The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-09
Will She Work.
A Story of Two Widows.
IWOman's ,Jomnal.1


Underneath mauy well-rounded sentence,
many smooth cou rteous remark, there is a
covert sneer, all the more singing because it is
too often eserved. Especially is this the case
when Woman's rights and abilities are in ques-
tion. That women can work has been proved
whether women will work, as men work, is a
question yet to d, solved; whether, when we
are so far advanced that our daughters are led,
like our sons to look forward to earning their
own living and making their own career in
life, our daugh ters will olod on patiently, step
by step, is problem only the years to come
may solve. That we all believe they will all
say that if such and such department of work
we're open to women how much good would be
accomplished, what abuses would be swept
away,-does not prove that they will work,
even when opportunities are plenty. Two cas-
es where women found comfortable living Of
fered to them. recently came to my notice. and
they prove again what some one has forestalled
me in saying, that women are, after all, just
like men,-some poor, shiftless ones, some
thrifty and forehanded with the world" In
these cases both women were widows, both of
the same age, strong, and in the prime of life's
powers, yet how differently they looked upon
life One was left with little furniture, a
scant supply of clothing for herself and her
two young daughters, and about one hundred
dollars in money After her husbands bills
had been paid, what did the woman do sit
down and wiring her hands, and ask, helpless
ly who would provide for her? Not at all.
Seeing that in her own home there were few
chances for a livelihood, and knowing that in
a gLboring town factories had been erected,
she resolved to go there and look for work
1t was a wrench to part with her home and
friends, but she did it. Applying at the sta
tion for directions, she heard accidentally,
that the proprietor of the leading hotel was
desperate because his girls kept leaving to
work in the factories. Instantly she felt that
this might be her opportunity, although it was
not the work she desired. She saw that pro-
prietor and engaged at once, and on low terms
because of the encumbrance of her two chill
dren, as an assistant to the cook. The work
was hard, but she did it bravely and we'll.
Soon her wages were raised, as her thorough
willingness and reliability became known.
Here she worked, day after day, faithfully and
ceaSelessly, sending her children to school,
keeping them and herself neatly clothed, new.
er neglecting an opportunity to advance her
employers interests, never murmuring at her
really hard lot. Finally her health suffered.
Her employer saw it, removed her from the
kitchen-promOted her to be his housekeeper
general manager, and gave her pleasant suite
rooms an an increase of salary. Saw that
he had perfect treasurer" Yes but how did
this woman become perfect treasurer" Not
by talking about what she could do. if men
were willing, but by doing what she could.
Not by waiting till work that suited offered,
but by seizing her opportunity, doing her work
well and steadfsstly.
The other widow, having only one daughter,
young lady, was left in much more comforta-
BILE circumstances. The house, q large hand
some one, was her own, centrally located in a
busy country town and well furnished, but as
her husbands estate was insolvent this house
was all that was left to her. Firmly rooted in
the belief that 'men must work aud women
must weep" she did nothing but moan and
cry, "Whe will take care of us?" At last,
wearied by her fretful complaints, her friends
told her she must do something for herself, and
advised Ler to keep boarderS. Her pride re-
volted at this idea, but she was finally per-
suaded to make the attempt. Boarders were
easily obtained, for the rooms were large and
handsome, competent cook was engaged and
she was launched on her new career. She had
always prided herself on being a superior
manager, peerless housekeeper. Soon her
capabilities were to be tested, for upon her and
her daughter devolved the general oversight of
the house, and the care OF the dining-room.
For a while all went well, the income exceeded
the expenses, the boarders were cultivsted,
agreeable people, who paid good prices, and
were not unreasonable in their expectations
After while the excitement of this new life
were away, and my widow discovered that it
was much pleasanter to run into Mrs. BIS par
lor for chat than to dust the parlor or arrange
the dining-table. So, i'll addition to the cook
and maid-of-all-work, third girl was pro-
cured TO do the light work, and my widow aud
daughter were free to walk dress, and drive,
as untroubled in mind as if no future lay be-
fore them. Soon-for where there is no guiding
hand, help will not, as rule. look closely after
things-the bills were greatly increased, yet
without an increase of boarders This tronbled
my widow little, but she soon dismissed the
uRwelcome thought, and lived, with her board
ers life OF ease and frvOlity. At the end OF
the first year, she mortgased her house to pay
her most pressing creditors, and to buy new
clothing and furniture During her second
year she had more boarders than she could
we'll accommodate, attracted by the gaiety of
the house, etc., and with them, an opportunity
to retrieve, by careful management, what she
had lost. But no! she scorned the advice Of
her friends, and continued to live as she liked
Soon her cook left, declaring that she was tired
of running the whole concern, and
then, unable to replace her, aud res
olutely determined not TO fill her place
herself, although strong and capable, mJ wild
ow'S trials began. Girl after girl was tried
ana dismissed, tne taOe grew poorer auu u
few of the boarders left. Things went gradu-
ally dowA, down, down, for the overworked
girls could not do all the work and keep the
house attractive. Still my widow refused to
grasp her chance of retrieval, aud fretfully dis
regarded all friendly warnings. Finally, in the
course of four short years, she was left without
boarders, and with only one year of grace from
her foreclosed mortgage. Everything has been
against me. l have done my best-done all
that 1 had strength to 10, for we are so feeble,
my daughter and l. We shall be taken care