Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-08-14
A NEGLECTED DAUGHTER.


mo, girl. have no money to throw
away on fallals. have not the purse
of n FortunatGs, as you must believe
by the way you constantly poster me
for money. In your dead mothers day
girls didn't rig themselves out for the
purpose of attracting attention. A
plain calico frock and u simple straw
bonnet are all that q female requires
for Sunday wear. :"
And the speaker, u small, stern Wis
aged man. closed his grim mouth, and
relapsed into silence, watching his tall,
handsome daughter narrowly out of his
keen black eyes.
Father, you are terribly unjust TO
me, your daughter. You arc one of the
richest men in Meadowland, and il is
your duty TO see that your daughter is
respectfully if not handsomely dressed.
My apparel is neither decent for church
wear nor the street. Repeatedly you
have turned deaf ear to my entreat-
les TO do something whereby l. could
purchase my own clothing, for l am
ashamed of being pointed ut and stig-
matised as the 'Miser's Daughter and
made the butt of ridicule on account of
my scanty, old fashioned garments. If
my mother had lived 1t would have
been otherwise!"
The tears gathered in her grey eyes
as she thought of that. gentle woman
who lay at rest in the cemetery on the
hill, and she began TO pace the floor in
q quick nervous way.
II irritated her father this rapid
walking TO and fro, and he cried out
sternly:
'Sit down, Huldah! You act like D
child instead of a young woman almost
out of her teens. That outburst of
yours was especially childish, and pro-
vocative of no good whatever. You
dress well enough and will not have
YOU apeing those brainless ultra-fash-
ionable women VINO frequent the vil-
lage during the summer season. And
as for seeking situation, he contin-
ued with y thump upon the table,
don't ever let me hear you mention it
again. Hiram Lester is too proud TO
have his daughter TO work for y liveli-
hood"
"Then he ought to be too proud to
see his daughter 60 dressed worse than
any scullion, was the retort that rush
cd to Huldah's lips.
AS he left the room she gave vent to
a shower of tears.
ut is too bad" she sobbed; may it
is shameful TO treat me thus. If he
were poor j should not mind il; but
he is so rich that he counts his money
by the thousands. He gave me a good
education, because Lester must not
be allowed TO grow up ignorant but
he is not willing that l should apply il
to any practical use. could teach il
he would let me find school, or /
might give music lessons, provided l
could find the scholars. But no, must
stay at home and keep his accounts,
and cook his victuals, and receive
what do l receiver" with an abrupt
pause, 'for my labor? Ha, ha," with
bitter laugh, 1.-THE food / eat and the
clothes gypsy would sheer at. ] shall
bear 1t no longer; reformation takes
place, and ut once. Fathers pride
shall be humbled, and l shall have q
becoming costume without its costing
him farthing."
Tying on her old sun hat, she went
down the street in the direction of the
OhlJ SIuIu ludnSlOu III NllA0SC. ~
belonged to q bachelor. Robert Ranger,
who became possessed of it by the
death OF an uncle.
AS yet he had not seen the property,
but was expected daily from California
where he had been soiourning for the
past year.
With firm steps Huldah pressed on
ward till she reached tho place, state
ly pile OF grey granite. over which the
Virginia creeper clambered, the we'll
= kept grounds dotted with shrubbery.
She went directly to see the house
keeper, with whom she was we'll ac-
quainted.
Mrs. Madison heard her proposition
with surprise.
at is astounding" she exclaimed,
with uplifted hands. THE daughter
of the second richest man in the place
in quest of work.
Yes; I'll admit that" smiled the
applicant; "but nevertheless it Is true.
want clothes to make myself present
able ut church and in the street. Fa-
Their, who has no intention of being mi
serly, but who has no knowledge of a
woman's wants, will not get them fol
me; so must earn them myself. You
want q girl to help clean house and get
it in readiness for Mr.. Rangers arrival.
/ solicit the situation"
And when Huldah babe the house.
keeper good-by, it was with the under
standing that she should begin hel
work in the morning.
And very good it Is for you, my
dear" said the kind old lady. THAI
your father Is to be absent on business
for ten or twelve days; he would raise
such fuss that you would be glad tc
relinquish all hopes of earning wha
You deem absolutely indispensable e
your happiness. Good-by; and dom
hurry to get here in the morning." she
shouted. as the girl went down the
walk with buoyant steps.
That night Mr.. Lester went away OF
business OF Importance, and the mex
morning Huldah presented herself a
the Ranger mansion 10 make herself
generally useful.
As the days went by, Mrs. Madison
found her n perfect treasure. She wai
never cross like some of the girls In he
employ, and her duties were cheerfulll
performed. :.
II was warm, radiant morning ii
spring. Flowers were blooming. bird
were warbling, and all nature wore
iubilant look, and as Huldah, scrub