The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-03-19
MISS PLATT AND MRS. PRATT.
How Two women Made Money.

They were two tired New York, work
ing women, who had carried the burden of
life bravely, yes, and successfully, consid-
cring that this world is made by men for
men. Miss Patt had been manuscript
reader in the great millionaire publishing
house of Inkcatcr & Go. fifteen years.
Mrs. Pratt had been teacher seventeen
years. They were good looking women,
and dressed well, though plainly. They
had saved in the years they had worked
about 800 apiece. That was all. Mrs.
Pratt's hair was long since gray and Miss
PIatt was expecting daily to find the first
white hair in her brown loeks-the picket,
so TO speak, announcing the advance of the
whole army. They had been economical. and
worked mp to the last drop of blood in their
bodies, and yet they had not been able to
get ahead. Every year it seemed harder and
harder to rise in bitter winter mornings to
catch the five-ccnt train on the o. road.
Every New Years day Miss Platt cut a
notch in the leg of their one boarding
house rocking chair and looked into Mrs
Pratt's eyes and remarked moumfully:
MEN may como and men may CO.
liut we 90 ON forever.
One memorable day Mrs. Pratt answered
back:
"Must it go on forever ,"
Miss Platt was the best talllcr and Mrs.
Pratt was the best listener. That was one
reason they got on SO well together. 1t
must have been nearly a thousand times
they had discussed the possibility of get
ting out Of their treadmills. They rccog-
nzcd that nobody ever became pecuniarily
independent working for somebody else on
little salary. He must go 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 10 save anything.
The spinster and the widow were beginning
to look forward with cold terror to the
time when they should be shunted off the
track like a worn-out horse, too old ia
work any more.
81 suppose maybe can save enough to
admit me into widows home, Some
where, said Mrs. Pratt, mournlully.
''And little back room, an old maid
and cat and cup of tea and picture of
the Rock of Ages" said Miss Plat, sor-
rowfully.
They had discussed all ways they had
ever heard Of for escaping the impending
faiI nj oil 40
begin. Miss Platt's eyes were giving out.
The school board had given notice that it
meant to cut down the little pay Of the
women teachers and add it to the big pay
of the men principals. Mrs. Pratt was
terrified. Both these brave women were
nearer despair than they had ever been be-
fore.
Have you ever noticed that just when
we become desperate the tide turns in our
favor
1t was with energy, and flushed check
and dcwy eye that Mrs. Pratt said, there
fore:
"Must it go on forever? p
Then both women were silent, looking
over the situation The very air around
them was blue At length Miss Platt
spoke'
''Susan." said Miss Plat, "will you
shake hands on it p
81 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 that the agreement was made, they
couldn't help feeling little scared. They
were going to give up certainty, however
small, for an uncertainty, however big.
Being women. they were timid and conser-
vativc.
II wonder if we couldn't start a cream
cry. That's where they make butter, isn't
it p said Miss Platt.
BIT now Mrs. Pratt made long speech
for her
"No, Marian, that won't do. Whatever
we go at, we must do the work ourselves.
Do you think we could learn to milk COWS
at at our age?''
''Speak for yourself about age" said
Miss Platt; 'Im not too old to learn any
thing, hope. must be i'll the country
though The only life worth living is in
the country. I've been in a city all my
life. and am tired to death at the sight of
people.
"Yes," said her friend, ''thcy exhaust
one so.
at seems to me- said Marian, "whcn
am in a crowd that they breathe all the
life ont of me. | won't even 90 into a
town of 5000 inhabitants nasty, back
biting little village, where they send a
committee around to sec what church You
belong to. My ono earthly desire is lit
tie place in the country-a house of three
rooms, with roses and straw berries, and an
old pear tree, and chickens.
"Chickens, did yon say asked the
quiet widow. "Chickens?'
Eyes, replied Miss Platt.
That's it, said Mrs. Pratt. Marian,
You've hit it, Chickens it is. :
Then the widow made the longest speech
of her life
Gwen get a little place in the country
and 90 to raising chickens. Cows horn