River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-06-10


diary, mother" said she. There are
so many things boy can do"
Her mother kissed her tenderly, but
said nothing.
The next day, without telling her
mother of her intention Ruth went out
to try 10 find employment among those
who had been her fathers friends. But
though she was received kindly by
those to whom she applied, she could
hear of no opening whatever. And,
indeed, she did not wonder at her fail
ure, for she had received very dcSul-
tory education. and had learned moth
ing thoroughly, or with any idea of
ever putting the knowledge to any
practical use. She felt now that this
had been a grand mistake, and regret
ted keenly that she had not devoted
herself 10 some one thing, thus making
it possible for her to earn her living
now that her hour of need had come.
IN stop and buy newspaper" she
thought, as she turned corner on
which was a small periodical store.
There may be an advertisements that
will help me-
On what slight impulses our fortunes
hinge! As she stepped into the store
she noticed a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lady
talking to the proprietor. Her face
wore an expression of veXation.
1t seems odd that YOU should not
have the book she was saving. lit
has been published some time. Send
ing to the city for it will delay my work
very much. Do you know of any one
in town who has it? might be able to
borrow it.
''Mr. Marsh, who died a week or ten
DAYS ago, owned large library-why,
here is Miss Marsh, now" perceiving
Ruth. who had given slight start on
hearing her fathers name.
"How Fortunate said the lady. and
she came forward ut once and intro
duced herself to Ruth in a few pleas
ant words. Il am writing an essay on
art, she explained, land it is to be
read before a literary club in the city
next Friday night. Now, what / need
Is a book of reference which appeared
several months ago. If | can borrow
or buy it from you it will save great
annoyance and delay"
Il do not know that | have the
book, said Ruth, .'but | think it very
probable. If you will walk home with
me you can look for yourself. :
Mrs. Boweu-fOr such was the
strangers name-accepted the invita-
ton with alacrity. and as they walked
along she told Ruth that she was stay
ing in town for short time with a
relative who had been i'll for several
weeks.
Il have spent a small fortune in that
periodical store since | have been
here" she said. MY aunt is very
fond of hearing me read aloud, and it
is hard to lind something new and in
terestiug. Now, if / were only in the
city ;hero would ice no diiIcuity. The
idea of there being no circulating IL
brayr in a town of this siZel / wonder
how you all get along without one"
My father lent a great many
books, said Ruth, land our friends
were very fond of borrowing"
You certainly have enough TO lend
to the whole town. said Mrs. Brown,
when she enteree the house and saw
the well filled boOk-shelveS in parlor.
library, hall and dining room.
Yes, my father was reviewer. and
often received two or three boxes of
books ut time said Ruth. There
is everything here-pOetry, biography
history, fiction and science. | have
never looked within the covers of one
tenth of them"
Mrs. Brown found the book she
wanted after a short search, and de-
parted in good humor, assuring Ruth
of her high appreciation of the favor
shown to her.
''How | wish had dollar for every
book in this house. murmured Ruth,
As, having bid Mrs. Brown goodbye
at the hail-doOr, she returned to the
dining room. ''And they won't aver
age twenty cents apiece when they are
sold. | often heard father say that
books brought almost nothing at sec
ond-hand Poor father Books were
a passion with him. He could never
get too many. No wonder Mrs. Brown
thought we had enough for u circula-
ting library.
As she uttered the last words the
blood le:ped to her face like flame.
\ circulating library Why had she not
thought of it before? She felt sure that
there were hundreds of people in town
who would patronizc one. Flushed
and trembling with excitement she
hurried TO her mother's room and I'M
folded the scarcely-conceived plan.
At first Mrs. Marsh doubted the wis
dom of the proposed venture, but after
Ruth argued the matter for some time
she came to the conclusion that it was,
at any rate, worth trying.
Ruth slept but little that night, so
busy was her brain with the new prof.
ect, and when she thought that now
she would not have to live on Miss
Flint's grudge-given bounty, she fairly
wept for joy.
If energy, perseverance and hard
work can accomplish anything, | will
succeed" she thought.
There was no time to be lost, for they
were obliged to leave the cottage at
the end of the month, so the very next
day Ruth hired three pleasant rooms
in the very heart of the town and be-
gan the task of removal. 1t was hard
work; but at the emu of a week the old
fashioned cottage which had been her
home for the twenty years of her life
vas vacant, and she and her mother
were established in the three rooms,
the largest of which was devoted to the
library. The arrangement and cata-
loguing of the books took another
week, and then several thousand cir
culars announcing the opening of the
library were distributed, and Ruth was
ready for custom.
Her first caller was her fathers.
aunt, who came from motives of curl
osity alone. but she was followed so
closely by whole troop of school girls
that she did not have an opportunity
to tell Ruth that she was sure the en-
terprise would be an utter failure. She
was very glad little later that she
had not done so, for Ruth succeeded
even beyond her expectations. 1t was
hard at first to bring her expenses
within an income, and she even ran
into debt a little, but after n few
months she found her custom steadily
increasing, and was soon able not only
10 meet all her expenses, but to buy
the new hooks which she considered il