The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-10-01
A BRAVE WOMAN.

manson III fnliau6lpllld the eaIllcst
letters were brought in with the
rolls and coffee, so that Mrs. Ions
dale was languidly eating orange
marmalade when her husband read
out the contents of the letter with
the black edge which had just come
from Moon Mountain.
LEFT widow % echoed Mrs.
Lonsdale. And with six daugh-
tiers. What a very unpleasant cir
cumstancel
"She was my favorite cousin, !"
said Mr.. Lonsdale. "As bright a
girl as / ever saw. l suppose, Mao
mi with a little hesitation" We
couldn't take her in here?"
"Take her in here?" repeated
Mrs. Lonsdale. Why where could
we put widow and six young wo-
men? We actually haven't room
enough to accommodate ourselves"
"Well, well. Pm sorry for poor
Mary" said Mr.. Lonsdale. Il
think she had the bluest eyes | ever
saw. Six daughters, and We never
had one. Perhaps, Naomi with
the old hesitating formula" you
wouldn't like to adopt one?"
Thank you," satirically observ-
ed his wife. when | do receive an
adopted child into my house it will
not be the country article"
At the solitary little farm on
Moon Mountain, however, the same
topic was being discussed while
Mrs. Dirk was sewing on the simple
mourning which the bereaved fami-
ly could afford.
Helen was washing the dishes,
Rosie was darning the carpet with
wooden yarn of the same color and
Lizzy was trimming seven plain
straw hats with bands of Grape. as
inexpensively as possible. Susy
was picking over shining tin pan
of dandelion greens for dinner.
Esther, the youngest and rosiest OF
them all, was feeding a flock of
downy chickens, and Sarah, the
eldest, was absent at a neighbours,
helping to make up the spring out
fits of half a dozen boys.
"Sarah was always so handy with
the needle" said Mrs. Dirk, with
pardonable pride.
But, mother" said Rosie, look
ing up from her work with trou-
bled countenence what are we to
do?"
Mother" said Lizzy, :" our Ions
dale cousins in Philadelphia are
rich. Couldn't we 60 to them ?"
Certainly not" said Mrs. Dirk.
4" l wrote to them, telling them of
of our affiiction, and they sent back
a letter full of common-places, with
out even offering to help u.s."
But they are rich. and We are
poor"
Yes, and they live in splendid
style. Hattie Cooley says" added
Susy.
"Very likely" said Mrs. Dirk.
" But as long as there are seven
pair of hands in this family, and
God spares our health, do not pro-
pose to turn genteel beggarl
"But mother" began Rosie, who
was the care-taking member of the
family, 81 really think"
"I've settled it all in my own
mind.n said Mrs. Dirk, stitching
awav until her needle looked like
CLEAN of steel lightning. 1.-The
house is large, although it isn't built
after the latest fashion. The air is
wholesome and there is the Black
Spring, where people come TO get
the water for ten miles around. |
mean to keep boarders."
"Hurrah for the little mother !"
cried Essie, clapping her plump
hands. " And may help you make
custards and do up preserves,
mayn't |, mamma ? Z"
"Susy and Esther shall help me"
declared Mrs. Dirk. Sarah can al
ways earn her living by tailoring
work. Helen shall go into the glove
factory; I'm told they Seed new
hands there. Lizzy can help Mrs.
Dart, the milliner, and Rosie is to
be nursery governness at Mrs. Mil
lingham's. And if between US we
can't earn a livelihood it will be
very strange"
Susy and Essie were delighted.
Rosie naturally regarded her posi-
ton as decided promotion. Hell
en-, however, dropped a tear into the
pan of hot water which she had
Just poured out.
"The glove factory, mother ?"
she repeated. but it will be such
a strange, lonesome place. / dent
think shall like il"
I'VE must all of us try to like
our duty, child" said the brisk lit
tie woman. I'm an American wo-
man, and they cannot discourage
me. This is country for women's
rights"
ii.
"Mary is going TO open board
ing-house." said Mr.. Lonsdale again
to his wife. She has requested me
to insert an advertisement in the
dailies for her."
"Very laudablc of her. l am
sure" said Mrs. Lonsdale with q
yawn.
Suppose you were to 60 there
for q few weeks before the Saratoga
season opens?" suggested Mr.. Ions
dale. "You can't very well stay
here while the painting and repairs
sre going on"
aI don't know that / can endure
that sort of living" said Mrs. Ions
dale dubiously.
Mary Dirk used to be the best