The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-04-10

VeNeu UeIOTe ne, COo, was summoned
away.
'Oh, for one word-one look of
recognition sighed the poor girl
who hurg over him. Alas, it was
not granted her. Slowly the pulse
ceased beating, and then stopped
forever. Kate was, indeed, doubly
orphaned.
Kind neighbors tried to bring
comfort to the bereaved girl; but
she could not bear the words. She
shrank from them as if touched to
the very quick; and her well-mean-
ing comforters at length left her to
herself. When all was over, Kate
was told that she must leave the
house. 1t was wanted for u richer
tenant. She had not a single dol
lar. Her furniture was taken away
and sold to pay rent. All the little
ornaments of the room, SO dear to
her because they were the gifts Of
her parents on successive birthdays,
went with the rest; and in the after
noon Of the third day from the
funeral of both her pare..ts, Kate
walked out of the gate and entered
q small cottage, poor, mean and
old, the only shelter she could af-
ford to rest in.
The next week saw her out in the
pursuit of employment-something
anything that would. bring her
food enough to support life and
strength. No foolish pride in Kate's
heart held her back from the search
after the means Of living Teaching
that resource Of almost every
girl left 10 herself-was not includ-
ed in her catalogue Of labor. Kate
was intelligent and well taught;
but of the regular routine Of learn
ing she was ignorant. Of useful
information she had o fund. 1t was
impaired to her from childhood by
her father and mother; but neither
of her parents was willing to spare
her from home, and therefore her
school knowledge was not extensive
She mad learned book keeping, how
ever. of her own father, who was
once successful merchant, before
the hand of disease had touched
alike his person and his fortune.
And her first thought was that she
might obtain some situation in
which she could make this knowl-
edge count to her for bread.
She entered several stores, mod
estly offering her services as book
keeper or cashier; but all those stu
ations were already filled. Next
the milliner's shops were tried
then the dressmaker's rooms-shops
and rooms which, in better days,
her mother Lad most generously
patronized, but which now seemed
to have no room for Kate. Her
last effort was at a depot for ready
made linen. The shopman knew
her, and allowed her to carry off
some work without the usual deposit
OF its worth in money. She was
glad of even this scanty means;
and half an hour after she left the
shop she was seated in the one habita-
BILE room of her little cottage, sew
ing diligently u9oa a garment
the first of her half dozen.
Kate was rapid and skillful seam
stress; and, as her small house re-
quired but little time to put it in
order, and her frugal meal still less
time to prepare, she was rejoiced to
find that she could complete them
all in single week. She was to
be paid a half dollar each; and she
carried them back, and received the
money the next Saturday evening
with feeling of satisfaction that
no one ever experiences unless
it is earned. Every week she
now earned sufficient for he
expenses; and, very soon, she was
trusted with finer and more expen-
siye work, until at last she could
readily command from six to eight
dollars. She did this until late in
the winter, constantly carrying
bundles of work, and enjoy the air
and exercise it brought her, with
out thought Of degradation in so
doing.
True, she was sometimes passed
without recognition by some who
had known her under other circum.
stances; but Kate's cheerful and in
dependent spirit was far above all
this. She looked as serene under
the neglect as if the recognition
were ever so cordial; and so often
shamed the proud ones, who could
not deny that in her simple mourn
ing garb there was an elegance and
propriety to which they never vet
attained. Even her package Of
work did not take from her the un-
mistakable lady-like appearance in
separsble from her; for she carried
it with an ease and grace so rare
that it seemed almost the badge of
superior gent;lty. The lovely op-
preston, which we have called her
highest charm, still Illuminated her
face; and they who looked at Kate
once were apt to linger in their in
terested gaze as long as politeness
permitted.
She was returning from carrying
back some work one slippery day
when, just as she had shut her own
little gate, she slipped upon the ice
and fell, breaking her ankle and Sc.
yerely wrenching her left arm. She
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