St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-10

| iHSs W COdA al
No one came that day, but the next
morning there was an early call for the
''lady who advertised" Martie was
glad she had on the gray dress: per-
haps she looked older in it. But gray
or black it was all the same; she was
again weighed in the balance and found
wanting-nOt in years this time. but in
German and as one weary hour after
another went by, and no other appli-
cants appeared, Martie grew heavy
hearted. Her advertisement was to ap-
pear for three days. Two had already
passed, resulting in disappointment.
Mrs. Allen tried to encourage her, but
when night came, and the six o'clock
dinner, Martie felt sad and homesick.
81 hope no one has made arrange
ments to carry you off just yet, Mr..
Raymond said, as he took Il seat beside
her at the end of the long table.
"NO," said Martie, "nO one wants me.
IN too young, and don't know Ger
n,In." And Il big tear rolled over into
her teacup.
"There's no cause for encouragement
.oy that, l assure yOu," said Mr.. Ray
mOnd. 81 know people who would not
find fault with you on either score"
Then he went on talking to her in
such pleasant way, that she soon be-
came interested, forgot all her troubles
and the tear in her teacup, and was as
merry as though she had been older and
had known German.
Mr.. Raymond stayed down stairs un-
til ten o'clock, read alOud an Old-time
fireside story, and kept the ball of con-
versatiOn rolling in such pleasant chan
nels that the evening was gone before
Martie knew it: and in spite of all her
disappointments it had somehow been
the pleasantest one she had spent
there.
The next morning a lady came to see
Martie in behalf of her mother-in-law,
and Martie engaged to go the following
day to see the place and people.
There was no poetry about Mrs. My
rick. She was pure, unadulterated
wanted her girls to have good, strong
eddicatiOn-no jimcracks, no furrin'
language to .jabber in. She was willing
to pay good wages-wOuld give gov
ernness 800 a year and her board but
she mustn't expect much waiting on.
They didn't keep any servants-didn't
need any, a pity 'twOuld be if two heart
Y girls like hers couldn't do their own
work.
Poor Martie! She would not say no
at once, because this was so far her only
chance; she had promised to give an
answer soon, and she went back to her
room praying Heaven to send her some
thing better.
She thought her prayer was answered
when gentleman called that evening,
talked with her about his three little
girls, and seemed well satisfied with the
modest account she gave of herself. He
was very particular about music. how
ever, and would be glad TO hear Miss
Woodbridge play. Their interview had
taken place i'll the kindly shelter of the
quiet little reception room but the
piano was in the big parlor, and in
there the professor and the Rev. Paul
AppollOs were discussing earth and
Heaven. The colonel was stalking
about, showing off his martial figure,
and the young bride, by the side Of her
new lord, was holding court in the midst
of lovely circle of callers. &
Shy, bashful Martie How could she
play before all those people? Poor,
timid little wren, that had just crept
from under the mother wing and flown
out of her nest! could she show what
sweet music she knew how to make
with a crowd of listeners I?
There was none of the airs and grace
of the music-bounding young woman
about Martie, as she dropped down up
on the piano stool and took a moments
grace before entering upon the dreadful
ordeal. 1t was no use waiting, but alb,
if the gentleman would but sit down
Why will he stand beside her and watch
her poor frightened fingers as they trip
and stumble, give wild jump for
distant note and miss it, make a dive
for one octave and light on another,
and at last lose their way altogether
and go down on the key note. Martie
knows the piece she is trying TO play us
well as she knows her name, but it flies
out of her head and slips away from
her fingers, and she ends at last with
finale of her own improvising, feeling
her hair stand straight upon her head as
she does it.
The gentleman was "much obliged
left almost Immediately, and Martie, in
a state of grief and modification, was
rushing through the hall, eXclaiming,
with sob, as she covered her face with
her hands, "What shall | do ?" when
she was suddenly stopped at the foot of
the stairs by Mr.. Raymond.
"My dear child,n said he, "don't take
it so much to heart. Pve heard you
play that piece before, and thought how
well you did it but of course you could
not play with all those people staring
ask you to do it."
"Oh, no; it is | who am such a SIM
pletOn," said Martie; ''but you are very
good to )" and she hurried upstairs,
longing to get where nobody could see
her, but feeling comforted a little even
then by the tender sympathy which had
done its best to console her.
Once in her own room the floodgates
were opened, and Martie cried over
what she called her disgraceful failure
until she had succeeded in getting up
raging headache. Then she went TO
bed with the determination of writing
in the morning to Mrs. Myrick, inform
ing that lady that she was ready to ac-
cept her offer and enter upon the ''ed-
dicatiOn" of her daughters. But before
she had time to carry her resolution
into effect, Mrs. Myrick herself appear
ed, having made up her mind that Mar
tie would not do for them. She hadn't
been brought mp in their ways, and was
like to be too purtickler.
Thus vanished all hopes of success
from advertising. Mrs. Allen next ad-
vised that Martie should try one of the
educational agencies in the city, and
an application was accordingly made.
Then followed more days of anxious
waiting and of hope deferred, resulting
at 1ast in a visit an6 ranaro,s of4;n,,