San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-29
THEDRONE OFTHE FAMILY.

"What to do with our LottieP said
Mr.. Orcutt Yes. that's what puzzles
me. The other girls have all managed
to do pretty well by themselves. Ara
mnta went to Madame D'Arbley for six
months, and now she's opened dress
making for herself, and she's doing fine
ly. Rachel is teaching district school,
and Eliza is type setter. They're all
three of 'em smart stirring girls. and
I've no word of fault TO find with them.
But Lottie! really don't believe that
that girl has a genius for anything!'
The mild old rector of the parish
looked sympathiSingly at Lottie herself,
who, with Gowncast head and burning
cheeks, was polishing the inside of the
windows as they talked.
''Indeed?' said he. That's unfor-
tunate."
Il tried her at millinery" said Mr..
circuit consoling himself with a pinch
of snuff, land they said she spoiled
more ribbons than her work would pay
for. l sent her to the gold-beating fac
tory, but she was no use there. | took
her to see the school-trustees, but they
said she wasn't the stuff that successful
teachers were made of. And | don't
know but what they're right" said Mr..
circuit with sigh. IF Lottie had only
been a boy, now, she might have took
the farm, or learned blacksmith's
trade, Or"
Father" said Lottie in low voice,
al should like to be an artist"
Mr.. circuit stared at his daughter.
"Ehr' said he. Wouldn't you like
to be queen, and sit on the throneP
An artist, indeed! Go straight and
feed the young ducks and goslings,
Lottie, and don't let me hear no more
such nonsense. An artist! Well, do
wonder what our girls are coming tor
"a good many young women have
distinguished themselves IN that way, l
am told," said mild Mr.. Audubon.
my girls are working girls" said
Mr.. circuit bluntly. But an artist or
an author-they are made of different
clay. I've been left with four mother
less daughters, and I've done pretty
we'll with all of them except Lottie; but
Lottie is puzzle TO me-"
A month later, when Mr.. circuit
brought home his new wife-a hard
eyed, red-cheeked young woman. with
black curls hanging down on one side
of her face-Lottie went away.
You'd deal better stay and help
your mother with the housework," said
Mr.. circuit; I'D be willing to allow
you your board and clothes, to make
yourself generally useful"
.'She is not my mother" said Lottie
in a stifed voice; land Mrs. Mount
says may help in her shop until | get
a place somewhere else to suit me"
So Lottie, the standing puzzle of her
fathers life, became the shop-grl in
Mrs. Mounts fancy shop, and studied
up the mysteries of tape, ribbon, wors-
ted, needles and pin-cushions.
But one day Mrs. Mount came to the
circuit farmhouse IN towering rage.
my best customer" said she, Mrs
General Filzgibbon! All through Lot
ties fault! And she VOWS she'll never
set foot in the shop again.
1t was some time before she could be-
come sufficiently coherent to explain
the particulars of her accusation to Mr..
circuit and his wife. But it transpired
at last that Lottie had been audacious
enough to sketch caricature of the
august Mrs. General St. George Fitz-
gibbon on the back of pasteboard
collar-box, and that that lady had I'M
luckily caught sight of it in an evil
hour.
WAS it like her,n said Mrs. Orcutt
Like her," said Mrs. Mount; "why,
it was the old bag herself-false hair,
French bonnet, and all. l never did
see anything so ridiculous. But that
don't mend matters. I've locked her up
in the back parlor, and I've told her
I'd send you there right of, Mr.. circuit.
For, of course, nobody can expect me to
keep her there after thisr'
Mr.. Circuit looked feebly at his wife
"What am / to do, Malvinap" said he.
"Why. go, of course" said the step
mother, bristling up in anticipation Of
the coming contest. Bring her homo
at once. I'll teach her what it is to Of
fend a lady like Mrs. General Fitzgib-
bon."
but you forget, Malvina-"
81 don't forget anything" sharply re-
sponded Mrs circuit.
THAT she isn't child to be whipped
or to De shut up in dark closet She
! is eighteen"
''old enough to know BETTER" said
Mrs. circuit, COMPRISING her thin red