The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-08-22

"I.itte daughter, do you suppo c, poor
as | am, that want you to do boys
work2" said her father.
But wilful Mollie was not to be re-
pre- 'sed by su,h an argument she pleaded .
for her pet idcC-which, truth to tell, |
she had been revolving in her busy little |
head for some time-until her parents |
finally agreed that she should take upon /
her the lice Of errand girl as soon as
vacation time came. During the inter-
vening months she must work industri |
ou,ly at her books; rather a disappoint- /
ment to Molly, who had hoped for a
more speedy delivery from her irksOmc
tasks. You see, Mollie was not book
heroine; though bright and energetic,
she was as wilful as her own curly locks,
which no comb could reduce to order,
and in her young days she hated every
book save the one great volume nature
spreads before us, with every changing
season. But she hal tenacity of pur-
pose few 6irls possess; the work she
wished to enter upon was but the first
step toward final purpose, so she went
back to her books with renewed deter
mination, until her parents congratulated
them elves with the mistaken idea that
she had forgotten all about her odd fancy.
But she had not forgotten it, aud she
came dancing in after school, on the clos
ing day, with an air of eXuberant gaiety
which her mother could easily account
for.
"Please ma'am, will yon give the err
rand boy jumble," she began, giving
her mother an ererg tic hug as she spoke.
I'm glad you are happy, child" said
Mrs. Ramsden, rather seriously, "but
what do you suppose the other girls will
think of your fancyf
"Why, of course they all think it's
nice for me to help father" responded
Mollie, unconcernedly, 'all except Belle,
and she doesn't count, cause she thinks
everything is uuladylike except sitting
around in fine clothes and doing art
needlework.n -
"Well, it's a queer way to spend your
vacation, child,' said her mother, but
you'll make up for it by working extra
hmd at your books when schools begins
again"
Molie smiled to herself, for she had
decided in her own. mind that her re-
lease from school would be final, but she
did not contradict her mother. And as
time passed on, people became accus-
toned to the sight of bright-fa ed
girl with a ma of rampant brown hair,
spring,ng in and out of delivery wagon
with business.like agility, or taking or
ders re ative to eggs and butter with a
grave attention worthy of an expert
cnced commission merchant. Molle was
wonderfully improved, everybody said !;
she had lost her boyish anguarity of
manner, and she actually displayed some
interest ia books, to her mothers great
astonish nent And she was so bright
and helpful, so full of ideas and enthusi-
asm, that even dignified Belle, whose
ambitions began to tend toward that in
definite Woman's Sphere which is al
ways written in capitals, invited her to
one of her own particular luncheons.
But as Mr.. Ramsden's prosperity in
creased, so that hired help became a me-
cesSity and right, Molhe was seized
with the fear that she might, after all,
be shorn of her dignity as business
woman, and brought back to her old
prospects; scholar nova teacher in
the future. She had not by any means
given up her original pro 'ect-she gaied
into the florists window as much as
naRRR she had managed to strike up
intance with the big, good
Eoprietor o, that enchanting
place. so, when one morning she re-
ceived the news of her retirement from
active business, and was told-very ten
derry, it is true-that she must prepare
for school again, she took the informa-
tion very quietly, and asked leave to
go out for walk. Her request granted,
she trotted down street, until she came
to the fascinating window, gay now
with big roses and starry narcissus. She
stood looking at the flowers for min
ute or two, trying to regain her ilutter-
ing breath; then walked boldly in to
where stout Mr.. Colby stood punching
buds ana blossoms into dinner favors.
"Well, Miss Flora, have yon come to
help us along" asked the florist, with a
paternal smile.
"Oh, | wish ! could" her carefully
prepared speech slipping entirely out OF
her mind, as such things have an ex-
asperating habit of doing. ''Mr. Colby,
do you-don't you want girl to sweep
up and stem flowers, and do little things
in the greenhouse"
''Well, | don't know about wanting
any girl" answered Mr.. Colby, with &
comfortable chuckle, "but | think
want you. I've been watching you foi
year past, and like the way you Skin
in and out of the wagon. You look like
business, and you seem fond of our line,
so I'm ready enough to try you, Though
| guess folks will think it queer at first,
for there isn't another florist in town
who employs girls"
"Oh, Mr.. Colbyl If don't work and
do my best'-and here Molly choked
down some hysterical tears, and turned
deep crimson with her mingled feel
ings.
"Well, you just talk it over will
your folks, and if they're willing, why
/ guess they know I'd do the fair thing
by you, responded the stout florist al
, he impaled a poor rose with piece o.
wire 50 as to twist the stem the way j
) didn't want to 90.
} Mollie renewed her thanks, and then
after a brief survey of the sunshiny
greenhouses, which she already looked
: upon with the calmly critical eye Of
professional, she started home, enriched
by little nosegay of Roman hyacinth
and Marie Louise violets
That evening the was a lengthy dis
, cussion in the Ramsden household. Poo
Mrs. Ramsden, she wanted to drill Molli
into prim little school ma'am, and her
was her perverse duckling taking to tn
water in spite of maternal wishes A