The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-05-10
DESTINY.

On stormy March day fresh-fact d
young girl was am tempted to say
manfully") womanfully making
her way along the main street of New
England factory village, A bright
daring face was hers-one that said as
plainly as brown eyes, red lips
and piquant features could say:
"Here am. Let Fate send her worst
shall fight the good fight" The very
curls on her temples, blowing this way
and that, under her simple straw turban,
looked fearless almost saucy, yet with.
out any suggestion of that hideous,
straight. hans ing. modern crank OF
fashion termed "banR." She wore a
neat waterproof suit, sensiblein length,
and pepper-and- OF hue, though
shrewd physioenomist might have been
willing to wager that somewhere among
her feminine adjoining would be found
q vivid dash of scarlet. She carried
her cotton umbrella without endangering
peoples eyes, and appeared altogether
business-like and self-s1stained. A
passing stranger, glancing at her eager
face and quick gait, would think,
"That girl is in dead earnest"
She looked occasionally at the pic
lures, vases and other pretty trifies in
the shop windows but without twinge
of envy in her healthful soul. She was
wont TO say that she could enjoy them
four times day (except when she car
ried her dinner) without the trouble of
taking care of them. In short. sne
seemed,fuIly equipped for possessing"
in the very best sense. She did stop,
however, before a confectioner's win
dow where some tempting oranges
were displayed, counted the contents of
a shabby little purse, then snapped the
steel clasp with determined shake of
the head. "Nettie Randall, you're a
selfish coward" was her mental COM
ment as she walked resolutely on.
Turning into quieter street, yet not
too far from the business part Of the
village, she entered a small frame
house by the door of which was tackled
q modest tin sign, lettered, ''Ladies'
Trimming Store. f. q A. Randall" F"
In the front windows hung a few rib
bons, cheap laces, Hamburg edgings,
etc.-a most unpretending establish
ment. AS Nellie closed the door upon
her dripping umbrella and the general
discomfort of storm and fast-thickening
darkness outside, CHEEKY warmth and
light greeted her, and another fresh
faced, brown-eyed girl, year or two
younger, looked up with bright smile,
from her seat behind the counter, where
she was swiftly and dextrously drawing
the bristles through those indispensa-
BILE aids to civiliza'io ion. tooth-brushes.
"How's Destiny p asked Nethe,
In matter of course way, as she hung
up her waterproof and pushed her over
shoes under the stove to dry.
I'm explanation, let it be here stated
that these two were once singing that
beautiful poem which begins;
"Though the day of my destiny's over,
And the star of my fate hath declined; )"
q tiny, lisping cousin caught the mel
ody, and piped out "Though the day
of my destinys 'clined." Destiny
'clined" became thereafter, a most ap
propriate expression, when thee" best
laid schemes" seemed obstinately ben
on " "ganging agley.~
The answer to Nettie's question CAM
promptly:
/" Awful just fifteen cents in tn
cash drawer 1 haven't sold anything
to-day but a paper of needles and
yard of elastic"
"That means oatmeal for suppe
again, 1 suppose" said Nettie.
hate it. she added, savagely, her goot
humor oozing away at the uninvitini
prospect. She had been working al
day, for "cut down" wages, in woole
factory, and was wet, tired and mos
unsentimentally hungry.
That's because you haven't got fa
enough in Epictetus, >" said her sistei
serenely.
Nettie glanced around at the hang
ing shelf of carefully selected volumes
ancient and modern, gathered for thes
two, in years past, by a studious father
loving hand and judicious brain.
t" We can't eat Greek philosophy.
we had the original manuscripts, v
might make papyrus soup. I'll to