The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1889-08-02

around to the public school to kape her
out O the way"
School for Rhoda!
Nell seized upon the idea greedily, as
something which in q dim mysterious
manner was to ~differentiate Rhoda from
the denizens of the alley and give her a
place among the children she had seen
outside; the children whom in her envy
she had jeered ut as "big bugs"
She (Nell) was to continue. unques-
tionably, a part of the life of the alley,
but Rhoda was to take her place in the
world outside.
The heart of poor depraved Nell
swelled-not with envy, but with pride.
Three years more passed. In school
Rhoda easily outranked the children of
her age.
Absorbing unconsciously something
of responsibility, the saloon with its
brawling men and womeg, the saloon,
which was to Nell the incarnate idea of
life and pleasure, became to Rhoda in
tolerable.
IL hate it, Nell; the drinking and the
fighting! 1 wish we didn't live here"
The words sank deep into NelT's
heart, though she could not sympa-
thize with the feeling which prompted
them.
Day by day she pondered. She set
=
tied her plan doggedly before she ven
tured to unfold it to Mistress Murphy.
"I'm goin' into q laundry to work. Me
an''Rhody is going to take a room and
live. You're good to us, but it's the
drinkin' and the cussin' an all, Rhody
can't stand"
Now, Mistress Murphy's theory that
"what'll kape onell kape two," while
plausible enough as a theory, had failed
in the testing. She had not only con-
sented to Nell's plan; she helped her
with such disabled furniture as she
could spare.
And now for seven years Helen of
Troy had been the bread-winner.
1t had been no light struggle, but
somehow it had been done, and Rhoda
had never known that the dinner-box
Nell carried daily to the laundry was
often carried empty.
"Rhody is goin' to graduate next. I'm
havin' her a lovely new dress made, n
she'll look as good as any on EN- said
Helen to the girl who worked next to
her in the laundry.
EYES, an'yell drop down dead in yer
tracks before the day If yc don't stop.
It's worked to the bone we are now wild
sindin' Rhody to school! She's nc
better to ccme into the laundry an earn
her livin' n We are"
The old spirit of. Lay a hand OF
a Rhody m I'll scratch yer eyes out,
flashed from the eyes of Helen. 1t wa:
only for a moment; the years hat
taught her to conquer.
"Rhody's goin' to be a teacher. Tn,
board has promised her q place as 500.
asshe graduates. She won't never hay,
, no such struggle as I've had. Pm goin
{ to take it 9 little easier, too. when sll,
gifts SO she can take care of herself"
YES" muttered Bridget, If ye'rt
alive. It's many's the day I've seen yt
iron all day wild an empty stomach.
I'll warrant Rhody didn't study widout
a'bit of somethin'."
"Rhody didn't know, Bridget.
would not want she should"
Commencement day it was whispered
that the girl who led her class was
Bills daughter; that by hard study she
had worked herself up from the life O
the slums.
But what mention Of Helen? "An,
more of Bills family !iving?" inquired
a guest.
Yes, one. She's only a laundry girl
Can't read nor write. 1 should hope i
L were Rhody, she would not find il
convenient to be present to-day"
1t had not been convenient" With
tervered face and CLASSY eyes she lay on
her bed at home.
Il guess L tainted or somethin', to.
day, Rhody. It was hot %ironin', and !
was SO tired"
She never went back to the laundry.
Three months later, when Rhody was
fairly installed as public school teacher,
Helen, of Troy, Nell, of the alley,
folded her tired hands, no longer red
and swollen, and went to rest-a hum
bic, unknown life went out. With
patient toll she had lifted a human life
to a higher plane. "Thcy also serve
who only stand and wait" Who shall
estimate her work? "Only a laundry
girl" but her influence may be felt