The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-09-22
A SNAIL BEGINNING.

A little ground-hoor room. little fire
in ii small stove, burning duly rs fires
are apt to do ut times when their blaze
might be worth something in the way OF
cheer; out doors the raw gray of a spring
thaw; on the window-seat two girls
crouched together, and looking ont with
faces as disconsolate rs the weather.
Such was the picture presented at No.
Is Farewell Street, three years ago last
March.
Farewell Streetwss SO named because
of its being tliecastoniary route of exit
from the old cemetery; the point where
mourners were supposed to turn for a
last look at the gates which had Just
shut in the newly-buried friend; and
this association.asw well as the glimpse of
the tall cemetery fence, topped with
mournflf efefgreens. which bounded the
view, did not tend to make the sad out
look any the less, sad on that dismal
day. For it was only a fortnight since
Della and Hetty Willett, the girls on
the window-seat, had left within those
gates the kind old grandmother, who
forycars had stood to them in the stead
of father and mother both.
The Willetts,r as the neighbors
called them, using the collective phrase
always, were twins, and just eighteen
years old. Bearing TO each other even
stronger personal likeness than twins
customarily possess, they were in other
points curionsly unlike. Della was soft
and clinging, Hetty vigorous and self
reliant. Della lovedto be guided, Hetty
20 guide; the former had few independ-
ent views and opinions, the latter was
brimful of ideas and fancies, plans and
p-fr1a fnIff-l, hut
all her own. Yet, oddly enough, it was
Della, very often who gave the casting
vote in their decisions. for Hetty's love
for her slender twin was sentiment so
deep and intense that she often yielded
against her own better sense and iudg-
ment. simply for the pleasure OF yielding
10 what Della wished. Della in return
adored her sister, waited on her. petted,
consoled, exactly rs if she were Hetty' $
wife. " Aunt Polly said, ''and the worst
was they suited each other so well that
no one else would ever suit either of
them, and they were bound to die old
maids in conscquencera
But eighteen can laugh at such augur-
les, and there was no thought or ques-
ton of marriage in the minds of the
sisters, rs they crouched that afternoon
close together on the old window seat.
A very different question absorbed
them, and a perpleXing one; how they
were to live and to keep together while
doing so. which meant pretty much the
same thing to them both. Grandmother 5
death had left them with so very, very
little-her annuity died with her. There
was thesold house, the plain. worn frlrni-
ture to which they had been accustomed
all their lives, and about hundred dol
lars year! What could they do with
that?
If one of us only happened to be
clever sighed Della. IF could paint
pictures, or You had talent for writing,
how easy il would be. >
Il don't know rs to that, - responded
Hetty. Seems to me I've heard of
people who did those things, and vet
didn't find it so mighty easy to get
along. Somebody's got to buy the pict-
ures after they re painted, aud read the
books. and pay for them She spoke
in an absent tone. and her brow was
knitted into the little frown which Della
knew betokened that her twin was
puzzling hard over something.
Don't scowl, it'll spoil your fore
head, she said, smoothing out the OBJ
jectionable frown with her fingers.
WAS scowiing? Well, never mind,
I'm trying to think, DEFY You can't
paint, and can't write. The question
is what can we do?''
''rhat is the questiop,r said voice
at the door. 1t was Aunt Polly's voice.
She managed on most days to drop in
and give . look to them, the lonely
little creeturs.' as she would have ex-
pressed it.
You're consultin', see,'' she said.
taking in the situation ut a glance: the
room. the depressed and fearful checks
of the'two girls, the lack of comfort and
cheer She twitched open the stove
door as she passed, threw in stick of
wood, twirled the damper, and gave a
brisk, fanting shake to the ashes-all
with aturn of the hand as it were--at-
tentions to which the stove presently
responded. with a brisk roar. ..Syell,
it's time you did. l was planning to
have talk with you before long, for
you ought to settle to something Pull
the blind down. DEFY and Hetty. you
light the lamp, and come to the fire both
of you, and let's see what we can make
of it. It's n tangled skein enough, l
don't deny it; but most skeins are that,
and there's always right end some
where, If the Lord'll give us sense
pulling out and winding up
Presently the girls were seated close
to Aunt Polly's rocking chair The room
looked more cheerful now, with the
lamp-light and the yellow glow from the
stove, and both were conscious of a sense
of hopefulness.
what-can you dopn demanded
Aunt Polly, whirling round in her chair
60 rs to- ur.x fl......
I'VE hadn't got so far as that when
you came in" replied Hetty; II sup
pose we must do what other people do
in the same circumstances
Whats that2''s
Teach something, or sew, suppose
Servings slow starvation. in nv
opinion, unless you've got a machine.
which You haven't, and not much better
then. What do you know that you can
feachp'
Not much" replied Hetty, humbly,
while Della added, hesitatingiy: 1--WE
could teach children their letters, per-
haps.'
presume you could responded
Aunt Polly. dryly. :. But. though Won
mayn't know it. perhaps, there are about
fifty women in this town can do the
same, and who mean TO do it. And most
of 'em have got the start of you in one
way or another, SO what's vorsr.chance
WORTH No, girls. sewing and teaching
are played out. They are good things
IN their way, but every who's got her
living to earn thinks of them the very