The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-30
A BRAVE GIRL.

you.
The girl, who was we'll nigh blooming
into womanhood, threw into her mothers
lap half dozen oranges. Her mother
looked up, a smile Frightening her pale
face, and, drawing the child close to her
side, kissed ue.: most tendcrly.
'Pve got some good news for you,
mother. Would you like to hear it2"
said the girl, as she removed her bonnet
and laid 1t on the mantelpiece.,
The smile that grew brighter on the
mothers face wa' the only answer made
to the query, and the girl, standing by
her parents side and holding one of her
thin hands in her own, said: "WelL
you recnllect that advertisement l
answered day before yesterday-I think
it has turned out lucky thing for me.
Pm going to leave the envelope factory
on Saturday, and on Monday I shall be
EMPLOYED in Smith 6 Williams's dry
goods and fancy store as saleswoman
at salary of SO a week. Now, isn't
that good news2"'
She leaned forward and kissed her
mother, in whose eyes the tears were
starting. -.
ssI feel so happy tonight, mother"
she said, "for hope now that we shall
be able to leave these disagreeable rooms
for pleasanter apartments, where you
can be more comfortable. There, now,
don't cry. Maybe the sunny days will
come back to us, after all. want you
to be happy, dear mother, and | am
going to make you so if | can. There,
now" she added, as she kissed her
mother again, and then went bustling
about the room like the busy and restless
creature she was, and began to prepare
the evening meal.
Jennie Wilson, although she had passed
through much atfliction for one so young,
was handsome girl, who had nearly
reached her 18th year. Her features
were regular, her eyes were dark blue,
; and her light brown hair fell back
luxuriantly in cluster of glossy curls.
Though slightly below the average
stature, she possessed a fine figure and
was graceful in her movement. Nature
had endowed her with many personal
charms, and some might have pronounced
her a beauty. Under more favorable
circumstances she certainly would have
ranked as one.
But Jennie Wilson was only working
girl, and as such she was type of that
class of wage earners of the gentler sex
which, through trial, sorrow, and often
privation, bravely fights the. battle OF
life and is seldom deserted by fortitude;
Z hopefulness, and self respect.
Mrs. Wilson, her mother, was woman
who had seen better days. She had been
. widow for nearly ten years. Her hus-
band, who was commercial traveller for
. New York firm, had been killed in q
railroad accident during one of his bust
ness trips. He had supported his wife
and dau ghter very respectfully, and at
the time. the disaster by which the wife
was widowed and Jennie was made
fatherless occurred, his prospects were
frightening, and he hoped ere long to
be placed upon business footing which
would prove sure step to fortune. But
up to that time he had applied most Of
his earnings to the support of his family,
aud when the sudden ending of his life
came the worldly possessions consisted of
5000 worth of household goods and $50
in ready money.
Although the widow was almost heart
broken by the calamity that had befallen
her, after the grief had mcllowed into a
rational sorrow for the dead husband,
she looked with eyes more loving than
ever upon her little girl and resolved to
bear her bereavement with as much
fortitude as she could command and
live and toll for Jennie's sake. "We
shall never see papa again in this world,
my darling" she said one day to Jennie,
''but he will always be with US in memory
and, in the remembrance of the love he
bore me and you, I must make the best
of our atfliction. You are my only
treasure now and shall do all can to
make your future life happy one"
At the time of her marriage Mrs. Will
son was employed in millinery shop in
the Bowery, and now that she must
again earn her bread by the toll of her
own hands she became re-employed
there. Jennie was faithful attendant
ut one of the public schools, and for sew
eral years the mother and daughter lived
very comfortably and contentcdly in
some neat apartments in one of the rlcas.
ant streets on the west side. But sick
ness came. The mother was taken Ill
with fever and for weeks she lay hover
ing between life and death.
1t was terrible blow to ,Tennie-who
had now reached her tenth year-and,
although some kind and sympathetic
friends made frequent visits 10 the sick
chamber, she alone acted as nurse and
kept 1.-The house" in order. Sever al
pieces of jcwclry had to be sold in order
to procure the money 10 pay the doctor
and purchase medicine and the common
necessaries Of life, and d.ir'ng the long
period of corvalescence which followed
the breaking of the fever. Mrs. Wilson
obtained money to meet her necessary
expenses by selling some articles of fur
niture.
II must have my rent or you must
leave here said her landlord one day.
"You're owing me over two months rent
now; so if you can't pay you mist get
out"
''I expect to be able to 60 70 work
again in few days." answered the poor
woman, who, although still very weak,
was now able to be up and about, "and
will pay just as soon as get enough
together to do so. I hope. sir"
1sNo, no; I must either have my
money or my rooms"
The words were cruel in themselves,
but the tone in which they We're uttered
was still more cruel. The unhappy
women burst into tears, and Jennie
turned to the window and looked o:t
into the street, feeling as if her heart