Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-05-25
A BRAVE GIRL.

"There, mother; there's something for
you"
The girl, who was well nigh blooming
into womanhood, threw into her mothers
lap half dozen oranges. Her mother
looked up, smile Frightening her pale
face, and, drawing the Child close to her
SIDE kissed her most tenderly.
''Pve got some good news for you,
mother. Would you like to hear it2''
said the girl as she removed her bonnet
and lad 1t on the mantelpiece.
The smile that grew brighter on the
mothers face was 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 recollect that advertisement
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 shall be
employed in Smith g. Williams's dry
goods and fancy store as saleswoman
at salary of So week. Now, isn't
that good news9"
She leaned forward and kissed her
mother, in whose eyes the tears were
starting.
81 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. l want you
to be happy, dear mother, and / am
fn Ga
now" sha added. 90 sha 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 ailiction 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 a cluster of glossy curls.
Though slightly below the average
stature, she possessed fine figure and
was graceful in her movement. Nature
had endowed her with many personal
charms, and some might have pronounced
her 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,
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 O
railroad accident during one of his bust
ness trips. He had supported his wife
and daughter 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,
and when the sudden ending of his life
came the worldly possessions consisted OF
$500 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 melowed into d
rational sorrow for the dead husband,
she looked with eyes more loving than
ever upon her little girl and resolved tc
bear her bereavement with as much
fortitude as she could command and
live and toll for Jenhie's sake. "Wt
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 hs
bore me and you, must make the bes
OF our atfiiction. You are my only
treasure now and ] shall do all can t
make your future life happy one"
At the time of her ma riage Mrs. Viii
son was employed in millinery shop il
the Bowery, and now that she mus
again earn her bread by the toll of he
own hands she became re-employet
there. Jennie was faithful attendant
at one of the public schools, and for sew
eral years the mother and daughter liveC
very comfortably and contentedly il
some neat apartments in one of the pleas
ant streets on the west side. But sick
ness came. The mother was taken IL
with fever and for weeks she lay hover
ing between life and death.
1t was terrible blow to Jennie-whc
had now reached her tenth year-and
although some kind and sympathetic
friends made frequent visits to the scl
chamber, she alone acted as nurse anC
kept 1.-THE house, in order. Severa
pieces of jewelry had to be sold in orde
to procure the money to pay the docto
and purchase medicine and the common
necessaries OF life, and during the Ions
period of convalescence which followed
the breaking of the fever, Mrs. Wilson
obtained money to meet her necessar,
expenses by selling some articles of fur
niture
II must have my rent or you mus
leave here" said her landlord one day
"You're owing me over two months rem
now; SO II you can't pay you must ge
out"