Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-10-04
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
WAYS AND MEANS.


are always wishing that we could earn
some money, and this tells us how one
girl MADE enough picking wild berries,
and making them up into jellies and
preserves for market, to pay off a mort
gage on the farm; and, suppose after
ward pursued the business until she
made the family rich, though it does
not say so. Why couldn't we three 60
into some such enterprise, pray?"
Unfortunately we do not own farm,
with mortgage and berry patch upon
it," said Ellen, the Oldest sister.
but if we had farm. no doubt there
would be mortgage on it So much
OF the story might apply to us, at all
events said Hester, the second, some
what bitterly.
.'Of course | didn't suppose that we
could make jelly. or even pick berries,
especially as we haven't any to pick"
said Nan, the first speaker, and the
youngest. Il only thought that the
success of this girl, under difficulties,
might be an encouragement to us to 60
and do likewise, in some other depart
ment of labor"
What other, for instance?" asked
Hester. ''Do be specific, Nan
I'm sure can't think of any thing
promising at this moment; but there
must be plenty OF work in the wide
world for three maiden sisters. as ac-
complished as we are. Ellen can trim
bonnets beautifully. Just look at that
exquisite specimen of millinery she is
evolving from those old bits of lace
and ribbon and velvet And you
and / can do dress-making, Hetty. We
can make over our own dresses, Just as
good as new. Let's set up shop"
Yes, said Hester, "wc can do our
own millinery and dressmaking, be-
cause we have to, or go without. But
not one of Us knows enough about this
kind of work, or any other, to earn our
SALT
Except the three Is, Hetty, you
know them perfectly"
Yes, l am thankful that know how
to bake and boil and broil: but unless I
go into somebody's kitchen besides our
own to exercise these accomplishments,
they are not likely to bring in much of
an income; and | declare, girls, l am
sometimes tempted to do just that
thing-hire out to do homework, be-
cause it is the only thing know how to
do we'll"
why, Hester Harmon, are you
crazy? You know father and mother
would never consent to your doing
such work. said Nan.
They would not have to consent.
for am of age. and can do as l please:
though it is not very likely shall be
pleased to do that quite yet. But am
tired of being dependent upon father for
every penny spend. 1t would be bad
enough fhe was rich: but knowing how
hard it is for him to make the two ends
meet. poor man, it makes me wretched.
And why should not we girls do some
thing in the world for our own support
nj least, as well as the boys? There is
Tom earning his seventy dollars per
month running locomotive, with
promise OF promotion. and John doing
almost as well AZ civil engineering.
both of them as independent as princes,
because each knows how to Go one
thing well. never see JACK shoulder
his tripod and march off to work with
out feeling that | have been defrauded
of something. because | was not com
PEELED to learn some trade, or business.
that would make me as independent as
he is. And can any body tell me why
girls should not have the privilege of
earning their own living. if they want
1t as well as their brothers9"
Girls are expected to secure hus- |
bands before they arrive at the mature |
age of twenty-five, you know, Hetty:
isn't that reason enough?"
No. it is not There are not hus-
bands enough TO go around in this coun-
try. and many women must live single. |
whether they choose to or not. And it |
would not be such dreadful thing to a
sensible girl to be called an old maid. if |
she had some business. or profession.
with which to occupy her head and !
hands, and support herself. This for
ever waiting, Micawber like. for some
thing to turn up. is what makes so !
many women miserable and useless. i
And there are many kinds of work for
women TO do now, if they are only fit
ted for it. which we are not. We can
not even teach district school. because
we know nothing about methods If we
had been educated at the public school.
as the boys We're, we might be able to
do so much for ourselves at least: but
having been finished at Madame La
Vergne's fashionable seminary. we have
a smattering of many things-a little
French and German, little music and
We know nothing. absolute
Y not one thing. well enough to teach
it,
II wish one Of us had .tudied phar-