The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-06-02

Rhoda easily outranked the children OF
her age. Absorbing unconsciously
something of responsibility, the saloon
with its brawling men and women, the
saloon, which was to Nell the incarnate
idea of life and pleasure, became to
Rhoda intolerable.
81 hate it, Nell; the drinking and the
fighting wish we didn't live here
The words sank deep into Nelps
heart though she could not sympathize
with the feeling which prompted them.
Day by day she pondercd. She settled
her plan doggedly before she venturod
to unfold it to Mistress Murphy.
'Tm goin' into laundry to work.
Me an Rhody is goin' to take a room
and live. You're good to us but it's
the drinkin' an the cussin' an all
Rhody can't stand"
Now Mistress Murphy's theory that
"what'n kape one III kape two," while
plausible enough as a theory, had failed
in the testing. She not only consented
to Nell's plan; she helped her with such
disabled furniture as she could spare
An now, for seven years, Helen of
Troy had been the bread winner.
1t had been no light struggle, but
somehow it had been done, and Rhoda
had never known that the dinner box
Nell carried daily to the laundry was
often carried empty.
'Rhody is goia' to graduate next
week; I'm havin' her lovely new
dress made, n she'll look as good as
any on en-" said Helen to the girl who
worked next her in the laundry.
Eyes, an yen drop down dead in
yer tracks before the day if ye
don't stop. It's worked to the bone ye
are now wild sindin' Rhody to school!
She's no better to come into tho laun-
dry an earn her Twin n ye are.
The old spirit of clay a hand ON
Rhody n I'll scratch yer eyes out"
flashed from the eyes of Helen 1t was
only for moment; the years had
taught her to conquer.
'Rhody's goin' to be teacher. The
Board has promised her place soon as
she graduates. She won't never have
no such struggles as I've had. I'm
goin' to take it little easier, too, when
she gifts so she can take care of her
self"
eyes" muttered Bridget, "if ye're
alive. It's many's the day I've seen ye
iron all day wild an empty stomach. I'll
warrant Rhody didn't study without
bite OF somethin'."
'Rhody didn't know, Bridget. /
would not want she should"
Commencement day it was whispered
that the girl who led her class was Bills
daughter; that by hard study she had
worked herself up from the life of the
slums.
But what mention of HELENE "Any
more of Bills family liyinga' inquired
a guest.
eyes, one. She's only a laundry girl.
Can't read nor write. should hope, if
l were Rhoda, she would not find it con-
venient to be present today"
1t had not "bcen convenient" With
fevered face and CLASSY eyes she lay on
her poor bed at home.
81 guess TAINTED or somethin' today,
Rhody 1t was hot ironin' and l was so
tired"
She never went back to the laundry.
Three months later, when Rhoda was
fairly installed as public school teacher,
Helen of Troy, Nell OF the alley folded
her tired hands, no longer red and
swollen, and went to rest-a humble,
unknown life went out. With patient
toll she had lifted a human life to a
higher plane. ''They also serve who
only stand and wait" Who shall esti-
mate her work2 ''OnIy laundry girl"
but her influence may be felt through
the ages New York Observer.