The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-11-20
Selttteo Storp.


there's another thing very uncertain,
and that is how I'm to do it. I've
thought and thought about it; and the
more l think | don't see my way. All
the wise folks nowadays are writing
and talking about girls doing for them
selves. They say, Find out what you
can do best, and then do it.
But 1 can't do anything best-that
is, any of the things that people can
make living at. | can't teach and
can't write stories nor do astonishing
fancy-work. | can only do the com
mon, everyday things; and father
wouldn't let me 90 away from home to
do those, even if wanted to, which l
don't"
Alice was situated cxactly as a great
many young girls find themselves. The
oldest girl in large family with slen-
der income, she had picked up mod
crate amount of schooling and had done
plenty Of work. She could play a little,
paint little and sew and cook a great
deal. The younger children, for whom
she had given willing service, were
now growing old enough to assume
their own shares of the household bur
dens, and Alice began to find time to
think of things which she wanted and
things which she would like to do if
only she knew how.
" want more books and | want
more clothes; and father has enough to
do without my looking to him. Oh,
dearl | wish | had been brought up
to something regular to do; but how
could / be?"
With a tender thought of the toll
worn mother, whose right hand she had
been all through these years of struggle,
she took up a monthly magazine which
had strayed into her way.
" Aroig,d the FireSide. This is just
the kind of "A thing I'd like to take. It's
full of good talk about girls helping
themselves; and, ten to one, before the
year was out | might get some sugges-
ton that would show me a way. But |
couldn't afford it any more than could
hy."
In turning over the advertising pages,
her eye fell upon the terms for subscrip-
ton.
CSC And one to the getter-up of the
club There, now, might try that l
could do any amount of walking about
and talking. Five subscriptions and
then should have it. It's no harm
trying, anyway"
To think and to act meant one with
Alice, and it was not long before she
was entering the house of one of her
neighbors in the little rambling country
town.
"May l come in?" she asked, paus-
ing at the door.
Oh dear, yes, of course you can,
Miss Alice, if you'll only excuse the
mess Pm in. | set aside all my other
work to-day to see if | couldn't fix over
linery costs so much, you know, when
there's four of 'em, and myself, too,
though everybody knows | don't spend
much on myself. But the girls is get
tim little fussy since they've grown
80 big, and it's hard to suit 'em any
more, and the same way with their
dresses. They want more fiXings about
'em, amt satisfied no more with Jane
Ann Perry's work-that Just does plain
sewing-but think they ought 10 have
a regular dressmaker At a dollar a
day! Now, look here at this"
With all her sympathy for Mrs.
brakes perplexities, Alice could not
help smiling at her wooden arrangement
of ribbons and flowers.
Let me see if l could twist that
into any better shape" she said, taking
the hat out of Mrs. brakes hands.
Oh, you're so good, Miss Alice.
There now, if you haven't the real
milliner touch. Some folks can do
anything they sets their hands to. |
amt q hit of knock pousalf -
Oh, I've had to have a knack,"
said Alice, laughing. I" have tribe
at home to do for Mother never has
time for such work, like you. But
don't you think some book like this
would help you on such things, Mrs.
Drake? 1t gives lot of information
about doing things at home"
Bless your heart, Miss Alice, /
never have moment for reading, even
if could afford the money, and | can't.
But do hope you'll have good luck.
Myl amt you made that hat look just
like new onel"
Yes, that looks something like"
said a half-grown girl, just then enter
ing the room with look of great dis
content on her pretty face. 4" amt
going TO wear this dress to school any
more, mother"
Why not?" asked Mrs. Drake.
"The girls laugh at it. They say
that looping up in the back looks like a
plowed field"
" Dear mel / worked and fused half
day over that" said Mrs. Drake,
looking ruefully at the expanse of
snarled-up puffs. & couldn't make
head or tail of how that bought pattern
meant 'em to 60"
rip them out, Katie" said Alice,
sand | can drape it for you in a few
moments, if you'll let me-"
"Now, did you ever!" exclaimed
Mrs Drake, as, under Aice's deft
fingers, a few graceful loopings took
the place of the puffs. Then, with di-
rections for little pressing, she said
goodbye, amid shower of admiring
thanks from mother and daughter.
Alice took her way to the house of
young Mrs. Garde, who was one of her
good friends.
Yes, Alice, I'll take the book
around the FireSide. I'd take a dozen
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