The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-04-29
MISS PLAI*T AND MRS.
PRATT.

1ratt nau been teacher seventeen
years. TIey were good-looking WON
en- and dressed we'll, though plainly
They had saved in the years they hat
worked about $500 apiece. That wa!
all. Mrs. Pratt's hair was long sine.
gray and Miss Plat was expecting
daily to find the first white hair in he1
brown locks-the picket, so to speak
announcing the advance of the whole
army. They had been economical
and worked up to the last drop o.
blood in their bodies, and yet they had
not been able to get ahead. Every
year it seemed harder and harder tc
rise in bitter winter mornings to catch
the tive-cent train on the ~ road
Every New Years day Miss Platt Gu,
a notch in the leg of their one boarding
house rocking chair, and looked into
Mrs. Pratt eyes and remarked mourn.
fully:
Men may come and men may 60,
But we 60 on forever"
One memorable day Mrs. Pratt
answered back:
''Must We go on fJrever.'
Miss Platt was the best talkcr and
Mrs. Pratt was the best listener. That
was one reason they got on so we'll to.
gether. 1t must have been nearly q
thousand times they had discussed the
possibility of getting out of their tread.
mills. They recognized that nobody
ever became pecuniarily independent
working for somebody else on a little
salary. He must 20 into some enter.
prise for himself, Women never have
any capital to commence business.
They must work for such small pay
compared to men that they have no
chance to save anything. The spins.
ter and the widow were beginning to
look forwa ard with cold terror to the
time when they should be shunted of
the track like WORKOUT horse, too old
to work any more.
IL suppose, maybe, I can save
enough to admit me into widows
home, somewhere, said Mrs. Pratt,
mournfully.
"And l a little back room, an old
maid and cat and cup of tea and a
picture of tho Rock of Ages" said
Miss Plat, sorrowfully.
They had discussed all WAYS thew had
ever heard of for escaping the i'm
pending doom. All failed for want of
capital to begin. Miss Platt's eyes
were giving out. The school board
had giving notice that it meant to chut
down the little pay of the women
teachers aud add it to the big pay of
the men principals. Both these brave
women were nearer despair, than they
had ever been before.
Have you ever noticed that just when
We become desperate the tide turns in
our favor?
1t was with energy, and a flushed
cheek and a dewey eye that Mrs. Pratt
said, therefore:
Unjust it 90 on forever"
Then both women were silent, look
ing over the situation. The very air
around them was blue. At length Miss
Platt spoke:
Susan" said she, "let us make a
break for liberty"
EYES," said Mrs. Pratt.
Susan said Miss Plat, Twill YOU
shake hands on it?''
Il WILL"
Their hands met in a solid, serious
clasp.
"Now, it's done, said Miss Platt.
They talked far into the night. Both
knew they would do as they had said.
But now the agreement was made, they
couldn't help feeling a little scared.
They were going to give up a certain
ty, however small, for an uncertainty,
however big. Being women, they were
timid and conservative.
II wonder if we couldn't start 9
creamery. That's where they make
butter, isn't it, said Miss Platt.
But now Mrs. Pratt made a long
speech for her.
mo, Marian, that won't do. What
ever we 60 at, we must do the work
ourselves. Do you think we coulC
learn to milk cows at-at our age7''
''Speak for yourself about age
said Miss P'att; ''I'm not too old to
learn airy thing, 1 hope. Unjust be il
the country, though. The only lif,
worth living is in the country. Nv.
been in a city all my life, and am tree
to death of the sight of people,"
''Yes,' said her friend, "they ex
haust one So
lit seems to me-" said Marian
'when am in a crowd that the,
breathe all the life out of me. Iwon'1
even 60 into town of 8, 900 inhabitantl
"a nasty, back-biting little village
where they send, committee around
to see what church you belong to. NJ,
one earthly desire is little place il
the country-a house of three rooms
with roses and strawberries, and al
old pear tree and chickens.
"Chickens, did you say?'' asked the
quiet widow. ''ChickensP''
"Yes," replied Miss Platt. Ma.
rian, you've his it, Chickens it is
Then the widow made the lonpes
speech of her life.
Wen get little place in the coun
try and 60 to raising chickena. Cow.
horn people and they kick. Hen.
haven't any horns aud they cant kick
Cows 60 dry and they would be deat
expense on our hands part of the year
Hens don't 60 dry"
do you mean to 60 into the poultry
business. run chickenery or what d.
you call it,
''Yes,' said Mrs. Pratt. Nov
we're committed, I think that woulC
be the thing"
"Oh. Susan, fresh eggs to sell, and
spring broilers, and no board to paw
I've read that plum orchards 20 vel
with chickens. The fowls eat up tn.
worms that sting the fruit, or some