The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-11

lived comfortably. ceased. of course, with
Aunt Maria's death, and Laura, at sixteen,
would be left penniless. Aunt Mar1a's Ju-
dicious plan had been to keep Laura az
school ss long a. possible, hoping she would
be fitted for teacher. as it was no part of
her plan TO leave the young girl without
some resource By which she could comfort.
ably provide for herself, when her school
days should be ended.
But disease bad done its fatal work
Quickly, and good AunA-Maria's only regret
at leaving world in which she had seen
much strTow, was because she must lave
her dear Laura unprovided for. Jost before
she died. she gave Laura one parting piece
OF sdvire. She coUnselled her 10 find en-
ployment at once, whatever she could TO
take The first thing that offered which she
could do ct all, and TO be sure and do her
very best at whatever she undertook.
1t tried the poor child sorely, but there
was no other place for her bptat the mill.
She bad often pitied the poor girls, who day
after day. went by with their lunch baskets
TO spend the long, tiTesome day IN tina noisy
mill.
They were not the companions she would
have chosen, bat work was scarce in the town
where she had lived; and owing to her aunt
les secluded habits she had no friends with
sufficient influence to help her TO more fit.
ting and congenial occupation. Two years
later, if Auntie had only lived, che reflected
she might have been able to teach; bat her
course of stuoy had been interrupted rather
too prematurely to admit of it now.
But Laura had been faithfully trained by
Christian guardian, and while her heart
was very tender from its sore bereavement,
she resolved to do her very best even thougg
no one would take special note of her efforts,
and though advancement might be long de-
lsytc.
twas even more iaborioUs and trying
Il an she had anticipated, standing by re-
volving loom all day. tying knot here,
sDstching at a loose thread there, clutching
at stray loop which threatened OBTAINING
taDgle if not straiehtened on the instant.
1t had taken weeks of patient toll TO learn
how to watch the back of the growing fabrics,
and Sc that no flaw crept in through mat
tentlon or neglect.
One day. La Brooks snowy, dashlng girl,
approached the place where Laura stood,
scissors close at hand, watching the roll of
material, every inch of which az it slowly
progressed towards completion was quickly
inspected by LauIa's sharp eye
II was nearly lunch time, and Lu, basket
in hand, was evidently waiting f,r the
clampiDg machinery to stop its loud within,
that she might sit by Laura while they en-
joved the noon rest and ate their luncheon.
Law! what makes you so swfully partic-
Mar TO snatch 81 every little thing that isn't
just so smooth; that's only coarse stuff
you're st. anyway, and doesn't require any
looked contemporary at the cloth Laura
had been watching so arefGily.
why" said Laura nheerfnlly, 1.-THE only
way 10 ever reach the finer fabrics, aud work
which paws better, is to show how perfectly
l can do this
"Humphl" rejOined In, 'if you think
there's much chance for promotion in this
old barn OF place you're very much mista-
ken. I've steCd in the same spot cutting
open boxes of Iabels and marking them. for
the last two yeas and all The thanks Ive
ever got bi sides my mesgre pay. Was being
scelced az d found iault with for the Occa.
s1onal INTAKES l make. / don't kill my
SET to suit them, l can tell you;
o. Mt care a snap If | 90 blunde- now and
then. Old jerks. the foreman, would rather
find fault than not, and Mr., Hubbard him
self isn't at all given to complimentiDg you
for Your exertior S: it's just like any other
tresd-mill existence" concluded Lu, hard
work, poor pay and no thanks"
MIR. Hubbard, said the foreman a few
weeks later, IT think if Miss Wise is about
to leave the asserting room, it might be the
best thir you co1ld do to put Miss Laura
Wood in her place"
Its responsible position" returned the
proprietor. and there are q great many hands
who have been here far longer than Miss
Wood but IS you know, / generally leave
things of this kind to yeur management, as
you nave better opportunity of judging the
ability of different ones than have"
''It is true" continued the fore man, miss
Wood has been with us little short of six
months but her work at the loom is simply
perfect. We never hsd the reverse side of
the particular cloth she mas tended so
smoothly prepared until she learned lust
what her duties were."
a year later Mr.. jerks, the foreman, again
addrC ssed Mr. Hubbard
II think, sir, if Woolwich is going,
iuk he tn in =.
place"
''But we've never had woman in the or.
Ger room. 1t takes insight into the business,
careful knowledge of Just our needs re-
QuiIements, 8 stern application to the inter.
ests OF the house in every particular to an
ticipate and give due notice of what must be
promptly forthcoming in house like this.
Isn't Miss Wood very young TO undertake
such duties" aud Mr.. Hubbard regarded
the shrewd foreman little anxiousIy.
My dear sir" that gentleman replied,
lever since the day that young lady came
into this mill, it has been perfectly appsr.
ent to me that her prime motive was not
merely to earn her living. not simply to per-
form her duties mechanically and passably
soceptably, as is the general rule, but there
has heen conscientious attention paid to the
very smallest detail of her work every time.
l tell you, sir, it would be perfectly safe to
trust that young girl in any department of
your business sne coutd De made 10 under
stand, and her untiriDg application would
admit of Der learning well anything she re-
solved to know
When Laura Wood was twenty years old,
she occupied the position of confidential
clerk, chief correspondent and general aid 10
the wealthy Mr.. Hubbard
Report says that Mr.. Hubbard eyes
anxiously and slspicIously one of his most
prosperous customers who, when he 60 IS to
the nanufscturer's TO buy goods. fingers
longer at the mill and in the place than is
necessary merely for business purposes.
And ence when the trusty foreman
preached the subject to Mr. Hubbard, hint
ing at the possible outcome of the affair, the
merchant replied.
cit would be an irTeparable loss to rs,
jerks, an iIEepaIable loss Not that should
be very sorry, but very glad, TO see SO fl ne a
girl we'll settled in life, and not but what
she would adorn any position but the great
value of Miss Woods Sc CO consists aud al
ways has consisted in that Dxed Cetermin-
alton which certainly governs ell her actions,
to do even the minutia of every day work in
the best way possible.
my GEAR cir, If oung people setting out
in life would only recognize the importance
Of doing things we'll, thoroughly and consci.
entiously, rather than hurridly aud often
lmperfectly, there would be no trouble about
promotion all in good time. Advancement
is sure 10 follow the best efforts of either man