Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-24
MISS PLATT AND MRS. PRATT
HOW TWO WOMEN MADE MONEY.

They had hung together more years thar
either would have liked to own Ever
strong minded women have their feelingS
They were two tired, New York, working
women, who had carried the burden Of lift
bravely, yes, and successfully, considering
that this world is made by men for men
Miss Platt had been manuscript reader in
the great millionaire publishing house oa
Inkeater & CO. fifteen years Arx Pratt
had been a teacher seventeen years They
were goodIooking women, and dressed we'll
though plainly. They had saved in th<
years they had worked about 800 apiece.
1 That was all Mrs Pratt's hair was long
since gray and Miss Platt was expecting
daily to find the first white hair in her
brown locks-the picket 30 to speak, an
nouncipg the advance Of the whole army.
/ They had been economical. and worked ur
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 tc
rise in bitter winter mornings to catch the
fve-oent train on the L" road Every
New Years day Miss Platt cut . notch In
the leg of their one boarding house rocking
ch air and looked into Mrs Pratt's eyes and
remarked mournfully:
Men may come and men may 20,
But We 60 On forever"
One memorable day MA Pratt answered
back:
Must it go on foreverF'
Miss Platt was the best taIkef and NrA
Pratt was the best listener. That was one
reason they got on 50 well together. II
must have been nearly q thousand times
they had discussed the possibility Of getting
out of their treadmills. They recognised
that nobody ever became pecuniarily indie
pendent working for somebody else on .
little salary. He must 60 in;o 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 spiuster and the widow were beginning
to look forward with cold terror to the
time when they should be shunted Oh the
track like . worn-out horse too old 70 work
any more.
Il suppose maybe I can save enough to
admit me into widows home, somewhere" :"
said Mrx Pratt, mournfully.
And q little hack room, an old maid
and a cat and cup of tea and q picture Of
the Rock Of Ages" said Miss Platt, sorrow-
fully
They had discussed all ways thev he'd
ever heard Of for escaping the impending
doom All failed for want Of capital to
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 before
Have you ever noticed that just when We
become desperate the tide turns In our
favori
1t was with energy, and flushed cheek
and dewy eye that Mrx Pratt ssid. thsrs-
fore:
Must 1t 60 on foreverf'
Then both women were silent, looking
over the situation. The very air around
them was blue. At length Miss Platt spoke:
Susan" said she, 'let u make . break
for liberty"
Yes" said Mrs Pratt
''susan," said Miss Piatt Twill you shake
hands on It'll"
Il will"
Their hands met in a solid, serious clasp
snow, it's done" )" said Mis- 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 60
ing to give up q certainty, however small,
Tor an uncertainty, however big Being
women, they were timid and conservative.
Il wonder If we couldn't start creamer,.
That's where they make butter, isn't iti
said Miss Piatt
But now MrA Pratt made q long speech,
for her.
mo, 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 ager
Speak for yourself about age said Miss
Platt; I'm not too old to learn anything, ]
hope 1t must be in the country, though.
The only life worth living is in the country.
we been in . city all my life. and am tired
TO death Of tie sight Of people"
'Yes," said her friend, they exhaust ono
30"
ut seems to me-" said Marian, "when
am in . crowd that they breathe all the life
out Of me. won't even 60 into q town Of
s, QUO inhabitants-a nasty, back-biting httle
village, where they send . COMMITTEES around
to see what church you belong TO- Ny one
earthly desire is a little place in ths coun-
try-a house Of three rooms, with roses and
and IN old psar tree, and
chickena"
Chickens, did you sayr asked ths quiet
widow. ''Chickensi
"Yes," replied Miss Platt
That's it," said Mrs. Pratt ''MArian,
you We hit it. Chickens il is."
Then the widow made the longest speech
Of her life
Well get a little place in the country
and go to raising chickens. Cows horn peo-
PIE. and they kick Hen, haven't any horns.
and they cam. kick. Cows 60 dry, and they
would be q dead expense on our hands part
of the year. Hens don't go dry
DO you msan to 60 into the poultry bust
ness, run . chickenery, or what do you call
itT
Yes" said Mira Pratt "Now, ws're
committed, think that would be the thing"
''Oh, Susan. Fresh eggs to sell, and spring
broilers, and no board to pay. I've read
that plum orchards 60 well with chiclsna
The fowls eat up the worms that sting tbs
fruit, or something. What a splendid thing
1t will be to have plum orchards"