Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-25
A SEARCH FOR A SITUATION

Martie Woodbridge-her name was
Martha, but no one called her So
lived on the outskirts of a small village.
Her father was farmer, but not a
prosperous one, Nature, with its frosts
and droughts, was always getting the
upper hand of him, and the crops which
he raised were sure to be those which
brought the lowest price in the market.
The cankerworm stripped his apple
trees, and late frost bligbted the corn
and oats. He had the misfortune to
buy COW which introduced the cattle
disease into his farmyard, and Creamer,
Spotty and Whiteface-the three COWS
that always filed their pals the fullest
and made the most golden butter sick
ened and died.
This was the question which Martie
puzzled over from day to day, coming at
last to the conclusion that she must try
her luck in the big world which she had
seen 80 little of ou lside of her own small
village. She would go to London, and,
if possible, find there situation as gov
erness, in which she could at least pro-
vide for her own support.
Her mother let fall few quiet tears
over the plan, and smiling patiently
through them said: ASK your father.
Mr.. Woodbridge said 8 No." at first;
but having laid awake all night over his
difficulties, he called Martie to him,
kissed her solemnly, gave n weary sigh,
and withit his consent.
So it came to pass that on a cool, crisp
October morning, when the woods were
at their brightest autumn flush, and the
frost had stffened the grass into little
silvery blades and spears, and made the
few pale flowers mat fingered by the
roadside hang the heads, Martie put
on her bravest smi. made hopeful, COM
forting little speeches, kissed them ali
goodbye at home-the dear old home,
so full Of Joys and troubles-and started
for London, to put into that great, hur-
rying, driving, jostling market the
modest wares she had to offer.
Martie was eager and full of hope;
but, alas how much eagerness and hope
fulness go down to death every day in
the frantic rush and scramble for the
good things going. Martie, in the great
city, looking for work to do, seemed
like quiet little wren trying to pick up
worm or crumb where hav ks and
vultures were snatching and clawing
for plunder.
Martie was met the moment she
stepped from the train by an old friend
of the family, who had kindly promised
to receive her at her house, and do what
she could to assist her. The next day,
early in the morning, a modest unpre-
tending little advertisement was sent to
one of the daily newspapers. What n
stupendous affair it seemed to Martie,
and how her unsophisticated little heart
beat at the thought of it! Nothing could
come of it that day, however; and
while she goes out with Mrs. Allen TO
do little shopping and stare at few OF
the city lions, let us take look at the
quarters she has fallen into.
Mrs. Allen kept small private lodg
hk uOuSSt NCtJ Shh NtAy EShtpCi'
Its inmates were the learned Professor
Bigwig and family, from whose presence
a certain literary aroma was supposed
to pervade the atmosphere; the brilliant
Colonel Boreas, hero according 10 his
own accounted numberless battles
rising voung lawyer, with his pretty,
olusnIng girl wife, al fresh enc lc~ely
in her new bridal toilet; rich widow
and her still richer daughter, who, it
was said, was soon to become the help
mate of the clerical member of the
household, the Rev. Paul Apollos; and
last althouh not least, the representative
ctthe fine arts. Mr. Raymond, an artist,
whosa pictures had won golden praises
from critics and connoisseurs, and golden
prices from purchasers.
Dir. Raymond was Martie's left-hand
neighbor at the table. With the first
glance at his dark face, iron-gray hair
and mustache, and deep-set gray eyes,
she felt rather inclined to be afraid oI
him. When he smiled she liked him
better, and thought the gray eyes looked
kind, and she ielt very shy and Lonesome