The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-06-20
FINDING THEIR VOCATION.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

1t had been dull day at the store,
and Meta Carstairs was tired of stand
ing behind the counter with nothing
to do. Mr. Bobbinet was always a
degree crosser than usual on dull days
He scolded the little "cashes" for
whispering, criticised Miss Daggett for
the way in which she piled her collar
boxes on the counter, and reproved
Miss White for packing her parcels of
lace under the shelves.
ut is very easy" said Mr.. Bobbi-
net, ''to see that you young women
have no personal interest in things"
'Why should we?" whispered Rosa
Nixon to Miss Carstairs. "He has no
personal interest in us, except to con-
trive how much money he can make
out OF us !"
And Mr.. Bobbinet had told them
probably to increase their spirits
that after the first of May their scanty
salaries would be locked twenty five
per cent.
For | am losing money in the bust
ness, said Mr.. Bobbinet-''yes, posi-
lively losing money all the time. |
ought to have cut you down at Christ
mas, but | am a conscientious man,
and midwinter is a hard time to re
duce wages"
Meta Carstairs had looked incredu-
lousy at Lillian Hand. Was it not on
the very last Sunday afternoon that
they had walked past the elegant new
house that Mr. Bobbinet was erecting
on Paragon Avenue? Did that, they
asked themselves, look like losing
money?
What an old humbug that man
ISL said Rosa Nixon. "If | knew any
respectable farmers wife who wanted
q help I'd quit business and 90 to
her-see if / wouldn'tn'
But, we are all dependent upon our
salaries, sighed Lillian Hand. what
can we do 2"
This was at nOOntlme, when Mr.
BObbinet had gore down stairs to
quarrel with the fireman, and the girls
huddled dlscOnsOlately around the
registers to eat their little paper pack
cts of lunch.
II Know what I'd do if | had a
house, said Meta, boldly.
What" said Clarissa Daggett.
VI
''BOardersi Dear me what a funny
idea cried Lillian Hand. what
made you think OF that?"
Because had a letter from Ston-
ington last night" said Meta. "And
my old Graniaunt Locke is dead, and
she has left me a lot of old furniture
the accumulations, in fact, of two or
three generations. What could | do
with old furniture, or new, either, for
that matter? The homestead-a
tumble-down place enough-is left to
cousin up III Maine, and all the ready
money to ne'er-dO well relation out
in Kansas who Will spend it before
the dear old soul Is fairly cold"
Furniture" repeated Lillian Hand
why, isn't that strange? And have
got a house, out at Watch Hill-a
lonely old place, on the very edge OF
the sea-that is, if it hasn't fallen to
pieces in these heavy winter tides"
What sort of a house ," said Meta.
Il don't know" Lillian answered
laughing. Il never saw it. My un.
Gle died there, and am the only sur.
viving relative. ! might have fitted
It up for country seat, if | had been
rich; but | am not"
Meta put her light hand on the
others shoulder.
Lii" said she, there's a tate in
these things. You have a house, and
I've got the furniture. Watch Hill is
the very place to take boarders inu
Are you crazy, Meta ?" said Lillian
The big hotels would swallow us up
as the whale swallowed Jonah"
1 4
chance Is as good as anyone else'sr'
''Oh, girls, let me keep boarders
toon urged Rosa Nixon. Il can't
stay here, If old Bobbinet mows down
our wages so pitifully. | haven't got
any capital, but can makesu stun.
ming cake an d pie and l can beat a
creation on bread and biscuit and
johnny cake"
Il could help you, toon said eager
Miss Daggett, who was tall girl, with
hectic red spots on her cheeks. THAT
:, II the house was out of repair.
painted all the inside of Cousin Dob
son Daggetr's house once, and papereC
the parlors IN blue and buff. And YOU
don't know how nice they looked
Oh, do take me. toor
But it s all nonsense" said Lillian
NO, 1t isn't" said Meta. Listen
VOC and | keep boarders. Rosa is our
cook, ana Clara our carpenter. Here's
tar beginning. Hush here comes
Old Bobbnet, looking as black as a
thunder-cloud. Now for lecture hall
an hour long. Well, let him blaze
away. | don't care whether he dis
charges ME or notr'
WI hat sort OF a place is Watch
Hill 7 whispered Clara Daggett.
Its the seashore," said Netta-
directly on the grand old Atlantic.
The very place for you to get strong
IN, cara, And say-suppose We ask
Fannie Hoyt, that little, ailing cash
girl, to come with us? She could wait
on the table and wash dishes. YOU
know, and"
Young women young women -
solemnly croaked Mr.. Bobbinet. lis
this business ."
But when the April winds began to
blow clouds OF dust and whirlwinds of
paper scraps about the streets, Lillian
Hand and Meta Carstairs set boldly
forth for the rock-bristling shores OF
Watch Hill, stopping by way of Ston-
ington to overhaul the old furniture
bequeathed by Grandaunt Locke.
Enough to set up a dozen boarding
houses, said Meta. exuItantIv
Wen have Clara down to repair and
VarnIsh at once. And now for the
ouse ?'
Sea Cottage" was an old stone