The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-02
Four DOLLARS A Week. I"
BY NJ. A. B.

some money" sighed pretty Flossie
Templeton, rs she looked idly out of
the window. "Here AM, 10 years old,
six other children younger than /, and
no one TO work for us all but poor
father. really am ashamed of myself.
But what can / do? / attended Wood
lev Seminary for more than two years,
but, for all that, I don't know enough
to teach school, / can't teach music !;
all l can play is a few polkas and
waltzes. / can't even do fancy work
for sale. The only thing l am good for
is to do house-work, and mamma would
faint if Ishould ever SO much as men,
ton going away to work in somebody's
kitchen"
Her mournful soliloquy was inter-
rupted by her little sister, who came
into the room bringing letter.
"E that for me, Mame?' asked
AYES" answered the little girl, re-
signing herself to hug of sisterly af-
lection.
"Why, it's from my old roommate at
Woodley Seminary" and hastily tear
ing it open, Flossie was soon lost in its
contents.
The letter contained the information
that her old school friend was now liv-
ing in a town only five miles distant,
and that she was going away that after
noon to make visit of several months.
But one part of the letter was more
interesting to Flossie than any other.
The writer asked if Flossie knew of any
good girl whom her mother could get
to do general housework Hired help
was scarce in the town, and her mother
would be willing to pay good girl
four dollars week.
Flossie read this part over two or
three times, and plan matured itself
an her busy brain.
"Why couldn't / GO and work for
them ?" she thought, land earn four
dollars a week? / have no friends in
Freeport except Ida herself, and she
went away the day this letter was writ
ten. 1 can pretend to mamma that
am going to visit Ida Copeland for a
month or two, and will go there under
an assumed name and work for them.
The very thing!"
A smile lit up the face of our naughty
girl, showing the sweet little dimples
in chin and cheek, and making her ir-
resistibly charming.
She went to her room and put the
letter away; then lifting the lid of her
trunk, she took from q box a picture in
small case, and gazed at it long and
earnestly.
Il don't know what Norman Erling-
ton would say if he knew of my
working as servant" she thought;
shut really there is nothing else
can do. i am ashamed to stay at
home and he burden 10 my father.
OF course do most of the work, but
then mamma and the little girls can do
it we'll enough when am gone Well,
it isn't likely I'll see Norman again, so
it doesn't make much difference what
he would think"
Norman Ellington, whose picture she
had In her possession, was young col
legian who had spent the previous
summer visiting relatives in the town.
He had paid more attention to Flossie
THAN to any of the other village bellies,
land, as lie was handsome and stylish,
1T is no wonder the heart of our little
maiden was touched. On going away,
he had asked permission to write to
her, but as she had never received any
letters she came to the conclusion that
he had forgotten her.
The next morning Flossie told her
mother that she wanted to 90 to Free
port to stay month or two.
Il received a letter from Ida Cope
land yesterday, and you know 1 have
never been away to visit since came
home from school over a year ago."
Il wish you could go, said Mrs. Tenn
pleton, faded woman who still seemed
to be making an effort to be fashion
able, "but you have no clothes fit. Is
your friend very stylish ?"
"She didn't use to be-" answered
Flossie, eagerly.
well. if you think your clothes will
do, will be glad to have you go. Per-
haps you will have an opportunity to
see some good society there. would
like to get you new dress, but your
fathers salary is SO small, and the chill
dren wear out so many shoes that"
90, never mind me, mamma; I'll do
very WELL" and, singing gayly, Flossie
ran off to pack her trunk.
The next day, when the daughter
parted with her mother at the depot,
she said:
"Now, mamma, don't expect me to
write to you while am away, for you
know detest letter-writing.
"Very we'll, my dear. Have az good
a time as you can," and, with loving
kiss, they parted.
~Poor mammal" thought Flossie, as
the train sped on It's way. Wouldn't
she he Mortified il she knew am going
to apply for place in Mrs. Copeland's
kitchenp
In few minutes the town of Free
port was reached. and the young girl
stood looking around her in rather
bewildered way. The first thing she
did was TO ask man standing near the
way to Mrs. Copeland's residence. As
the town was small one, he was able
TO give her minute directions. Bowine
her thanks, she started on brisk wall
Cor the designated place.
On reaching the hou'e, which was Q