,
whose widow took in washing, were fit
to associate with the daughters of the
upright and solid men who set in the
body of the church and sOlemnly put
their regular contributions into the
weekly plate, carefully pushing their
aims we'll under, that their five cents
might not be known of men.
However, having seen his little parish
Toner pOintedly left out in the prepara-
tiOns for the ladies' fair and festival he
did insist and carried his point that she
should have a position among the fair
amateur saleswOman. The richest old
woman in the church had donated to the
charitable enterprise huge collection
Of stupendOuSly unintereSting auto
graphs, which were not even genuine
but attested 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 Off
port to take charge of it.
The amiable first directress of the
sewing society was Tallyrand in petit
coats.
She brought the two difficulties to-
gether, and let one take care of the other,
that is to say, if that low, OdiOus little
creature was to be forced on them, lei
her undertake the book, which, of course
could never be disposed of but which
must appear. or the offended dOnatOr
would promptly remove herself and her
fortune to the 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 a heartbreak
when, by request, she presented herself
before the committee of arrangements
to find herself appointed to most IN
enviable post.
She might not have known, in her in
nOcence, that it was station so much
abhOrred, but the ill-cOncealed 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 drawbacks, and
altogether it was sad little face that
TIME wore as she swept off the porch OF
their little tumble-dOwn, black cottage
that she called home.
There's no use in trying" she said, as
she bent her lovely curly head lower and
lower to keep the tears out of sight. "NO
use trying to be like girls who have
money and nice houses, and clothes
they're not ashamed of. Ideclare, if it
wasn't for mother, I'd wish 1 was dead
What did you say, Tinie?" said her
mother, looking up from her ironing
table.
Il don't know; / think / 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 don't think will go to the
fair"
Mrs. Blair finished ironing a collar be
fore she spoke; then with pleasant
smile lighting up her worn face, she
said:
If you want to stop at home because
you nave nothing to wear, stop worrying
dear, for I've thought it all out. I'll
press out my old black merinO for you;
the rustiness won't show at night. and
we'll cut up your little old white dress
and make fancy apron like the one ]
had here to do, up for the young lady
that boarded at the hotel last summer,
and Well take the ribbons off your hat
to put on it; you can put them back be-
fore Sunday.
A cloud at the idea of the disreputable
old merinO, moments doubt at the pos
sibility of the fancy apron, then full
burst of sunshine at the quick mental
picture of her pretty self in becoming
costume for once, and TIME danced up
to hug her blessed mother, with:
"Oh, mamma darling, what nice things
mothers are"
Low as the misery of drunken hus-
band had made Mrs. Blair's position,
she was a lady by birth and education,
and had brought up her two children
with all the refinement possible In their
misfOrtunes.
She was proud of her pretty daughter,
and felt most keenly the sighting cold
ness with which the young ladies of Off
port treated her. She was glad now that
a taste of pleasure seemed to be thrown
in her way.
But, althC ugh the plans were made
not step could be taken toward their
execution till small basket of clothes
could be finished and sent off to the hotel
put they were quickly done and dispatch
ed by RObbY, TIMES small but very wide
awake brother, and then mother and
daughter gave every thought and energy