The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-20


ally inclined can do the little sum which
Molly did each week:
B %sIhins and ;,cnns AsV
One sitting at Trinity Ia very humble one)..... is
Total. s465
And out OF the difference between this
total and SO must come boots and gloves
and hair-pins 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 concerned.
But this mention of the "Mart of
Fashion brings me to the cap-sheaf of
Molly's discomfort. She had expected to
have the day to herself, but Rush &
Crush, seeming possible profit from coun-
try visitors, had decided to keep open.
So it was very cross face that looked at
Molly from the wavy looking-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 its long length and noted
the spots and rings and FLASHES on the
coarse cloth, and knives and forks at all
angles, and dishes piled up, fragments
and all, by the untidy table girl, and felt
an unutterable disgust for it all.
1t is not necessary to 60 into the story
of sickness and debt and death which had
brought her from home to be clerk in the
Mart of Fashion" and an inmate of
Widow Jackson's second-rate boarding
house, but we will start with her Memorial
morning, when, after trying her sharp
teeth on some tough steak and turning
over on her plate some fiabby fried pota-
toes, 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 thinking wistfully of q
certain place where they grew, cool and
moist in their green leaves, when the
voice of the ubiquitous foor-walkel
brought her back to the present.
"Miss Perry, if you are not more atten
tive, shall have to report you"
al will save you that trouble" said
Miss Perry, and clap went the cover or
the box, and swish went the box into its
place, and Miss Perry, with very rec
cheeks and bright eyes, went down the
long store to the Office, and rendered hel
resignation, "to take effect at once, if yor
please
Mr.. Rush was pleased, for trade was
slackening, and there were twenty girls
for every vacancy. "But you know oul
rule" Yes, she knew the rule, which
was that a clerk leaving without notice
should forfeit pay from the last Saturda,
night settlement. But Molly's ancestor
did not fight at Concord without leaving
something of their spirit to their descend
ants; 80 she turned to 60 with an al
which betokened no acquaintance will
"rules,' when Mr.. Rush, whose heart ha,
been trifle softened by memories of
certain grave in Mount Auburn. whicl
would be decorated that day, handed GU
three trade dollars, and in ten minute
Molly was in the common, with all tn
world before her where to choose
The unusual leisure was 80 pleasan
that the girl loitered and fingered, enjoy
ing the sunshine and air, and only whe
the noon whistle blew did she come dow
TO reality.
After dinner, with locked door, sh
held council of war. Here, on one sid
was Molly Perry, twenty-four years OLE
with health and hope, $5 in her trunk, 8
in her pocket, and one good suit, and o
the other side the great, pushing, scran
bling, selfish world, eager to grasp an
slow to give.
Molly did some hard thinking. "There
one good thing" she thought, al wor
tend store again, and wont sew for a Ii
ing. and wont be cooped up in shop
The chances are narrowing fast. Su,
denly came an idea. "Pll do It," sal