The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-26
Poor Miss Goldman.

"a, Poor Miss Cookman was really very
much hurt. She had written to Mrs.
Marsh asking if it would be agreeable
for her to have Miss Goodman spend
several weeks with her during the
summer, and Mrs. Marsh had indica-
ted positively but firmly that it would
not be convenient.
Miss Cookman was lady somewhat
past her prime, whose life had been
passed in various services, and who
was Just now without employment.
The old lady for whom she had been a
companion was with her relatives, and
did not need Miss Cookman for the
summer. Miss Goodman had a COM
Portable sum in bank as resource
in old age, but she was constant in ad-
ding to it both interest and principal.
Mrs. Marsh eked out her husbands
slender income by various Industries.
One wear she took summer boarders,
but this proving very hard work, ana
as she was frail little woman, the
next year she boarded horses in her
capacious stables, hiring man to
care for them. At this she made more
money than in taking boarders, and
found it easier. The old rambling
country house in which she lived was
delightful place, but it had not been
planned with reference to convenience
i'm doing house work, and the addition
of permanent guest was a burden
too great for her to undertake.
Failing i'm this proposed visitation,
Miss Cookman wrote to Mrs. Parsons,
whose hospitality she had often en-
loved, and asked if il would be agreea-
HE for her to spend several weeks
, with Mrs. Parsons. She could help
with the house-work, and not be bur-
densome. :,
Mrs. Parsons lived in the city in a
pleasant but very quiet way. me
sofa in the parlor served the transient
sorlest as a couch at night. Mrs. Par
SONS eked out her husbands slender
income by taking in sewing, and thus
provided herself and her family WIN
q great many comforts they could not
otherwise have had. Miss Goodman
had spent several weeks with her at
various times in previous years, ana SO
hospitable and sympathetic had she
found Mrs. Parsons that she had no
idea what burden she had been, Sc
cially and financially. But this prop
osition of Miss Goodman was received
as Mrs. Marsh had received it. 1t
wonId not be convenient for Mrs. Par
SONS to receive q guest for several
weeks.
Poor Miss Goodman was indeed
very much hurt. She had never kept
house herself, and she did not know
ANYTHING about the cost of having a
ynest in the family for days together
cost of which the pecuniary element
is one of the least in Importance. Ihe
parlor during her several weeks pro-
posed stay at Mrs. Parsons would be
her chamber in it company must, be
received, the girls must practice their
nusic lessons, and all in the presence
of a third person. unless this third
nerson should retire. The reunions
Of the family at the table would lose
all their private character. and take
on for the time a clearinghouse at
mosphere. And in addition to the
extra work and expense made neces-
sary by the enlargement of the entire
periphery of family life, there was a
constant sense of door left open on
the street, or a section of the side OF
the house taken out for time, which
was anything but pleasant. For Miss
C,ookman was accustomed to comment
quite freely on the circumstances and
necuiiarities of families she had been
in by way of entertaining those she
was visiting, a species of entertain
ment which Mrs. Parsons did not par
ticularly enjoy.
At last Miss Goodman did what she
should have done in the first place
procured a situation where she was
rightfully dependent upon herself and
independent of friends really poorer
than herself