Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-04-23
After the Fire.

The fire, from which we date in the
family, it being the great event therein
for years seemed at the time 1t occurred
the climax Of series of misfortunes that
had been falling for five years upon cur
devoted heads.
First, we lost dear father. who left the
family alrt adv mentioned-namely. NAM
ma, Meta, Freddie, and myself. Meta was
but fourteen when father died, | twelve,
and Freddie but three years OF age. There
was no money for us after the business
was closed, and mamma thankfully accept
co an offer Of her Uncle Gordon's to be his
noust keeper, aud SO secure home for all
OF us.
Such home. Uncle Gordon Crofts was
a man nearly seventy, strong aud vigorous,
with most ungovernabe temper, miserly
and suspicious, who had lived alone for
about forty years What sudden spasm of
generosity made him pen the doors of his
Wrctchcd, tumblc-down old house to us we
never knew but certainly he repcnted the
arrangement as soon as his proposal was
accepted.
Not one meal passed our lips that we.
were not reminded of its cost not an arti
Gle OF our poor clothing was renewed With
out deep groans over our extravagance:
and We were put out at once-Meta and
myselt-to learn trades. l being appren-
llccd TO milliner, Meta to book binder.
know now that, scant as our wages
we're, they really covered the expenses of
oul poor food and worse lodging. AS for
poor mamma, with all the tousework.
hands, surely she earned the little she
spent.
Eu', in spite f our poverty and hard
modest, and tender girl. | was never very
pretty.
" her Brent Ellis discovered Mctas at
fractions, she was eighteen, still working
as a bookblnder, In the place Of business
which Brcnts father owned. Old John
Ellis, after storming and raging like
maniac at the presumption Of one of the
"halds in daring to be sufficiently attrac-
tive to win the love of the son ami heir of
lis magnlfceucc dismissed Meta at an hours
notice.
As he owned the only bookbinding estab-
llshMelt III the town, and Meta knew no
other trade. affairs looked black enough
for us.
Brent himself was as true as steel, ard
Walt,t Meta to marry him at once. But,
in spite ol her gentlt ness, Meta had some
prlde, and refused to enter family where
She Was not weicome. Mother, too, at this
crisis, informed Brent that his visits had
le,ter cease. anu Meta did not speak one
word OF dissent
| stormed, of course. always do storm
Wien am angry. But nobody ever came
round tony opinion, no matter how | rayed
and John Ems certainly did not. To be
sure he dli not hear me, or that might
have maGe some difference.
Mluwn,,l found Us In this strait. Meta
out ot employment, hclping mother about
the house, and patiently bearing Uncle
Godpn protests against her idleness and
tine lauy airs . trimming hats and meekly
handed over ms wages TO our uncle Fred
Ole still at the town school, but with an
apprentices ship looming up in the spring.
In JaLua-y tncle Gordon was taken Ill
tie first s,rlous illness of his life. He
would Lave no doctor ultil absolutely forced
tc call one IN by Increasing pam and weak
ness, anu Wien the long delayed eAamIna-
tom uas.uvtr 1t proved 10 have been mace
too late
IN just one month from his first pain
ohr uncle died. leaving brief viii confer
ing AL his property. the house included
upon our mother, his 'wtll-bt loved niece,
SAran Moron.
But wherc was the property Not a
shilling was deposited IN tie bank. not an
iaen ol real estate was held IN his name
save iht nlIscraole p.ece # land upon which
y. = -ix-, }a4