Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-08-17
The Storp Ttlltr,
THE INVALID CLERK.

lamp was already lighted, and Mrs. Flint was
bustling about preparing the evening meal
while Marah her niece. sat and Sewed Wlth
hying fingers on the household linen.
II should like it so much, aunt, said the
girl, lifting her ewes wistfully to the old ladys
face.
"But, Marah." said Mrs. Flint, setting the
earthenware teapot where its fragrant leaves
could steep slowly on the back OF the stove,
II don't see how | can spare you, my dear.
There is so much to do, now that grandma IS
feeble and your uncle has to hire two men Tor
the wood cutting and they've got to be board
cd here. and your cousin Louisa IS coming
here with her children until spring.
Marah sighed softly. Was it always to De
her LOT to be sacrificed for the general good ol
others?
"Inever earned any money for myself, aunt,
she said. .'tnd this is such an excellent OPP
portunty to get a place in Mr.. Marchland's
store. Sue NellS has written to me That there
will be a vacancy in the fancy department very
soon, and ~
ssJohn Marchland is a sort OF distant relt-
tion of ours, too. said Mrs. Flint. ''Though
I've never seen him. knew his mother well.
And dare say he would giveyou good place
and be kind to YOU, if you entered his store.
II would be an excellent chance for you TO see
the world. too. For know it's dull me
here. nv dear. but don't see amy help tor 1t :.
Perhaps in a wear or two we can spare you Dtl-
ter"
So Marah Flint was compelled to give up the
little plan over which she had dreamed 50
many pleasant dreams. For Marah was only
eighteen. and she hpd always lived in the back
woods. and WORE her aunt'S old dresses naue
over. and waited mceEly on grandma ana uncle
Abner. ,.,.,
Mr.. Marchland himself was. perhaps, little
disappointetl. when Miss NtllS. the torew0-
man. whose father owned the next tarm 10
Abner Flint's. asked him if she should pro-
mote one of the packing girls to the vacant
place in the fancy department.
'.But thought you were gong 10 "rite 10
that little unknown cousin OF mihe Stla "e.
$50 | did" said Miss NelliS: ''Dut they
can't spare her from home. it seems. 1t $ Il
clear case of Cinderella among the ashes.
She is the sweetest. most unscltiSll girl ever
saw but, all the same it's shame that size
should be buried alive in that sort OF way
'.Verv well.' said Mr. Mrchland, Il sup
pose she understands her own business best.
Put Julia Finch in the place.
The next day, Uncle lAbncr Flint, to ms III
finite amazemrnt, received brlel note from
Marchland Il Co.. asking if it would DE con-
venient for him to receive us a hoar"er l"l. /"
few weeks a young man from the STORE "i"se
health required change and rest:
81 will be responsible for his board. wrote
Mr. Marchland. "IIe has only his own cNcr-
tions to depend on. and am sure may SO l;lr
presume on our distant relationship as |" trust
that YOU will receive him kindly
.sMarah." said Mrs. Flint, i'll some perreX-
ity. ''what are We t" do - =.
"Why take the poor fellow, ol course
said Marah. w
But it will make more work" said Mrs.
Flint.
Never mind the work" ;" said CHEEKY Mar'l.
Il dare sav we can manage it between us.
"Marah always did look on the sunny side
of thinrS,'' said Uncle Abnrr, who Sercnely
left the domestic administration to his women
kind.
1--WE don't want no hoar(erS here, Slld
Cousin Louisa. a low-Spirited Young matron
who talked through her nose, and cried ana
shifted a good deal over hertroubles. u mere
onlv lust room for the dear children, anu me
now. that the woOd-cutterS have the north
BEDROOM
..There's the little room with the Slopng
roof close to the chimney, suggested Marah
:.where we keep the chests of linen, and herbs
and seed corn. We might fit that up nicely:
could put down Il breadth Of new rag-carpet
beside the bed, and make curtains ont OF the
worn-out sheets: and. | dare say the Young
man won't be particularly.
..But he's mere clerk-.a porter Tor all we
know" whined Cousin Louisa, whose decelS-
ed husband had been Il bartender III railway
saloon.
IL ruesS it won't hurt us to associate with
him. said Uncle Abncr, drvly; ''and ten
vou what, mother. if our Marah has all thr
extra work and care, she shall have the board
money. ell ::
..Oh course she shall, ," said Mrs. Flint.
And Cousin Louisa sighed deeply, and re-
marked ''that some folks always had all the
luck, and she never got no chance 10 earn
money
The Young man from the store arrivcd-a
mild unaSSuming person. Who was very qllltt
and made very little trouble. lie walked III
the pine woods for his health. he Sald-and
helped the stalwart wood-cutters now ana
then. He sat by the fire and read. ne an
Swered Uncle Abner'S questions about the
house of Marcand Il Co.. with great frank,
ness. Yes. he liked the business He hoped
in time to work his way up i'll it. Mr.. March'
land was very kind to him. He did not con-
slider Mr.. Marchland Il naughty mser lthiS III
reply to Cousin LOuiSa.l MIR. Marchl;nd prob
ably bad his faults, hut it was not his place
to criticiSe his employer.
Poor fellow" said Cousin Louisa. when lt
had gone out with Uncle Abncr to rlde Will
the OK team into The woods. Il don post
he gets SIX dollars Il week. W Ju'lSc ~. i'i' ''N
| thought p'r'aps might be induced to change
INV widowed condition, if he was likely tel
low. with good income. But guess shan
waste none of my attentions on INN
''lIc seems very quiet and PLEASANT Sti'
Marah.
And he steps about awful spry for Il Slct
man." remarked grandma, who sat knitting II
the chinneycOrner.
ION. " said Mrs. Flint, ''he isn't real sick
He's only Il little down with malaria an'
oyer-work. He'll he all right 10y spring y"'
lust see If he wont :
At the end of the first week, when he oller
cd to pay his board, Mrs. Flint gave it buck u
him.
"You needn't mrltion it to your employer
Mr. johnson" said she John Johnson WAS tll
name on the boarlrrS valiSrl. ''But we WA
thiukiu'. me and Marah. that pr>apS yo'
wasn't very we'll off and $" we'd make YOU
present of the board.
"You are very kind, said the young man
with Il slightly flushed face, "but--
Its Marah IS present, not mine, added Mrs
Flint. bluntlv. ''Wr told her she should hav
the money for the board. l'lt she tlllllkS Vt"
need it morcu she does.
II do not know how shall ever than
her." said the boar'ler, fervcntly. But ne al
not argue the point any further.
And Mrs Flint contdcltially informed ne
niece that .'Slle believed the board money WA
quite an object to Mr.. Johnson, poor fellow
While Cousin Louisa elevated her koln;'
nose and remarked that she didn I take niue
stock in pauurls. If folks couldn't Suppnl
themselves drrrntly" She thought, ''th''y