The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-17
Select sMisfeHanp.
The Home Cooperative Society.

"Pm sick OF it," said Kate, d8shlng q
handful of hair-pins upon the table, and
letting big brown braid go tumbling
down her back.
$50 am l." said Beth.
$50 ab ~ said Mamie, who was suf
fering with dreadful cold.
"What is it, girls P"said l, turning my
book face down in my lap.
It's the suppers," said Beth.
"It's the everlasting gossip said Kate,
"It's so differed from hobe," said Nan
ME to whom clearinghouse life was a
new experience.
Its all three and much MORE" was
what wanted to say, but, being the old.
est of the four, it seemed my duty to
make the best of things; so l said, quite
cheerfully, didn't see anything unusual
about the supper tonight"
That's the trouble" groaned Beth.
1t was altogether too usual. / am SO
tired of bread and butter and apple sauce
and dry cake that feel like crashing my
teeth at the sight of them. should like
slice of toast or bowl of bread and
milk occasionally, without being made to
feel that had disarranged the whole in
ternal economy of the house."
"The suppers are bad enough said
Kate, but they are nothing to the Cos
sip. Pm tired of hearing it whispered
round that mir. johnson and his wife
had quarrel in their room last night or
that Miss Robinson has worn three new
dresses this month";, or that Mr.. Jewett
came in ever 80 late the other night, and
it sounded as though he fell upstairs.
Bah p and Kate looked as scornful as a
round face with dimple in it would allow.
al could stand everything else," said
Mamie, I" if we was odly hobe-like. Oh
if could odly sit dowd in clead kitched,
with by feet in the stove owed, ad see a
braided mat in frod of the stove with a
dice cat cd it, should be perfegly habby."
We all laughed at this idea of bliss, but
after the laugh there was sudden silence,
for each one of us recalled such kitchen,
and the presence that had made it home.
like.
We were not sisters, nor even kin to
each other, but meeting as strangers in a
city clearinghouse, a strong friendship
had grown up between us, starting, l
think, in the fact that we were each or
phaned and had our living to earn, and
strengthened by many congenial tastes.
We we're doing our daily duties in rather
a brave, cheerful way, usually with few
complaints, but tonight we were under a
cloud. Outside, a November rain was
lashiug the windows, and inside, the
stove smoked.
1t was payday at the mandatory
where Kate was book-keeper, and that
was always hard day for her; Beth had
worried two of her dullest pupils through
their music lesson and had had time
in school that afternoon with wretch of
q boy, and was at my wits end what to do
with him on the morrow; and Mamie
was more than half sick-so we sat there
quite still for while. Finally Beth
spoke: 81 suppose we might make these
rooms look little pleasanter. We each
have few pictures and knick-knacks."
"Do you suppose would hang my few
pictures against this awful paper?" said
Kate. Besides, what would be the use?
Just as we got everything nicely fixed
some man would want the room, and we
should be invited to 60 up higher. have
boarded in this house two years and in that
time I've advanced from the first floor
back to the third floor front, and two
moves more will take me out on the roof"
"We blight 60 subwhere else," said
Mamie.
"Oh you poor little innocent laughed
Beth. You'd change the place and keep
the pain They're all about alike"
At this Mamie lifted such woe-begone
face that felt something must be done.
"Girls " said l, in my most impressive
school-room manner.
But here there was an interruption, for
Mamie left the rocking chair and rushed
toward the bed.
"Oh, Mamie cried Kate, "don't muss
the bed it's hard enough anyway" but
she spoke too late, for under the combined
influence of homesickness and influenza,
Mamie had flung herself on the bed in a
forlorn little heap, and was lifting up her
voice in hoarse cry.
This was simply dreadful.
Beth and l purred over and cuddled
her, and Kate slipped downstairs and
cosxed the cross kitchen girl into making
bowl of sage tea, and by the time she
was back with it the invalid was some
what comforted.
When quiet was restored, l spoke
again. Girls let's 60 to housekeep-
ing" Mamie stopped the bowl halfway
to her lips, Beth sat upright on the trunk,
and Kate dropped the stick of wood in
her hand back into the box.
Where's the furniture coming from?"
said she.
"Who'll pay the bills ?" said Mamie.
"Who'll do the work Z" said Beth who
was born south of Mason and Dixon's line.
"We'll all do it," said l, answering the
last question first; "and as for the fur.
nishing, that needn't cost 80 very much
and about the bills-Kate, how much do
we all pay a week? ?"
"Four times five is twenty, and two
dollars for washing makes twenty-five"
said Kate, with book-keeper promptness.
Why" said Beth, beginning to be
eager, :" lots of families live on less than
that, and pay for everything out of it
clothes and doctors bills and everything"
Well, we talked till midnight, and the
more we talked, the more feasible the
scheme seemed, and it was decided that
we should commence tenementhunting
the very next morning; and after Beth
and | had gone to our own room, Kate
came hurrying across to say that she had
some spoons and forks which had been
her mothers, and that Mamie said she
knew how to make lovely waffles.
We expected tedious time finding a
rent within our means but it is astoL-
ishing how fortune helps those who try
To HELM themselves. That yerv week a