South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-08-05
ESSIE>S FORTUNE.

|
She was sitting at the window
where she always sat and sewed-a
little cooped.up spot, With view Of
tin roofs, factory chimneys and the
aejghl,ces' back yard. Just above q
stack of brick nues one could catch a
solitary glimpse of silver clouds float
ing across the ethereal blue-and this
was Essic's sole dream of rest aud
gladness.
A pale, violet eyed girl, with red
brown hair, gathered into net, and
fitful shadows of color upon her check,
she seemed scarcely more than child
in years. Life, however, begins early
with the poor-and Essie Hooper had
been earning her own living ever siuce
she was r1'etve years otd: -,
You have been sitting too steatliy,
child,' said Lucy Deali, her neigAbor.
'Hcre-jump up, and run around to
the trimming-storc for half dozen
cards ef buttons to match this sample.
Ms. Peck told me to get them, but |
guess you need the exercise more than
| do
Before Essie could get on her hat,
however, the door opened and Mrs.
Peck herself came in, with troubled
and prc-occupicd look.
Young womcn,' said she, in her
hard, busineSs>likc way Of speaking,
1 desire your attention for few mln
utes.'
She's going to cut down our wages
ten per cent whispered lIadhio Hall.
She's going to clap on an extra
hour to the days work mumured
Jane Simpson, apprehensively.
4 regret to say spoke up Mira.
Peck, that business is decreasing, and
times arc dull, and find it necessary
to dispense with one of my hands.
Miss Hooper, as the youngest, is the
one upon whose Dismissal have de-
ciuesl.'
Essie lad turned very pale.
Must / go she t;alvered.
1 am very sorry for it, my dear,
said iMss. Peck. who was, upon the
| winle, not bnd hearted woman {;
but l cannot possibly afford to keep
| Oh so many girls, and one must go,
YOU see. And it's always the custom
TO scnd away the one who has bccn
with YOU the shortest period OF time.
She counted out the slender snm Of
money which WAS due to the girl, and
! stood calmly by, while Essic tied on
her h.t, took down her shawl, and
mechanically bade tho other girls A.
dicu.
1t was an everyday affair with her,
this dismissal of a supcrtluous hand,
aud she never stopped to think what
might possibly become of the poor,
torlorn young creature who was thus
set adritt on the world.
She had never troubled herself to
ask any questions Of hvr Youngest ap.
prentice, or she might have learned
that Esther Hooper was quite alone
and fricudlcss in the world, except for
ri old aunt down in the country.
sOf course I must 60 to Aunt Joca-
aia,' said Essic, to herself. I have
| just money enough to t;.ko me TO But
ternut Fulr, and Aunt Jocasia can at
least advise me, if she can do nothing
else
But when she reached the old red
farmhouse on the edge of the pine
thickets, it had been modcrnizcd by
the addition of y fine new vorands
aud rustic fences Of twisted cedar
wood, and Instead OF Aunt .Jocas!a
and her knitting-w work at the window
she saw the dimplcd faces of little
| children, standing on tiptoe to peep
! owe: the sill.
sWhcre is old Miss Hooper, she
asked of a smart young woman who
was training sweet peas upon a home
made trcllis.
Miss Hooper, echoed tIlo woman,
with a start. We'll, only to think Of
that. Don't you know She's been
dead for three months
Dead! My Aunt Jocasia,' cried
poor Essie, feeling as if all the world
were in q whirl around her.
Then you arc the niece in New
York, said the stranger. They wrote
to YOU, but suppose the letter never
can have reachedyo you. 1t was para
ytic strike; she only lived six hours,
poor dear! And, after she was buried
and the expenses paid, there was
nothing left. My husband moved into
the house last month-we have three
years lease from the landlord, rather
detiantly added the young woman, as
if che wished old Jocasia IIooper's
niece fully to understand that she.
Mrs. Morris Mills, Was no usurper
there.
Yes; I undcrstand-1 know said
Essie, feebly. But have como all
the way from New York, and l am
very tired. Might I etuy here to-