Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-29
WHAT ONE GIRL DID.
By HESTER STUART.
From Harper's B-zar.

From Harper's B-zar.
Molly Perry woke, the morning Of Memorial
day. about as cross as it is possible for healthy
sunny-tempered girl to be, and with some
reason.
For, to Begin her waking senses were first
greeted by strong Whit Of tobacco smoke
waited into her open window from the pipe of
the ledger below; and as she had gone to sleep
with he same incense In her nostrils. you must
own that it was trying, particularly to coun-
trybOrn nose that knew the fragrance of wild
grape-vines and lOcust-trees Whatever Won
may think, Molly was wrathful, and fiounced
out 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 &C
count OF stock in the way OF clothes, and found
herself on the verge Of bankruptcy "Not a
decent thing among them except that pray
SUIT, she thought, disconsOlately; and the
truth is they were shabby lot Barring the
gray suit, navy blue serge Dragged as to
cues e. ana SHINY as to elbows and back), a
FADED cambria, an old black cashmere hot and
dusty,iooking. made up the sorry display.
why didn't she buy some new clothes?"
ven, there was no particular reason except that
she had no money to buy and no time to make,
being one OF the forty or more clerks in the
al
a salary of six dollars week. Any one mathe-
matically inclined can do the little sum which
Molly did each week:
Washing and ironing So
One sitting at "Trinity' "a very humble one). IS
lotdi IA 6S
And out of the difference between this total and
SIX dollars must come boots and gloves and hair
pms and Observation-Disclosures and everything
else. so you can see that the Queen of Sheba was
quite safe from rival so far as Molly was con-
cerned.
But this mention of the 'Mart of Fashion"
brings me to the cap-sleaf of Molly's discom-
fort. She had expected to have the day to her.
self, but Rush < Crush. scenting possible profit
from country visitors. had decided to keep
open. So it was very cross face that look ed
at Molly from the little wavy lOokng-glass
and the soft brown hair was hatchelled and
twisted with very few of the little pats and
touches usually bestowed ON it, and the blue
dress was dOnned with some twitches. The
sight OF the breakfast 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
disgust for it all.
sickness and debt and death which had brought
her from quiet refined home to be a clerk in
the Mart OF Fashion aud an inmate of Widow
JacksOn's secOnd-rate boarding house. but we
will start with her this Memorial morning. when,
after trying her sharp little teeth on some tough
steak and turning over on her plate some flabby
fried potatoes. she fished fly out OF her coffee,
and took her way to the store.
Half the long forenoon had worn away when
Molly. with box of tumbled laces before her,
stood looking after lady who had just passed
with cluster of viOlets at her throat and think
certain tho of
where they grew, cool and moist in their green
leaves. when the voice of the ubiquitous floor
walker brought her back to the present.
Miss Perry. If you are not more attentive,
shall have to report you"
Il VIII save you that trouble" said Miss Per-
~. and clap went the cover on the box and
swish went the box into it's place, and Miss
Perry, with very red cheeks and bright eyes,
went down the long store to the Office and
her resignation, 'tO take effect at
once. if you please"
Mr. Rush was pleased. for trade was slackening,
and there were twenty girls for every va.
cancy. but you know our rule" Yes, she
knew the rule. which was that clerk leaving
without notice should forfeit pay from the last
night settlement. But Molly's ancestors
did not fight at Concord without leaving some
thing OF their spirit to their DESCENDANTS so she
turned to go with an air which betokened no
with ''rules," when Mr.. Rush,
whose heart had been trifle softer ed by MEM
cries of a certain grave in Mount Auburn which
would be decorated that day. handed out three
trade dollars. and in ten minutes Molly was in
the Common. with all the world before her
where tC choose"
Phe unusual leisure was SO pleasant that the
CIR! loitered and fingered, enjoying the sunshine
and air, and only when the noon whistles blew
did she come down to reality.
After dinner, with locked door. she held a
council OF war; Here, on one side, was Molly
Perry, twenty-fOur years old, with health and
hope, five dollars in her trunk. three silver dol
lars In her pocket. and one good suit and on the
other side the great pushing scrarlblng, selfish
world, eager to grasp and slow to give.
Molly did some hard thinking "There's one
thing sure" she thought. 81 won't tend store
again. and won't sew for living, and won't
be cOOped up in shop" The chances are mar
rowing fast. Suddenly came an idea. "Tll do
II, SAID molly; ana what u was, the Adcertise7
told next morning:
w plain cook, situation TO do hOusework in
small family. Country preferred. Address NJ P,
Advertiser Office, Boston.
Well. the answers fairly poured in. It seemed
as though all wOmankind had been waiting for
Ian American girl who is a good plain cook"
but Molly resolved to be critical, and waited. In
the meantime. seeing that a way was OPEN she
dressed herself in her best and went shopping
saturday afternoon. She chose to patrOnize
Rush Crush, where her high and mighty airs
gave uuDOuuUeu SATISFACTION TO the clerks, with
whom she was a favOrte. She sailed up to the
print counter with great dignity, turned the
goods over, pulled the corners crOsswise. after
the fashion of women shoppers. deprecated the
patterns etc, but finally bought print for three
dresses, bingham for aprons, etc. to the amount
OF three dollars, and counted cut with great
majesty the three trade dollars.
''Oh, Molly, you know we can't take them, {"
said the clerk. Molly turned to Mr. Rush. who
sauntering along with his eyes on the other
side of the store, was taking in the whole pro-
ceeding.
''Mr. Rush." she said, II took these here dlay
before yesterday, and now the clerk refuses
them"
Mr.. Rush was grmly amused at her audacity.
but instead of answering her turned to the
grnning casll-bOy in waiting and snapped
Cash, what are you waiting for? Take the
goods and money this Instant"
The youthful Mercury disappeared like o
spirit, aud Molly felt somewhat as her great
grandfather did at Concord.
Monday morning brought a letter which
seemed promising, and which read as follows:
"WHEATFIELDs, New Hampshire, June
Miss N. P.-We need domestic and prefer
one OF our own nation The family consists OF
feeble, ocd the domestic would have to take
Charge OF everything. We would pay three dol.
lars week to the right person. II you feel capa-
bic for the place. and can bring a recommends.
ton. we should like TO have you come as soon as
possible"