The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-06-16
A Search for a Situation.


II father was farmer, but not
prosperous one. Nature, with its rrosts
aud droughts, was always getting the
upper hand of him, and the crops which
he raised were sure to be those which
brought the lowest price In the market.
The cankerwarm stripped his apple
trees, and late frost blighteu the &C IN
and oats. He had the misfortune to buy
COW which introduced the cattle disease
iuto bis farmyard, aud Creamer. Spotty
and Whiteface three COWS that al.
ways filled their pals the fullest and
made the most golden -sicke ned
aud died.
This was the question which Martip
puzzled over from day to day, coming at
last to the conclusion that she must try
her luck in the big world which she bad
seen so little of outside Of her own small
village. She would go to London, and,
if possible, find there a situation as gov.
eruess, in which she could at least pro.
vide for her own support.
Her mother let lull few quiet tears
over the plan, and smiling patiently
through them said: "Ask Your father. "
Mr. Woodbridge said No" at first; but
having laid awake all night over his diff
fculties, be called Martie to him, klsse i
her solemnly, gave weary sigh, and
with ii his consent
SO it came to pass that on a cool, crisp
October morning, when the woods were
ut their brightest autumn flush, and the
frost had stiffened the grass into little
silvery blades and spears. and made tine
few pale flowers that fingered by tie
roadside hang their heads, Martie put on
her bravest smile, made hopeful, com.
iorting little speeches, kissed them all
goodbye at home-the dear old home.
so full of joys and troubles--and started
Tor London, to put into that great, hur.
rying, driving, jostling market the mod,
est wares she had to offer.
Martie was eager ard full of ho; e,
but, alas! bow much tagerness and hope.
iulhess go down to death every day ia
the frantic rush and scr mble for the
good things gong M,-tie, in the great
city, looking for work to do, seemed
like quiet little wren trying to pick up
worm or crnmb where hawks aud vul.
lures were suatching and clawing for
plunder.
Mdr,ie was met the moment she
stepped from the train by AN old friend
OF the family, who had kindly promised
TO receive her at her house, aud do what
sue could to assist her. Tie next day,
early in the morning, e modest unpre-
teuding little advertisement was sent to
one OF the daily newspap,rs What a
stupeudous affair it seemed to Martie,
aud how her unsophisticated little heart
beat at the thought of II! Nothing could
come of it that day. however; and while
size goes out with Mrs. Allen TO do a lit.
tie shopping ANA stare at few OF the city
lions, let Us take lock ut the quarters
she has fallen INTO,
Mrs. Allen kept small private lodg-
ing house, very select and very genteel.
LIS Inmates were the learned Professor
BigWig aud family, from whose presence
IL certain literary aroma was suppose d
to peryade the atmosphere; the brilliant
Colonel B1reds, ,hero-aecording to his
own account-of numberless battles; Il
rising young lawyer, with his pretty.
blusLing girl wife, all fresh and lovely
in her new bridal toilet; rich widow
and her still richer daughter, who, i;
was said, was soon TO become the help
mate OF the clerical member of the house.
hold, the Rev. Paul Apollos; aud last al,
though not least, the representative OF
the fiue arts, Mr.. Raymond, an artist,
whose pictures had won golden praises
from critics and connoisseurs, and gol
den prices from purchasers.
Mr.. Raymond was 'lartie's left-hand
neighbor at the table. With the first
glance at his dark face. iron-gray hail
aud mnustaohe, and deep. set gray eyes
she felt rather inclined to be afraid o
him. When be smiled she liked hin
better, and thought the gray eyes looked
kind, and she feltvery shy and lonesom
among these strange faces, and was GLAD
to have him talk little to her, and TAX,
care that she was provided with all sh,
wanted.
On tho second morning after she ar
rived in the city Martie's advertisement
appeared.
Mr.. Allen sent paper to her room
before she was out OF bed, so that almos
MS soon as her eyes were open she La.
begun to hope, aud TO be afraid, aud I,
wonder, if out of so many people VIII,
she supposed wonld come to see her an,
of them would think we'll enoagh Of he
to want her services.
Martie was very painstaking with he
toilet that morning. She wanted I,
look her best. She spent twice the usua
time over her wnvy, gold brown hair
and when she put on her pretty gra,
dress-the gray dress was for morning
and the black dress for efternoon-an,
fastened the dainty spotless collar an,
cuffs, she dallied fully Eve minutes owe
her little stock Of ribbons, trying thi
one and that, aud went. down at last t,
breakfast, looking, 10 MT, Raymond