News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-06-25
A PLEA FOR PIN ms,IIJNEy

IT wish I hc.a1 half dollar" said
Ellen do--uon, as she brushed her hair
oeItIIre the small looking glass in the sit
| ting room.
"What would you do with it ?" said
her mother, who was sewing by the
table
II could use il easy enough. I could
get some bair pins, some rubber cord.
some needles, and half a yard of rib
bon, and a whole handkerchief" and
she firted ragged one contemptuously.
"You might ask your father for some
money"
II viii never ask him for another
cent while I live When I asked him
for some new boots, what did he say /?
and was cross whole week to pay"
IKE has great many uses for
money, Ellen and such large family
to support" the poor woman
sighed, as if she thought she might be
blamed some way for the expenditures
of the family.
81 earn my own bread and butter,
and clothes, too; and have nothing fit
10 wear away from honel If father
was poor man, 1 could be patient, but
when man can pay Ave hundred dol
lars for COW, and three hundred dol
lars more for sheep, there is no need of
his wife and children going shabby. I
do not want to be extravagant, but do
want to dress neatly, and like other peo-
pie, SO as not to attract notice." she
hotly said.
''Be patient. my dear; your father is
peculiar about some things; but he
loves his children" she said.
81 confess he has peculiar way of
showing his lover and she tied on her
hood with little jerk, and wrapped a
faded shawl over her shoulders. "I
shall call for Jennie Wells to 90 with
me. Good night, mother" and she
kissed her cheek, and went off to sing
ing school.
MIR. Gordon was one of the wealthiest
farmers in Sheffield; had to pay as
heavy taxes as any man in town. He
was rich in lands, in focks and herds,
and everything he undertook was pros
porous. He was poor in his house, as
his daughter had said, his family, him.
self included, went shabby. His motto
was always: "Take care of the cents,
and the dollars will take care of them
Selves" and he did take care of the
cents, and grudged every one that had
to be spent for the comfort or actual
necessities of his family. OF course,
as the children grew up, they felt
keenly the difference in their surround
ings from those of their companions.
Their mothers wedding outfit had been
eked out by cheap dishes bought at
auction, and broken chairs splioed up
by the legs filed the kitchen and sitting
room. It really was not nice. Had it
not been for the loving mothers inf1u-
ence, that kind of glorifed home, there
would have been no attraction to keep
the children there. When the Oldest
SONS arrived at manhood. they left the
farm, and went to work elsewhere,
where they could receive pay for their
labor. Their father grumbled at their
ingratitude in deserting him, but as he
could not help himself, had to do the
best he could without them.
Ellen was the eldest daughter, and
had just passed her 18th birthday. She
was smart and healthy, and her mother
had trained her up in neat and house
wifely ways, and it was no wonder that
she thought she ought to be clothed re-
specially. Not paper or book was
ever taken or purchased, and all the
reading the children had they borrowed
from their companions. Even school
books were grumbled over. No wonder
then, that high-spirited, handsome
girl, like Ellen, chafed at the needless
thraldom. She had never been allowed
a cent of money to expend for herself.
She had never had pretty bit of ribbon
10 brighten up her dress, and the last
piece of her mothers wedding bonnet
strings had been colored, till they were
past regeneration.
Her mother had tried pursuasion with
her husband, but the spirit of greed was
so engrafted in his nature, that she
could effect no change, and she could
only endure in silent patience. But
Ellen had borne her privations as long
As she could, and when she came home
rom singing school that night, she an
to her mother, in the presence
IF her father, that in the morning she
vas going to DR.. Mahew's to work for
The rest of the winter. Her eyes
'parkled.
"What does he pay you, Ellen2 And
What shall do2" said her mother, as
The clasped her hands.
"He gives me three dollars week,
md 1 have my evenings to myself.
Father is able to hire help, and / must. !