Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-09-20
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
WAYS AND MEANS.
A Short Story Setting Forth The Disad-
vantages Under Which Working Girls
Labor.

vantages Under Which Working Girls
Labor.
"Listen, girls. Here is story that
may be helpful to u.s. You know we
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 go
into some such enterprise, pray?"
Unfortunately we do not own farm,
with mortgage and berry patch upon
it," said Ellen, the oldest sister.
"But il 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 l 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. 81 only thought that the
success of this girl, under difficulties,
might be an encouragement to us to go
and do likewise, il 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 moments 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 BIS, Hetty, you
know them perfectly"
"Yes, | am thankful that know how
to bake and boil and broil; but unless |
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, am
sometimes tempted to do just that
thing-hire out to do housework, 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 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 ifhe 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
at least, as well as the boysp There is
Tom earning his seventy dollars pei
month running locomotive, witt
promise of promotion, and John doing
. almost as well at civil engineering
both of them as independent as princes
because each knows how to do on,
thing well. never see Jack shoulder
j his tripod and march off to work with
out feeling that | have been defraudet
of something, because | was not com
!. PEELED to learn some trade, or business
that would make me as Independent a
he is. And can any body tell me wh
girls should not have the privilege O
earning their own living, if they wan
!, it as well as their brothers?"
"Girls are expected to secure hus
bands before they arrive at the matuy
[ age of twenty-five, you know, Hetty
( isn't that reason enough?"
n mo, it is not. There are not hu.
d bands enough to go around in this cour
{ try, and many women must live single
whether they choose to or not. And
5, would not be such dreadful thing to
VI cenSihla oirl IN ba callad m old uoa;d
t. she had some business, or profession
+ with which to occupy her head an
y hands, and support herself. This fo
r. ever waiting, Micawber like, for som,
thing to turn up, is what makes s
g many women miserable and useles
N And there are many kinds of work fC
s, women to do now, if they are only fl
" ted for it, which we are not. We ca
a not even teach district school, becau:
1, we know nothing about methods. II "
!" had been educated at the public schoo
as the boys were, we might be able
v. do so much for ourselves at least; b.
X having been finished at Madame |
vs. Vergne's fashionable seminary, we ha'
: a smattering of many things-a lit
N French and German, a little music al
&c art-while we know nothing, absolut
n ly not one thing, well enough to tea.
it.n
- ~ wish one of us had studied pha
:. macy, so as to be able to help father
the drug store,n said Nan.
an ..Why not take it up now, If "
On would like it, Nan?" said Helen. "Y,
bo are young enough, and father cou
al teach you"
II proposed it once, but he said the
were new methods in pharmacy as
% other professions, and | must take
~ course at the university II | wished
er make it a business. And that we
'r' know is impossible in the present sta
'Ss of our finances"