Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-02-04
ESSIE'S FORTUNE.

said Essie Hooper, sadly.
She was sitting Mt the window wher,
she always sat and sewod--a little
cooped-up spot, with view of tin
roofs, factory chimneys and the neigh
bors back yards. Just above stack
of brick fues one could catch solitary
glimpse Of silver clouds floating across
the ethereal blue-and this was Essic''
sole dream Of rest and gladness.
A pale, yiolet-eyed girl, with red.
brown hair, gathered into net, and liL
full shadows ofcolor upon her cheek
she seemed scarcely more than child
in years. Life, however, begins early
with the poor-nnd Essic 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 store, for half II dozen
cards Of buttons to match this sample
Mrs Peck told me to get them, but
guess you need the exercise moro than
/ do"
Before Essic could get on her Int
however, the door opened and Mrs
Peck herself came in, with II troubled
and prcoccupied look
Young women" sAid she, in hcl
hard busincss-likc way of speaking, 81
desire you" attention for II few min.
utcs"
"Shc'a going to cut down our wages
ten por cent, whispered iInddio Hall
She's going to clap on nm extra hour
TO the days work." murmurod Jane
Simpson, npprehenAvoly.
81 regret to say" spoke up Mrs.
Peck, Chat business is decreasing and
times arc duh, and find il necessary
to dispense with one ofmy hands. Miss
Hooper, M the youngest, is the one
upon whose dismissal have dodidcd."
Essio Ind turned very pale.
Must | go2' she laltcred
81 nm very sorry for IL my dear, said
Mrs. Peck, who was, upon the whole,
not II bnd-hcnrted woman; "but | can
not possibly afford to keep on 80 many
girls, md one must 20, you see. And
itH always the custom toscnd away the
ono who has boon with you tho short.
ost period oftime."
She counted out the slender sum OF
money which was duo TO the girl, and
stood calmly by, while Essic tied on her
hat, took down her shawl and mechnn-
lcally bade the other girls ndieu.
II was an everyday affair with her,
this dismissal of n superlluous hand
and she never stopped TO think what
might possibly become of the poor, for
lon young creature whe was thus set
adrift on tho world.
She Ind never troubled herself 10
ask any questions of her youngest APP
prentice, or she might have learned
Tint Esther Hooper was quito alone
and friendless in the world, except or
mn old aunt down in the country
"Of course must go to Aunt Jo-
cnstn, said Essie to herself. 81 have
Just money enough to take me to But
ternut Vale, and Aunt Iocasta Can ut
least advise me, if she cun do nothing
else"
But when she reached tho old red
farmhouse on tho odgo of the pine
thiokets, il had been moderniaed by
the addition Of fine new vcrandah
and rustic fences of twisted cedar wood.
and instead Of Aunt Jocasta and her
knittingwork Mt the window, she saw
the dimplcd faces of little children,
standing on tiptoo to peep over the sill
Where is old Miss Hooper, she
asked Of smart young woman who
was training sweet peas upon home
mado trollis.
Miss Hooper," echoed the woman,
with II start. "Wcll, only To think of
that. Don't you know She's been
dead for three months"
"Dcad My Aunt Jocastn," cried
poor Essic, feeling M il III the world
were in u whirl around her.
"Thcn you are the niece in Now
York" said the stranger, "Thcy wrote
to you, but suppose the letter meyer
can have reached you, 1t was u par
alytic st lake; She only lived six hours,
poor dca. And after she was buried
and tho OK, nscs paid, there was moth
ing left. My husband moved into the
house last month--we have three
years lease from tho landlord" rather
doiinntly added the young woman, lis
If she wished old Jocasta Hoopers
niece fully TO understand that she, Mrs.
Morris Mills, was no usurpcr there.
YES; underestimate know" said
kssic, feeb v. But have como all the
way from New York, and | nm very
tired might stay here to-night?'
"And welcome, said Mrs. Mills, kind
". We've u full house Of boarders
coming tomorrow. Mr.. Mills is nc.
qualified with doctor in Boston, who
recommends MI his ailing patients
hero, for the pine groves and the
mountain mir, YOU know; and there ara
two young thcologians from tho semi.
nary who have engaged the top room
and an old gentleman who is wild
about trout. So wore likely TO be full
enough hy-and.by. But Just to-nigh
we've plenty of room.
But while Mrs. Mills wa.
chatting on and tile children wcr,
making merry tumult over their toys
and the birds were singing in tho wood
ESTES mind was busy with the ever