The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-30

A Small Beginning.

apt TO do at times Wnen tnelr DlaZe mlgnt
be worth something in the way of cheer;
out doors, the raw gray of spring thaw
on the window seat two girls crouched
together, and looking out with faces as
disconsolate as the weather. Such was
the picture presented at No. IL Farewell
street, three years ago last March.
Farewell street was 30 named because
of its being the customary route of exit
from the old cemetery; the point where
mourners we're supposed to turn for last
look at the gates which had just shut in
the newly.buried friend; and this associa-
ton, as we'll as the glimpse of the tall
cemetery fence, topped with mournful
eyergreens which bounded the view, did
not tend to make the sad outlook any the
less sad on that dismal day. For it was
only fortnight since Della and Hetty
Willett, the girls on the windowseat, had
left within those gates the kind old grand
mother, who for years had stood to them
in the stead of father and mother both.
"The Willetts," as the neighbors called
them, using the collective phrase always,
were twins, and just eighteen years old.
Bearing to each other even q stronger
personal likeness than twins customarily
possess, they were in other points curiously
unlike. Della was soft and clinging,
Hetty vigorous and self-reliant. Della
loved to be guided, Hetty to guide; the
former had few independent views and
opinions, the latter was brimful of ideas
and fancies, plans and purposes, some
crude, some foolish, but all her own. Yet,
oddly enough, it was Della, very often,
who gave the casting vote in their de-
cisions, for Hetty's love for her slender
twin was sentiment 80 deep and intense
that she often yielded against her own
better sense and judgment, simply for the
pleasure of yielding to what Della wished.
Della in return adored her sister, waited
she were Hetty's wife," aunt Polly said,
sand the worst was they suited each
other so we'll that no one else would ever
suit either of them, and they were bound
to die old maids in consequence"
But eighteen can laugh at such augu-
ries, and there was no thought or question
of marriage in the minds of the sisters,
as they crouched that afternoon close to-
gether on the old window-seat.
A very different question absorbed
them, and a perplexing one-how they
were to live, and to keep together while
doing SO, which meant pretty much the
same thing to them both. Grandmother
death had left them with so very, very
little-her annuity died with her. There
was the old house, the plain, worn furni-
ture to which they had been accustomed
all their lives, and about hundred dol
lars year What could they do with
that ?
elf one of US only happened 10 be
CLEVER" sighed Della. elf could paint
pictures, or you had talent for writing,
how easy it would be-"
al don't know as to that" responded
Hetty. "Seems to me I've heard of PEG.
pie who did those things, and yet didn't
find it so mighty easy to get along. Some
body's got 10 buy the pictures after they're
painted, and read the books, and pay for
them" She spoke in an absent tone, and
her brow was knitted into the little frown
which Della knew betokened that her twin
was puzzling hard over something.
"Don't scowl, it'll spoil your forehead
she said, smoothing out the Objectionable
frown with her fingers.
"Was l scowling? Well, never mind
Pm trying to think, DEFY. You can't
paint, and can't write. The question is,
What can we do ?"
"That is the question:" said a voice al
the door. 1t was Aunt Polly's voice
She managed on most days to drop in
and "give a look to them, the lonely lit
tie creeturs," as she would have ex
pressed it.
"You're consultin', / see," she said
taking in the situation at a glance; the
dismal room, the depressed and tearfu
cheeks of the two girls, the lack of com
fort and cheer. She twitched open the
stove door as she passed, threw in stitch
of wood, twirled the damper, and gave &
brisk, ranting shake to the ashes-all with
q turn of the hand, as it were-attentions
to which the stove presently responded
with brisk roar. DWELL, it's time you
did, was planning to have talk with
you before long, for you ought to settle tt
something. Pull the blind down, DEFY
and Hetty, you light the lamp, and come
to the fire both of you, and let's see wha
we can make of it. It's tangled skeiI
enough. l don't deny it; but most skeinl
are that, and there's always a right enc
somewhere, if the Lord'll give us sens,
enough to get hold of it and keep OF
pulling out and winding up"
Presently the girls were seated close t.
Aunt Polly's rocking-chair. The room
looked more cheerful now, with the lamp
light and the yellow glow from the stove
and both were conscious of sense o.
hopefulness.
Now-what can you do ?" demanded
Aunt Polly, whirling' round in her chat
so as to face them.
owe hadn't got 80 far as that whel
you came in" replied Hetty; 81 suppos
we must do what other people do in tn
same circumstances"
"What's that ?"
"Teach something, or sew, suppose"
"Sewing's slow starvation, in my opin
ion, unless you've got machine, whicl
you haven't, and not much better then
What do you know that you can teach ?
"Not much" replied Hetty, humbly
while Della added, hesitatingly: "W
could teach children their letters, per
haps."
81 presume you could" Responded
Aunt Polly, dryly. "But, though yo1
mayn't know it, perhaps, there are abou
fifty women in this town can do the same
and who mean to do it. And most of Zen
have got the start of you in one way o
another, 80 what's your chance worth
No, girls, sewing and teaching are playe
out. They are good things in their way