The Portland daily press., 1888-07-07
TWO SHIPS.
BY EMILY HUNTINGTON MILLER.
[Congregationalist.l


out stopping its quick motion, turned one
comprehensive glance upon the hat, and
said. impulsively, Like last years BIRDS
nest"
'Oh, deari' said Dolly, flushing all over
her pretty, worried. face. and tossing the
poor little hat into a corner. what is the
use any way9 We may as well give MP and
go the poorhouse first as last"
I'm never give up, first or last" said Mat.
tie. Somewhere and somehow j know
there must be something better for us, and
we are sure TO find it sooner or later: but in
the meantime can't afford to waste any of
my strength in pretending. Our clothes are
old and shabby and dingy, and it's of no use
trying to make them look anything else"
Dolly gave a sigh that touched Mattie's
heart.
''Poor little Dolly It's too bad for you I;
you're so sweet and pretty and patient. Just
wait till my ship comes in,
"An' you shall hae siller,
An wear goold ring"
Dolly smiled family.
we wanted anything. l used to believe in
that ship as much as believed in next year,
and sometimes indulge myself in dreaming
about it now, and fancying what it will
bring us"
pressed, and began folding the coarse shirts
on which she was working into compact
pile.
Are they finished?" asked Dolly.
mo; I'll sew on the buttons tonight.
I'm going out to look for our ship"
Matte put ON hat older and more openly
ugly than Dolly's, and walked down the
street with her firm, rapid tread. Once she
turned to look back at the small, brown
house that was the only inheritance her IA
Their had left to his wife and girls-a fortune
hot s..En oil lar 1.
the mother had gone also, after protracted
sickness that had consumed the last dollar
from the sale of the orchard and garden.
The coarse sewing, with which the girls
managed to keep soul and body together,
was certainly better than nothing, and was
considered a respectable resource; but, at
best it was working with starvation swing
ing a merciless lash over their heads.
She went where many poor soul has gone
with perplexities that seemed nobody's bust
ness-to the minister, No doubt, in that pc
nurious, poverty-stricken community, the
good man had perplexities Of his own, but
that only helped him to sympathiZe with
other people, and few households held any
secrets from him. The old housekeeper,
knitting on the porch, welcomed Matte
kindly. The minister was away; ''gone to
South Adams to tend funeral" but she
was looking for him every minute.
Matte went to the study, and turned
YEARLY from the rows of solemn old books
table that seemed so much more modern and
human. There was story that looked
tempting with its spicy bits Of conversation,
but this was Chapter Xxx. Then there was
a sermon, an exposition OF the Sunday school
lesson, letters from a traveller, answers to
miscellaneous hints and economies, at which
Matte smiled grimly, with the feeling that
she could open some depths Of experience in
that line herself, and at last letter from
woman addressed to the editor, complaining
that the world Out Qf lniut and N paQd
of regulating. n t@A
80 it is" thought Matte, nodding assent
as heartily as il the writer had been sitting
there in the leather-coyered chair opposite
her. AS she read, her dark face flushed, and
her breath came more rapidly. Why, here
was woman in desperate need of help, and
here was she, asking only the chance to help
her, and they were but twenty miles apart!
But then, perhaps the letter was just made
up, and put in the paper; perhaps there was
Matte threw down the paper and went to
meet the minister, who was coming in at the
gate. He smiled at her impatience, and
seated himself very amiably to read the let
ter which would never have attracted his
notice. He smiled again when he looked up
at her, and quite agreed with her that the
writer was probably fiction of somebody's
brain, created TO make forcible the undoubt-
ed truth that there were scores of women,
with beautiful homes, whose wealth brought
impossibility Of obtaining the help of intelli-
gent, dependable, care-taking servants
while there was great multitude of women
in need of homes. and driven to all manner
Of miserable make-shifts for mere llyeli-
hood. who might, If they would, supply just
this service, with mutual satisfaction and
benefit. The problem was to bring them to-
gether.
'But If the letter were genuine, my child,
what them" said the minister.
write to the woman and ask her to let me
try. should like nothing better than to be
her housekeeping; I'm born cook, and
Dolly would be Perfectly happy with two
babies to cuddle and sew for.
The minister looked at her doubtfully
81 suspect it is only the rosy side of her
work that this letter-writer describes there
must be a good many disagreeable things
about the position of cook or nursery maid.
There are many disagreeable things about
our present position" began Matte, but
Not even to the minister would she have
owned that they were actually pinched some
times for suitable food.
.'Do you think" she asked, hesitatingly,
there would be any improperly in my writ
ing to this lady to inquirer
mot in the least; will forward your let
ter with line to the editor. Why not
write here?"
And with the promptness of desperation
which alone the minister thought 1t possible
to write his sermons, and penned upon
great, square sheet brief, ladylike letter.
The minister's Endorsement was also brief,
to the effect that the writer was sensible,
practical, Christian girl, tolerably well edu-
Gated, and would. in his estimation, be
benediction in a family such as that de-
scribed in the communication signed Mrs. r.
L. Howe. While he thought it more than
probable that the case was a fictitious one,
hat alt har F,aul nf vuan
similarly situated, and the editor would be
doing good Christian work if he would put
this young woman in communication WITH
some one OF them.
The joint letter found its way in due time
to the sanctum of puzzled and amused edl-
Tor, who frowned and laughed alternately
over its contents, half disposed to toss it
into the waste-basket, but finally put it in
his pocket with dozen other documents.
1t might have remained there indefinitely,
for the editor was young man, and had no
personal interest in the domestic problem,
hut dining that day with his sister, his serene
enjoyment was suddenly disturbed by Sc
rles Of dull thumps upon the stairs, followed
by piercing screams.
"rherep' said Mrs. Lattimer, rushing
away. "She's let the baby fall down stairs (;
| always said she'd kill i'll / shall dismiss
her the minute Fred gets backw she painted,
returning with the baby. Il never draw an
easy breath except when the children are
"Oh, by the way, Florence" replied her
brother. 1--WE got hold of a solution for all
your domestic difficulties. Never say Pm
not practical again. Here are two SER
wants for you made TO order-a cook and a
nursery-maid, natives, sisters, capable,
educated. warranted by the minister; wha
more could you ask?'
Raymond, what on earth are you talking
aboutp"
ITS all here, you can see for yourself.
The fact is, I've been thinking good deal
about this labor question; and one evening
/ wrote a letter for the journal, purporting
TO come from q Mrs Z. l.. Howe, setting
forth her troubles with servants, and appeal.
ing to the host Of respectable, unemployed
women for help"
"You miserable humbugl / read it with a
sympathizlng heart and meant to write to
her myself-our cases were so much alike
only forgot it,
swell, here comes letter from a rustic
maiden, who speaks for her sister and her
self, and proposes to undertake the job.
She's in serious earnest, too, and I'm quite
impressed by her letter. Just read it,"
Mrs. Lattimer read with a critical, not to
say sceptical, air.
hI'd sooner have Bridget with all her pep
perry temper. Deliver me from superior. I'm
acknowledgements servants. intend to be
mistress In my house, and want servants
and not companions and friends"
''All right, you have my approval there