The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-01-13
The Washington Street Bean Company,

The Washington Street Bean Company,
After the funeral was over and the
business matters investigated, John AL.
lison's widow and his three daughters
found they had just exactly two thou
sand dollars left to them.
"Two thousand dollarsp' cried the
youngest and most extravagant of the
girls. "Why, how are four ladies tc
live and dress upon that, 1 would like
to know, for even one year! There
must be some mistake; papa would
never have left us so poor"
"There is no mistake, my child" hel
mother answered, sadly. 81 have know
for two years that we were in strait
ened circumstances, but / could moi
bear to trouble your mind with it, We
must all make the best of it, and try tc
see how we can manage to get along"
60 / can't earn cent, unless l go out
as a cook" said the eldest daughter
Hattie, despondently. What useless
life mine has been! 1 never learned
anything thoroughly when at school
and the only branch of work for which
l ever exhibited real knack was cook.
ing. / do love to cook, but / DOM
suppose the family dignity would sur.
vive the shock if should advertise for
position. If l ever have daughters
every one of them shall learn a trade
1t is awful to be thrown on the world
like this with no ability to earn a living
And yet papa's motive was a good one
he wanted his daughters to be ladies
and so killed himself to support us in
idleness."
6 l can draw very well, my teacher
says; maybe l can teach drawing, by
and-by," suggested Ruby, moved to a
serious consideration of the situation
by her sisters words.
81 can get a few music scholars,
perhaps" unused the second daughter,
Edith. "That would help little"
You might, possibly" her mother
answered, "but there are so many
music-teachers compared with the
number of scholars l fear you could
not keep the pot boiling with your say.
ings. Still you can try and can do
dressmaking, l am sure"-
Mammal" cried chorus of pro,
testing voices.
But must, my dear Children" the
mother continued. " Here are -four
grown women requiring food and cloth
ing; our taxes must be paid, and lights
and fuel are necessary to our existence
You know / have always been able tC
give you better satisfaction in YOU
dressmaking than any of the modistes
So now l shall turn my talent to &C
count, and put out sign'-
"Oh, no! no! no!' cried the chorus
of voices again. Not sign over oul
door, mamma! Surely that is not neces
sary. You can get customers enough
among your old friends, if you mus
sew for other people, without putting
out sign"
81 smell burned beans!" cried Hat
tie, rushing suddenly kitchenward'
and disappearing. In few moments
she returned, flushed but triumphant.
CT saved them just in time" sh,
said. {" 1t would have been too bad i
my beans had spoiled to-day, whel
Cousin Will is coming to dine with IL
tomorrow, just on purpose to eat beans
1t is too bad / can't turn my only &C
complishment to money account. Blu
one thing is certain, we must dismis
our domestic tomorrow, and | will at
tend to the stomachs of the family
Ruby can assist me, and that will leav
Edith's time for her music scholar
and mothers for her sewing"
But l can't cook, +" said Ruby, pout
ing.
You can learn" said Hattie. " Ne
cessity is the mother of invention, an
it is necessary for us to invent an as
sistant cook out of a very pretty an
very useless young lady, and we mus
do it."
Ruby groaned and looked at her fin
ger-nails, so pointed and polished an
pink.
They talked over their little plan
with Cousin Will the next day. WIFI
wife was an invalid, the mother of ST
hungry children. She was unable t
look after her domestics, and, as con
sequence, while their table was Away
supplied with quantities of food, it wa
not often prepared in way to suit tn
epicurian palate of Will himself. Hi
cousin, Hattie Allison, during her earl
childhood had exhibited a taste fo
cooking. She always prepared, wit
her own hands, the delicate dishes use
at their receptions, and every Saturda
she baked the beans for the Sunda
dinner. No one could please Mr.. All
son in this respect save Hattie, an
Cousin Will usually received two
quart pan full at his door every Satul
day afternoon.
" Your beans are just as delicious a
ever, Cousin Hat" he said, " but yo
must allow me to purchase them here
after. l cannot permit such a hare
worked girl as you are sure to be, if 20
try to do your own housework, to bak
beans for me in the future. | want yo
to charge them up to me every weel
twenty-five cents a pan, and send
your bill the first of the month";"
"There, Hattie, your wish is con
ing true" laughed Edith. "You wei
saying yesterday you wished you coul
turn your only accomplishment to som
account, and already you have GU
toner for beans"