St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-11-23

| One Fathers house we hope TO fad,
Within Gods bosom resting
What One Girl Did.
Molly Perry woke, the morning o
Memorial day, about as cross us it il
possible for healthy, sunny tempered
girl to he, and with some reason. For
to begin, her waking senses were frs
greeted by Il strong whitf of tobacco
smoke waited into her window from
the pipe of the lOdger below; and as
she had gone to sleep with the same
incense in her nostrils, you must owl
that it was trying, particularly to 4
country born nose that knew the fra
GRANGE of wild grapevines and locust
trees. Whatever you may think, Molly
was wrathful, and tlOunced ont of bed
shut the window with emphasis, and
sitting down in her one rocking chair,
eyed with strong disfavor pile OF
clothes on another chair. And here
was another reason for her crOssness.
The night before she had taken ac-
count of stock in the way of clothes,
and found herself on the verge of bank
ruptcy. "NOt Il decent thing among
them except that gray suit" she
thought, disconsolately and the truth
is they were a shabby lot. Barring
the gray suit, navy blue serge (rag-
ged us to edges, and shiny as to elbows
and back, faded cambric, an old
black cashmere, hot and dusty looking,
made up the sorry display.
"Why didn't she buy some new
clothes ?" Well, there was no partic-
ular reason except that she had no
money to buy and no time to make,
being one of the forty or more clerks
in the "Mart of Fashion," on Wash
ington street, at salary of 50 IL week.
Any one mathematically inclined can
do the little sum which Molly did each
week
Board, 81 OO
Washing and ironing, 30
One sitting at ''Trinity" Ga very
humble one), Ii
Total, 81 6j
And ont of the difference between
this total and So must come boots and
gloves and hair-pins and pOcket-hand-
kerchiefs and everything else, so you
quite safe from rival as far as Molly
was concerned. But this mention oI
the "Mart of Fashion" brings me to the
cap sheaf of Molly's discomfort. She
had expected to have the day to her
self, but Rush & Crush, scenting pos
sible profit from country visitors, had
decided to keep open. So it was q
very cross face that looked at Molly
from the little wavy looking glass, and
the soft brown hair was hatcheled and
twisted with very few of the little pat,
and touches usually bestowed on it,
and the blue dress was dOnned with
some twitches. The sight of the break
fast table did not tighten her mood
She looked down it's long length, and
noted the spots and rings and splashes
on the coarse cloth, the knives and
| forks at all angles, and the dishes piled
up, fragments and all, by the untidy
table-girl, and felt an unutterable dis
gust for it all.
Half the long forenoon had worn
away when Molly, with box of tum.
bled laces before her, stood looking
after a lady who had just passed with {
cluster of viOlets at her throat, anC
thinking wistfully of IL certain plac,
she knew of where they grew, cool ant
moist i'll their green leaves, when the
voice of the ubiquitous floor walke
brought her back to the present, "Mis
| Perry, if you are not more attentive,
shall have to report you"
81 will save you that trOnble," sale
Miss Perry, and clap went the cove
on the box, and swish went the hOl
into its place, and Miss Perry, will
very red checks and bright eyes, wen
down the long store to the office ant
rendered her resignation, "tO taxi
effect at once, if you please"
Mr.. Rush pleased, for trade wa
slackening, and there were twent!
girls for every vacancy. "But yoI
know our rule" Yes, she knew til,
rule, which was that a clerk leavin;
without notice should forfeit pay from
the last Saturday night settlement
But MOlly's ancestors did not fight Il
Concord without leaving something o
their spirit to their descendants $,
she turned to go with an air which be
tokened no acquaintance with ''rules,
when Mr.. Rush, whose heart had beel
a trite softened by memories of Ger
| Jiln grave Ill MOUNT AuDuTn WnlCl
would be decorated that day, handet
out three trade dollars, and in ten min
utes Molly was in the Common, "witl
all the world before her where T.
choose" The unusual leisure was s.
pleasant that the girl loitered and lin
gered, enjoying the sunshine and al
and only when the noon whistles bley
did she come down to reality.
After dinner, with locked door, sh
held council of war. Here on on
side, was Molly Perry twenty -fou
years old, with health and hope, S5 il
her trunk, three silver dollars in he
pocket, and one good suit, and on th
other side the great pushing, scran
bling, selfish world, eager to grasp, an
slow to give. Molly did some har
thinking. There's one thing sure,
she thought, al won't tend store agaiI
and | won't sew for a living, and
won't be cooped up in a shop" Til
chances are narrowing fast Suddenl
came an idea. an do it," said Molly
and what it was, the Advertiser tOl
next morning:
: Wanted by an American girl WI
is good plain cook, situation to q
housework i'll a small family. COuntI