Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-03-11
STORY OF A WORKING GIRL.

STORY OF A WORKING GIRL.
lily Vcnnor was late home from her
work on this particular night.
A dismal February night it was, with
a gray fog above, through which the
lamps shone like yellow dots of sickly
flame, and desolation of thawing snow
and streaming cutters below But Lily
was used to all sorts of weather. de-
gree more or less of dreariness and dis
comfort made but little difference to
her
Lilly Ncnnor was a glove hand" All
day long she sat, with seven and twenty
other girls, in long, low-ceiled room,
on the upper floor of a monster build
ing in one Of the grimy, narrow streets
that run parallel to Broadway, working
at the machine, handling the curious
shapes of soft kid, buckskin and lamb
skin with deft, cautious fingers, piling
mp dozens of pairs on the shelf in front
of her machine, until she vaguely Won
dered within herself if there were hands
enough in all the world to wear out
these gloves 1t was hard work, and it
was poorly paid but Lily Yennor had
known what it was to be without en-
ployment for weeks at a time, and She
was thankful even for Mr.. Murex's
dollar day, with the stipulation that
in case of extra haste, an hour or so
overtime should not be objected to.
The poor are generally worsted in
their bargains, nor was our little hero
inc an exception to the rule.
But the machine was closed at last,
the work delivered up to the sour
visaged forewolnan, and Lilly was in the
outer room, tying her curls under the
brown felt hat whose tasteful loops of
ribbon had been sponged and turned so
often, and folding her worn shawl across
her shoulders and, as she took up her
dinner basket, she heard the gay voice
of Mary Reid, one of her fellow-work
ers, saying, meTrilv:
est. Valentines eve! You don't
mean that you have forgotten it, Ida :
Why | expect dozen valentines, at
least, tomorrow"
Lily Vennor glanced up at Mary
Reid as she spoke A dozen valen-
tines? Yes, there was every probability
that she would receive as many as that
She was dark-eyed brilliant complex
ioned young beauty, with a pretty
Greek nose, dimple on the left check
and teeth as white as sliced cocoanut
She would be one to marry early, anC
escape from this bondage of toll anC
poverty; and, for a moment, Lily Ven
nor wished that She, too, were beau
tiful
And then came a second thought
St. Valentines eve; and she hac
promised AIidge and Edith, the tw,
little twin sisters at home, valentino
for this year when Nudge had submitted
to the ordeal of vaccination, and Edit
had been so docile at the task of learn
ing to mend stockings; for Lily Vennor
girl though she was, had already beer
bqrdeped with the cares of life. He
| death, with the charge of these tw,
little ones, Edith and Margaret, com
monty known as " Midge."
1t was hard, hard task, but Lii
never quailed. She had accepted j
simply as she would have accepted an
other decree of Providence, and the tw
little orphans had learned to love he
with all their innocent hearts.
And now she paused in front of tn
brilliant shop-windows, with her ope
purse in her hand, trying to decid
upon some particular style of valentin
which would be pretty enough to sui
the children, and which yet should nc
be too dear
/" | should like that little gilt Cupi
nesting in the roses" she said to hel
self; &" or the pretty child who puts tn
bower of cut-paper leaves aside, an
holds up a tiny letter, or the velvC
humming- bird on its nest. But the
must I've at least a dollar apiece, and
have but five cents to spare.
So she went into the store. humbl
awaiting her turn, and bought th
two fve-cent valentines, which tn
clerk superciliouslv tossed toward he
. | should like two postage stamps,
said she, meekly.
1" Stamps q echoed the clerk. "Th.
amt a postoffice o.
Lily pointed to a printed placart
of Stamps for Sale Here" an
the clerk, grumbling under his breatl
reached down two stamps, and took tn
four pennies.
He did not relish doing business o
so small scale, especially while othe
customers We're waiting at the countel
The next morning, however, littl
Midge and Edith danced up and dow
with Joy when the postman left til
two valentines at their door.
And here's valentine for yor
Lily" said Midge. Only the envt
lope hasn't got such pretty gilt roses o
as mine and Edie's have
Lily was standing with her hat on. al
ready to go to the glove-factory, as tn
children ran mp to her.
A valentine" said she, @ for me
But | think you are mistaken. littl
Midge"
She opened the letter with sensa
tion Of wonder as to whom it could pos
sibly be from. For she got SO fey
letters, this gentle, drudging lttl,
creature, that the very sight Of an enve
lone in q strange hand va a c;r.,,,,,