The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-09-07
ESSie'S Fortune.

=
Essie Hooper, sadly.
She was sitting at the window where she
always sat and sewed-a little, cOoped-uF
spot, with a view of tin roofs, factory chin.
neys and the neighbors' back yards. just
above q stack of brick fues one could catch
a solitary glimpse of silver clouds floating
across the ethereal blue-and this was Es-
sizes sole dream of rest and gladness.
A pale, violst-eyed girl, with red-brown
hair, gathered into net, and fitful shadows
of color upon her cheek she seemed scarce
ly more than child in years. Life, how.
ever, begins early with the poor aud Essie
Hooper had been earning her own living
ever since she was twelve years old.
"YOu have been sitting too steadily,
child" said Lucy Deal, her neighbor.
"Here-jump up, and run around to the
trimming-stors for half dozen cards of
buttons to match this sample. Mrs. Peck
told me to get them, but guess you need
tho exercise more than do"
Before Essie could get on her hat, how
ever, the door opened and Mrs Peck her.
self came in, with troubled and pre-occu-
pied look.
'Young women" said she, in her hard,
business-like way of speaking, 81 desire
your attention for few minutes"
"Shes going to cut down our wages ten
per cent" whispered Haddie Hall.
"She's going to clap on an extra hour to
the days work." murmured Jane Simpson,
apprehensively. q.
81 regret to say" spoke up Mrs Peck,
that business IS decreasing, and times are
dull, and I find it necessary to dispense with
one OF my hands. Miss Hooper, as the
youngest, is the one upon whose dismissal
I have decided"
EsSie had turned very pale.
''Must go?" she faltered.
"I am very sorry for it, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Peck, who was, upon the whole, not
bad-hearted woman; "but cannot pos
sibly afford to keep on so many girls, and
one must 90, you see. And it's always the I
custom to send away the one who has been
with you the shortest period of time"
She counted out the slender sum of money
which was due to the girl and stood calmly
by, while Essie tied on her hat, took down
her shawl, and mechanically babe the other
girls adieu.
1t was an everyday affair with her,
this dismissal of a superfuous 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 go to Aunt Jocasta,"
said Essie, to herself Il have just money
enough to take me to Butternut Vale, and
Aunt Jocasta can at least advise me, if she
can do nothing else" 1855.
But when she reached the old red farm
house on the edge of the pine thickets, it
had been modernized by the addition of a
fine new verandah and rustic fences of
twisted cedar wood, and instead of Aunt
Jocasta and her knitting work at the win.
dow, she the dimpled faces of little
children, standing on tiptoe to peep over
the sill.
"Where is old Miss Hooper," she asked
of a smart young woman who was training o
sweet peas upon a homemade trellis.
"Mlss Hooper, echoed the woman,
with a start. "Wsn, only to think of that. 81
Don't you know She's been dead for three u
months.H
"Deadl My Aunt Jocasta," cried poor L
ESsie, feeling as if all the world were in a
whirl around her.
"Then you are the niece in New York"
said the stranger. "They wrote to you, =
but suppose the letter never can have =
reached you. 1t was a paralytic stroke;
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 de- ~
family added the young woman, as if she =,
wished old Joeasta Hooper's niece fully to =
that She Mrs. Morris Mills, was -
no usurper there.
''Yes; uuderstand-I know" said Es- =:
'ie, feebly. " But have come all the way -
rom New York, and I am very tired. Might
stay here tonight"
And welcome" said Mrs Mills, kindly.
We've house full of boarders coming to- =,
morrow. Mr.. Mills is acquainted with a = -
IOctor in Boston, who recommends all his 81 ..
fling patients here, for this pine groves and -
he mountain air, you know; and there are y.
70 young thsologians from the seminary PAO
no have engaged the top room, and an old ms
sntleman who is wild about trout So VIC
ere likely to be full enough by-and-by. an'
ut just tonight we've plenty of room" Occ
But while Mrs. Mills was chatting on, vii
Id the children were making merry tumult oei
yer their toys, and the birds were singing FOL
the woods, E1Sie's mind was busy with COS
e oyer-recurring question, What am to zee
)? What is going to become of me9" -:
mt Jocasta had not been much of help '4li
her, but she was something to cling to-
d now she, too was gone.
- I might sell stencil plates, /" she thought =
samiIy to herself, cor turn book agent, a.
look out for place in the wooden factO- 49,
3. But am not SO very strong and -.
afraid have not courage and enterprise -
,ugh to make my living as genteel ped oI,s
r. Oh, dear-oh, dearl I don't see what !. !
as put into this world for" ond
md a quiot tear or two triclrled down w..
cheek, and dropped noiselessly ma;
, the bowl OF hot water wherewith she -.
assisting Mrs. Mills to wash the supper q
les. GEAR
( sunset tho young farmer himself came ON '
le-a stalwart, hearty, black-bearded