The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-08-27
HIS OWN DAUGHTER.

"il 'hab coulu nave happened; IL is 81
much better than anything 1 dared Il
hope for. Because, if l had not falle1
and sprained my ankle, would not have
lost my place in the store, and if it haC
not been for losing my place there
would never have gone all over the city
hunting another situation, and if haC
not been in so many places, and-if starv
alton hadn't stared us in the face, would
never have done so deperate thing. anG
we would still be trying to keep body
and sonl together on the poorly paid
Notwithstanding labor-a poor sales.
woman's wages"
Tell me all about it, dear" said Mrs
Smith, dropping her thin, tired hands
on the work over which she had bent
wearily all day.
First let m" put this endless sewing
away, mother, These poor, dear hands
may rest little now, for am going tc
get $40 week, and will only be away
from you four or five hours each day.
shall have time for ever so much sewing
besides, and you can Just rest and grnn
strong once more. l received my first
woeks wages III advance. See here
aud she cut the cord that bound . large
bundle, and ont on the table rolled sew
eral smaller parcels, II brought the
money home in a shape we could appre.
ciate best at least-all there was left
after paying the baker. Now, mother
dear, am going to be extravagant and
make an extra good cup of tea."
"But Nellie, my child, you have moi
told me-"
Il know, mother" broke in the blithe
voice, but you see, 1 haven't forgotten
that it is nearly noon, and we have had
no breakfast yet There now" giving
the fire vigorous poke that set the ten
to sleeping, 'you see, mother. 1 was Just
discouraged. had been to every store,
millinery and dressmakIng establishment
that l knew of, and received the same
answer No more help needed to
all my inquiries, and, as l said, was
desperate. Just MS turned the corner
OF Bleeker street / saw a man being
helped out of his carriage; such splen.
did carriage, mother. He was not a very
old man, but looked as though he was
almost gone with consumption. went
straight up to him, hardly realizing what
| was doing, and asked him if he knew
where could get employment of some
kind. At first he looked angry, as
though he thought my impudence un.
bearable, but when he saw my face be
stood still and looked at me as though
he had seen q ghost After a moment
he said.
"Nes, I will engage you to come tc
my house every day at 10 o'clock and
read or write for me, as desire, until 8.
l will pay you $40 a week for your
services
"Then he handed me his card, on
which l read, Hon. @. Hewitt, No. AZ
Leonard street, and l remembered that
one of the girls had once pointed out his
beautiful residence to me.
"If the situation and terms are salts
factory, You will please accept one weeks
wages in advance, and come tomorrow
at 10 o'clock. >"
"And he held the money which l wa
only too glad to take"
"Were you not little hasty, daugh.
ter p asked the mother, anxiously. "Yor
know nothing of this man,"
~ know this, mother, that we ar,
starving, and that money was our only
salvation besides, it all occurred SC
quickly that, 1 hardly realized what haG
happened. Somehow it seemed a,
though some oyer-ruling providence wa,
guiding me in spite of myself"
"God grant that it may be So" sale
her mother.
And now, while Nellie and her mother
are enjoying their dinner, let us cast {
hasty look into Mrs. Smiths past life
Her parents having died when she wa.
young, her childhood and girlhood wer,
passed in the dreary monotony of hel
aunts house-a home which was grudg
ingly offered her, where food, clothing
and education were dealt out to her, bu
where never a word or look of love wa
bestowed upon her.
What wonder that, when Claude Smith
one of her aunts summer boarders, be
came interested in the girls pretty ant
shy sweet face, and told her the old, OLE
story, her yearning heart responded Will
a passionate lover Her aunt, being onl,
too glad to have the girls support fall OF
other shoulders, consented to the union
and one evening there was a quiet wed
ding at the little cottage
j Then followed weeks of happiness fol