The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-05-11
MISCELLANY.
ESSIES FORTUNE.

| IL 3 the same ola pain IN my SIDE again,
said Essie Hooper, sadly.
She was sitting at the window where she
always sat and sewed--a little, cooped. up
spot, with a view of tin roofs, factory CHM
neys, and the neighbors back yards. Just
above stack of brick flues one could catch a
solitary glimpse of silver clouds floating
across the ethereal blue--and this was Essie's
sole dream of rest and gladness.
A pale, violet-eyed girl, with red-brown
hair gathered Into a net, and fitful shadows
of color upon her cheek she seemed scarcely
more than a child in years. Life, however,
begins early with the poor-and Essie Hooper
bad been earning her own living ever since
She was twelve years old.
"You have been sitting too steadily,
child" said Lucy Deall, her neighbor
'Here--jump up, and run around to the trim
ming store for half dozen cards of bnttons
to match this sample. Mrs. Peck told me to
get them. but guess you need the exercise
more than don
Before Bessie could get on her hat, how
ever. the door opened, and Mrs. Peck herself
came in with troubled and preoccupied
look.
"Youbg women said she, in her hard,
business like way of speaking, II desire your
She's going to cut down our wages ten
per cent" whispered Hadie Hall.
"She's going to clap an extra hour to the
days work." murmured Jane Simpson, APP
prehensvely.
81 regret to say" spoke up Mrs. Peck,
s'that business is decreasing, and times are
dull, and fluid 1t necessary TO dispense with
one of my hands. Miss Hooper, as the
youngestI il the one upon whose dismissal I
have decided
Este had turned very pale.
sMust CO." she faltered.
~ am very sorry for 1t, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Peck, who was, upon the whole, not a
bad hearted Woman "but cannot possibly
afford to keep on SO many girls, and one
must go, you see. And It's always the GUS
tom to send away tho one who has been with
y5t the shortest period of time
She counted out the slender sum of money
which was due the girl, and stood calmly by,
while Este tied on her hat took down her
Shawl, and mechanically babe the other girls
adieu.
II was an every day affair WITH her, this dis
mi5sal of superauous hand, and she never
stopped to think what might possibly become
of the poor forlorn young creature who was
thus set adrift on the world.
She had never troubled herself to ask any
questions Of her youngest apprentice or she
might have learned that Esther Hooper was
quite alone and friendless in the world, except
for an old aunt down in the country.
OF course must 60 to Aunt Jocasta, said
Essie to herself. II have just money enough
to take me to Butternut Vale and aunt Jocasta
can at least advise me, If she can do nothing
else"
But when she reached the old red farm
house on the edge of the pine thickets, she
found ii had been modernized by the addition
of fine new veranda and rustic fences Of
twisted cedar wood, and instead Of aunt
Jocasta and her Knitting work at the window,
she saw the dfmpled faces of little children,
standing Oh tiptoe to peep over the sill.
"Where is old Miss Hooper ?" she asked Of
smart woman, VINO WAS hdiuths s"co' Po"D
upon home made trells.
miss Hooper echoed the woman, with
start: Gwen, only thing u that. Don't you
know 2 She's been dead for three months
dead Ny Aunt Jocasta," cried poor
Essie, feeling as if all the world were in d
whirI around here.
"Then you are the niece from New York;"
said the stranger. "They wrote to you, but
suppose the letter never reached you. It
was paralytic stroke she only lived six
hours, poor dear Aud after she was buried
and the expenses paid, there was nothing left
My husband moved into the house last month
I'VE have a three years. lease from the land
lord" rather defantiy added the young wo-
man, as IL she wished old Jocasta Hooper's
niece to understand that she, Mrs. Morris
Mills, was no usurper there.
Yes / underestimate know" said Essie,
feebly shut have come all the way from
New York, and am very tired. Might !
stay here tonight"
Ii