, 1880-07-12
Mrs. Trab's Story.

adopted MoI1a Jane. CEOS0 nof De-
cause she was the healthiest and the
smartest of 'em. If I'd known how
smart she was I'd never had any thing
to do with her, you may depend on
that; but l never knew any good to
come of those charity children-neuer.
Pen couldn't tell all I did for that
gal. She was bound to me until she
was eighteen and / felt it my duty.
She always wore crash aprons that
covered her from head to foot, and nice
cow-hide boots; and all winter gave
her two nights week at evening school,
and never allowed her to contract hab-
its of idleness. No, that is not upon
my conscience. l have had that girl
up at five O. clock in the morning scrub
bing the steps on one of the coldest
days in winter before she was twelve
ears old.
She was too pretty for her position.
Charity children have no right to be SO
pretty. I don't mind healthy, red
cheeks, but Melia Jane was fair and
and kept it oiled she would have had
long goldern curls.
It made me furious to think that if
she was dressed up she'd have looked
prettier than my Aranlinta, who was
just her age. But kept Minty dressed
like a doll-put her hair up in papers
every night, had her taught to play the
piano and paint flowers, and never let
her soil her hands, for 1 ment to bring
her up lady.
As for Melia Jane, she hadn't time to
take care of her hands. It was Melia
here, and Melia there up stairs and
down; she helped the cook and she made
{ the beds and she rubbed the windows,
and she did the rooms and ran errands.
I don't know how she found time to
grow SO fast, but grow she did. I knew
that by her aprons. She was head
taller than Araminta when she was six
teen, and the first time I gave her a
new dress that wasn't made out of an
old one of mine, somehow she fixed it
so that she looked like q lady as she
went to church, though all she had on
her head was round straw hat with q
little band around it-one of a lot
they'd been selling off for twenty-five
cents.
You see the boarders gave her pres
ents now and then, and one, school
teacher, used to give her books. She
knew how to read when took her, and 1
used to tell her that in her place educa-
ton was Just waste of time; but l
couldn't well take the books away, and
often caught her looking at them.
Somehow she educated herself in sort
of way, and didn't approve of it, for
held that people ought to he contented
in the place Providence placed 'em in.
The Christmas my Minty was seven
teen we had new boarder. He was
very handsome, about thirty, and l
heard, quite rich. He paid we'll and
promptly, and he was bachelor. l
looked at my Araminta, and the girl
had bewitching way-like her mother
when she was young-and l thought
what good match Mr.. Gardiner would
be for her; and I gave the girl some
good advice, and she took it like an an
gel.
"Only must have some new things,
ma," said she; and 1 bought her ten
new dresses, and Melia, being handy
with her needle, put on her pink calico
and came and helped us make 'em up
in the, front basement, where we sat
mornings; and while we were sewing,
it got to be a common thing for Mr..
Gardiner to knock at the door and
come in, and sit and talk with us. Me-
liza, of course, never opened her lips.
Well, this went on for a while, and
began to think everything was all right,
and to wonder when Mr.. Gardiner
would propose, for he'd been reading
poetry and sketohing my Minty as she
sat and sewed. I wanted the picture,
but he said he wasn't satisfied with it;
and 1 knew he wasn't, for one day
peeped into his portfolio, and found
he'd rubbed Minty out, and only left
Melia, handing her something on the
paper. And Minty said:
sfMa, Mr.. Gardiner is in love, and I
wonder why he don't say anything"
"Why don't you lead him on?" 1
asked.
young Jones don't need any lead
ing on said Minty.
And it came into my head that per-
haps if he got chance he'd speak to
me. And one Sunday I put on my
things and watched Mr.. Gardiner go
his way to church, and then I went
that way too. We could meet coming
out and talk would be natural.
He went to church not far off, and
went in and sat two or three pews be-
hind him-and I never shall forget
that hour; for ten minutes after, who
should stalk in but Melia-Melia Jane,
and nobvdy else, and stalks up as bold
as brass and goes into the same pew
with Mr.. Gardiner.
I didn't hear word of the service.
looked at those two all the time, and
she-oh. good gracious! she sang out