The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-22
THE SPRAY OF FAIRY FIRE.

tTlC llRnI lndJ nung from tne QOOr OF IN
saloon upon the corner nearly blinded
me, so that could not see who it wa
that spoke to me out of the darkness
saying
Master, are you the boss ?"
Putting up my umbrella, held it be
tween my face and the great whit
globe, and saw SIT ing on the lowest ste
of the factory young giIl. She wa
little more than child, slim as an AraI
and not too clean.
Her head was bare, she wore Gallo,
dress with holes in the sleeves, whenc,
two sharp elbows prOtruded, and abou
her neck of those common red handker
chiefs sold at the stalls upon the side
walks in the poor quarters of the city.
She did not rise as she spoke, and in
moment | saw why.
She was trying to cover her bare toe
with the hem of her skirt.
"Oh, it was you who spoke ?" said,
little startled by the apparition. .r
The girl nodded.
Are you, she asked again, "the bOs
of this wOrkin' place p
well, one of them," said |. "Wha
is it?'
II want to work here said the girl
Il want TO make flowers and ge
wages
Do you know anything about it ~
asked
"Only what can see peeping in some
times" said the girl i've Jest piped
to come in and do il. Look here, il you
are the boss or one of them, think how
you'd feel if one of these days YOU wa.
drOwnin' off one of them docks and
callin' foI Gods sake pitch us a rope and
nobudy wUu 'dnt do il then holdin' ropes
the while. Nobody won't hi e me, Jest
Iookin at me is enough, and | want to
work
looked at her. The girls in the fac
tory were all respectable, decently clad
young women This poor creature
would not he fit associate for them.
The girl seemed to read my face.
"Brggars, SAYS you, is poor lot, she
said. But if l cn't work have Il
beg. did 1t while dad lived, c luse I'd
gol right to mind him, and he'd l'ck
me if didn't. Bui now amt got II
night to mind nobody, and | want Ia
work.
My heart sUftened to the girl. gave
her card from my pocket.
Come tomorrow and ask for me. y
said |. My name is there; anu see
here, have you no shoes y
| saw a tear st4rt into her eye.
That seems to cum up ag'in me the
worst of ALL" SAID she. There was n
woman would have took me to work at
the hustle place there If I'd had shoes
and stockings. I'll buy some when get
work
Itrok some money from my pocket.
you will earn very little at first,
said You will have to be taught
every thing. There are shops where you
can get things ready-made, | suppose,
Make yourself tidy. To tell the Truth, /
couldn't let you come looking like that"
The girl glanced at the money, then
took 1t.
You've throwed the rope" said she,
Il catches hold of it, but this is bor-
rowed I've given up bpggin' and I've
give up stealin', and | horror it, and |
hank you tn thousand times. And you
see if don't fix up like queen and do
you credit. Secondhand shops is cheap
it you know the ropes"
What is your name 2 | asked.
dad called me Fan, she answered.
"And what was your fathers name y
| asked
She bethought herself for a moment.
Finally she answered
81 always called him plain dad, but
most folks called him Sandwich Billy,
cause sometimes he used to be sand
wien, buy your hats Of Felt the halter,
and such on two boards, and him be-
tween them, don't you know y
II know said l.; but on the pay roll
YOU must have a name. I'll call you
Fannie Williams"
What's payroll p she asked
THE list of those to whom wages are
to be paid, said |.
"All right" SAID the gill Il don't
care what I'm put down, so that I'm put
down at all on that list. Thank you
kindly. Guod-bye." She p,ttered down
the steps.
When | saw her the next day she was
arrayed in plaid dress that did not fit
her, shoes much to large for her feet,
and the sort of hat called turban, with
queer little red feather in it. But she
had wash herself and brushed her
hair, and was fit to take her place.
She learned rapidly and had talent
for the trade, they told me.
Shortly she came to me with the sum
| had given her, and irsisted on my re-
ceiVing it,
81 know you'd give it to me free and
wilin',' she said; but when said bor-
ror, meant horror. l don't propose to
beg no more"
No one could find any fault with Fan,
but tha girls led her hard life. They
were all against he.
They had seen her going from door to
door with her bare feet and her basket,
and they would not speak of her as any
thing but ''lhe beggar girl
She felt il; but once when happened
to bs witness of her trials, she turned to
me and said
1T amt that l haven't got gIit.
could punish them, but | promised
wouldn't make no muss here, and | will
not 1he head lady over there, she SAYS
| behavin' right and workin' good, any
way"
Weeks flew by. Fan had been in the
place six months when what am about
to tell happened.
There was one tall girl, very hand
some, and who had an cir about her
that many fine ladies' do not have, who
found Fan irresi tably amusing. She
played practical jokes upon her. and
hurt her feelings every day in the mo
wanton manner.
Poor Fan was so harmless. worked so
hard, and tried so to do right. so it
seemed 10 me that | remarked 1t. She
was quick with her fingers. too, aud had
an eye for color, while Belle was lazy,
and made mistakes whenever ii was pos.
sibe TO make them.
However, she had taste in dress and
WAS much admired.
remember her on that day when she
sat with pile OF pink roses before her,
distracting the attention of young
man, who was buying for a Western
shop, TO such a degree that he could not
tend to his business, while the other
girls were green with envy.
They all clustered about table,
whence they had banished Fan, who sat
by herself near the next window.
Mrs. Selwin, the forewaman, was tx
hibiting some specimen sprays from
Paris. Amongst others, the most natur-
al and beautiful spray of what We call
fairy ire that ever saw in my life.
I'VE copy them precisely" Mrs Sci
win was saying. THE only difference
between ours and the imported is the
price"
The young buyer just then caught a
glance from Bellies great eyes, and for.
got all about the great box cover on
which the specimens were displayed.
Over it went; some of the flowers in
Fans lap, some on her head, while the
buyer, confused. said. that he had selec'-
ed a sufficient variety, gave his order
and went his way.
A lillle while after boy came in with
note for Belle, which she sal was