The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-11-19
ESSie'S Fortune.

CSSl6 , TOIluIlGI
"Ifs that old pain in my side again" sait
Essie Hooper, sadly.
She was sitting at the window where sht
always sat and sewed-a little, cooped-uI
spot, with q view Of tin roofs, factory chin
above q stack Of brick hues one could catcf
solitary glimpse OF silver clouds floating
across the ethereal blue-and this was Es
sizes sole dream of rest and gladness.
A pale, violet-eyed girl, with red-browr
hair, gathered into net, and fitful shadows
Of color upon her check, she seemed scarce
ly more than q child in years. Life, how.
ever, begins early with the poor-aud Essie
Hooper had been earning her own living
ever since she was twelve years old
"You have been sitting too steadily,
child" said Lucy Deal, her neighbor.
I "Here-jump up, and run around to the
timming-store for half a dozen cards OF
buttons to match this sample. Mrs. Peck
told me to get them, but guess you need
the exercise more than do"
Before Essie could get on her hat, how
ever, the door opened and Mrs. Peck her
self came in with a troubled and pre-occu-
pied look
young women" said she, in her hard,
business-Hke way of speaking, "I desire
your attention for few minutes"
"She's going to cut down our wages ten
per cent" whispered Haddie Hall
''She's going to clap on an extra hour to
the days work, murmured Jane Simpson,
Apprehensively.
"Iregret to say" spoke up Mrs. Peck,
"thAt business Is decreasing, and times ara
dull, and I find il necessary to dispense with
one of my hands. Miss Hooper, ms the
youngest, is the one upon whose dismissal
have decided"
Essie had turned very pale.
"Must 60? " she faltered.
"I am very sorry for it, my dear" said
Mrs. Peck, who was, upon the whole, not
o bad-hesrted woman; "but cannot pos
sibly afford to keep on so many girls, and
one must go, you see. And it's always the
custom to send away the one who has been
with you the shortest period Of time"
She counted out the slender sum of money
which was due TO the girl, and stood calmly
by, while Essie tied on her hat, took down
her shawl, and mechanically bade the other
girls adieu.
1t was an everyday affair with her,
this dismissal of q superhuous hand, and
she never stopped to think what might
possibly become of the poor, forlorn
young creature who was thus set adrift on
the world.
She had never troubled herself to ASK
any questions of her youngest apprentice,
or she might have learned that Esther
Hooper was quite alone and friendless in
the world, except for On old aunt down in
the country.
"of courSe must 60 to Aunt Jocasta, "
said Essie, to herself. / have Just money
enough to take me to Buttsrnut Vale, and
Aunt Jocasta can at least advise me, If she
can do nothing else"
But when she reached the old red farm
house on the edge Of the pine thicksts, 1t
had been modernized by the addition Of q
fine new verandah and rustic fences Of
twisted cedar wood, and instead Of Aunt
Jocasta and her knitting-work at the win
dow, she saw the dimpled faces of little
children, standing on tiptoe to peep over
the sill
"Where is old Miss Hooper, ?" she asked
Of smart young woman who was training
sweet peas upon homemade treIlis
"MlSs Hooper," echoed the woman,
with start "WeI, only to think Of that
Don't you know7 She's been dead for thrss
monthS~
Dead Ny Aunt JocastA," cried poor
ESSie, feeling as If al the world were in Q
whirl around her.
"Then you are the niece in New York,
said the stranger. "They wrote to you,
but suppose the letter never can have
reached you It was paralytic stroke .
she only lived six hours, poor dsarl And,
after she was buried and the expenses paid,
there was nothing left Ny husband moved
into the house last monfh-we have three
years' lease from the landlord" rather de-
family added the young woman, as IL she
wished old Jocasta Hooper's niece fully to
understand thai she, Mrs. Morris Mills, was
no uSurper there.
"Yes; uhderstAnd-I know" said Es-
sic, feebly. "But have come all the way
from New York, and am very tired Migh
stay here tonight"
"And welcome" said Mrs. Mills, kindly.
We've house full Of boarders coming to-
morrow. Mr.. Mills is acquainted with Q
doctor In Boston, who recommends all his
Aling patients here, for the pine groves and
tina mountain air. you know: and thsre are
Two young thoologianr from the seminary
Who have engaged the top room, aud an old
gentleman who Is Wild about trout. So
we're likely to be full enough by-and-by.
But Just tonight we've plenty Of room"
But while Mrs. Mills was chatting on,
and the children werS making merry tumult
over their toys, and the birds were singing
In the woods, ESTES mind was busy with
the eTer-rscurTing question, Whist am to
dor What is going TO become of mef"
Aunt Jocasta had not been much Of help
TO her, but she was something 10 cling to-
and now she, too was gone.
81 might sell steneil-plateS," she thought
dreamily, 10 herself, cor turn book agent,
or look out for place in the woolen facto-
ries. But I am not so very strong; and I
am afraid have not courage and enterprise
enough to make my living as gentsel ped
der. Oh, dear-oh, deari I don't see whai
1 wu pot intu this world for."