Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-17
THE HOME COOPERATIVE SOCIETY.

THE HOME COOPERATIVE SOCIETY.
"Tm sick of it," said Kate, dashing a
handful of hair-pins upon the table. and
letting big brown braid go tumbling
down her back.
$50 am l." said Beth.
$50 alb r. said Mamie, who was
suffering with dreadful cold.
What is it, girlsP' said 1, turning
my book face down on my lap.
"It's the suppers," said Beth.
cts the everlasting gossip said
Kate.
"It's so differed from hobe," said
Mamie, TO whom boarding house life
was new experience.
''It's all three, and much MORE" was
what l wanted TO say, but being the
Oldest of tho four, it seemed my duty
to make the best of things; so 1 said,
quite cheerfully; II didn't see anything
unusual about the supper tonight"
'Thats the trouble" groaned Beth.
lit was altogether too usual. / am so
tired of bread and butter and apple
sauce and dry cake that l feel like
gnashing my teeth at the sight of them.
l should like piece of toast or bowl
of bread and milk occasionally, with
out being made to feel that had dis
arranged the whole internal economy
of the house."
1.-THE suppers are bad enough" said
Kate, "but they are nothing to the Cos
sip. I'm tired of hearing it whispered
round that Mr.. 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 so late the other
night, and it sounded rs though he fell
upstairs Bdhr and Kate looked as
scornful as q round face with q dimple
in it would allow.
II could stad everything else," said
Mamie, "if il was oily hobe-like. Oh!
if / could odly sit dowd in q clead
kitched, with by feet in the stove owed,
and see braided mat in frod of the
stove with dice cat cd it, l should be
perfectly habby."
We all laughed at this idea of bliss,
but after the laugh there was sudden
silence, for each one of us recalled such
a kitchen, and the Presence that had
made it home-like.
We were not sisters, or even kin 10
each other, but meeting us strangers in
a city clearinghouse, a strong friend
ship had grown up between us, start.
ing, think, in the fact that we were
each orphaned and had our living t.
earn, and strengthened by many con.
genial tastes. We were doing our daily
duties in rather brave, cheerful way,
usually with few complaints, but to.
night we were under cloud. Outside
November rain was lashing the win.
dows, and inside, the stove smoked.
1t was payday at the manufactory
where Kate was book keeper, and that
was always hard day for her; Betl
had worried two of her dullest pupils
through their music lesson; and 1 haC
had time in school that afternoon will
wretch of boy, and was at my wits
end what to do with him on the NOR
row; and Mamie was more than hal
sick-so VIC sat there quite still fol
awhile. Finally Beth said: ~ suppose
we might make these rooms look lit
tie pleasanter. We each have few
pictures and knick-knacks.
''Do you suppose l would hang my
few pictures against this awful paper?'
said Kate. Besides, what would bt
the useP Just as We got everything
nicely fixed some man would want tn,
room, and we should be invited to %
up higher. I've boarded in thi
house two years, and in that time Nv,
advanced from the first floor back Il
the third floor front, and two moves
more will take me out on the roof"
1--WE blight go subwhere olse," sale
Mamie.
"Oh, you poor little innocentr
| laughed Beth. you'd 'change tn,
place ana keep the pain They're al
about alike"
At this Mamie lifted such woe
begone face that felt something mus
be done.
"Girls!" said I, in my most impressiv,
school-room manner
But here there was an interruption
for Mamie left the rockingham anc
rushed toward tho bed
"Oh, Nannie!' cried Kate, "don'
muss the bed; it's hard enough any
way" But she spoke too late, for un
der the combined influence of home
sickness and influenza, Mamie haC
flung herself on the bed in forlorl
little heap and was lifting up her voic
in a hoarse cry.
This was simply dreadful.
Beth and L purred over and cuddle,
her, and Kate slipped downstairs an,
coaxed the cross kitchcn-girl into max
ing bowl of sage tea, and by the tim
she was back with it the invalid wa
somewhat comforted.
|
again. "Girls! let's go TO housekcep
ing" Mamie stopped the bowl half
way to her lips, Beth sat upright on tn
trunk, and Kate dropped the stick O
wood in her hand back into the box.
where's the furniture comm
fromp" said she.
"Who'll pay the billsp" said Mamie
who'll do the work." said Beth
who was born south of Mason an
Dixon's line.
"Wo'll all do it," said /, answcrin
tho last question first; "and as for th
furnishing, that needn't cost so YER
much; and about the bills--Katc, no,
much do we all pay weckp"
'Four times five is twenty, and tw
dollars for washing, makes twenty
two" said Kate, with book-kecpin
promptness.
why" said Beth, beginning to b
eager, 'lots of families live on less tina
that, and pay for everything out of it
clothes and doctors bills and every
thing"
Well, we talked till midnight, an
the more we talked tho more fcasibl
the scheme seemed, and II was decide
that we should commence tcnemcn
hunting the very next morning; an
. after Beth and / had gone 10 our ow