Wichita eagle., 1888-08-05
TWO SHIPS.

Two girls in the kitchen OF plain, oio
fashioned house were busy sewing, the elder
rapidly running a machine, the younger
trimming straw hat with odds and ends OF
ribbons, which she tried in vain to coax into
some appearance of freshness.
"How does it look, Matter she asked anx-
iously, holding it Of little, and slowly
turning it around.
Matte looked up from her machine with
out stopping its quick motion, turned one
comprehensive glance upon the hat, and
said, impuIsively, Like last years birds
nest"
''Oh, dear" said Dolly, flushing all over
her pretty, worried face, and tossing the
poor little ha: into q corner. What is the
use, anyway We may as well give up and
60 to the poor house first as last.
"ITl never give up, first or last" said
Matte Somewhere and somehow l know
there must be something better for US, and we
are sure to find it sooner or later; but in tho
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 try
ing to make them look anything else"
Dolly gave sigh that touched Matties
heart
Poor little Dolly! It's too bad for you;
you're so sweet and pretty end patient. Just
wait till my ship comes in,
AN you shall hae sirer,
And wear gooId ring"
Dolly smiled family.
THAT was what father always said when
we wanted anything. used TO believe in
that ship as much as believed in next year,
and sometimes indulge myself in dreaming
about it now and fancying " hat it will bring
uSs
Matte set the last stitches with her lips
compressed, and began folding the coarse
shirts on which she was working into COM
pact pile.
''Are they finishedya asked Dolly.
mo; III sew on the buttons tonight; I'm
going out to look for our ship"
Matte put on hat older and more openly
ugly than Doiiys, 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 father had
left to his wife and girls-a fortune that
seemed indefinitely smaller now that the
mother had gone also after q protracted
sickness that had consumed the last dollar
from the sale of the orchard and garden
L Ut CldA ScWlIS, Wilu " uiCl LIE GlIIS HAL
aged to keep soul and body together, was
certainly better than nothing, and was con-
sidered a respectable resource, but at best it
was working with starvation swinging q
merciless lash over their heads.
She went where many poor soul had gone
with pexplexities that seemed nobody7s 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 syrnpathize with
other people, and few households held any
secrets from him The old horsekeeper,
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
to find refreshment in the papers upon the
table that seemed SO much more modern and
human There YVES story tha5 looked
tempting with its spicy bits Of conversation,
but this was Chapter Xxx.
Then there was sermon, an exposition Of
the Sunday school lesson, letters from
traveller, answers TO miscellaneous queries,
household 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 a
woman addressed to the editor, complaining
that the world was out Of joint and in need
Of regulating.
$50 it is" thought Matte, nodding assent
IS heartily as if the writer had been sitting
there in the. leather covered chair opposite
her. As she read her dark face flushed and
was a 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 wal
no Mrs. e. L. Howe, and at the thought
Matte threw down the paper and went to
meet the minister who was coming in at the
gate he smiled at her impotence and
seated himself very aniably TO read the let
ter, which would never have attracted his
notice. He smiled again when he looked up az
her and quite agreed with her that the writer
vas probably fiction Of somebody's brain,
created to make forcible the undoubted
truth that there were scores OF women with
beautiful homes whose wealth brought them
nothing but bondage, because Of the impos-
sibility OF obtaining the help Of Intelligent
dependable, care taking servants, while there
was great multitude Of women ia need Of
homes and driven to all manner of miserable
makeshifts for mere livelihood who might. If
they would, supply Just this service, with
mutual satisfaction and benefit The prob
lem was to bring them together.
But il the letter were genuine, my child"
asked the minister. what them
Then said Matte promptly, II would
write to the woman and ask her to let NE
try. / should like nothing better than to be
her housekeeper. delight in housekeeping;
I'm a born cook, and Dolly would be per-
fectly happy with two babies to cuddle and
sew for"
The minister looked e. her doubtfuuy.
81 suspect it is only the rosy side Of hsr
work that this letter writer describes There
must be good many disagreeable things
about the position Of cook or nursery maid
There are many disagreeable things about
our present position" began Matte, but
stopped abruptly.
Not even TO the minister would she have
owned that they were actually pinched
sometimes for suitable food
do you think, she asked, hesitarngly,
"there would be any improperly in my
writing 10 this lady TO inquired"
Not in the least I VIII forward your let-
ter with q lins TO the editor. Why not write
herer he continued.
And with the promptness Of desperation
Matte seized the venerable goosecuiu with
which alone the minister thought it possible
to write his sermons. and penned upon
great square sheet . brief ladyIike letter.
The minister's Endorsement was also brief 70
the effect that the writer was q sensible,
practical, Christian girl. tolerably well edu-
Gated, aud would, in bis estimation, be q