Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-06

eyes, ''but don't see where you are TO get
paid for our board"
"Of course am making an outlay; Pill
tell you whatfor presently. just want to
make you understand first that it is not on
you and julia; you are fairly to earn your
board. Now for my plan; / am crazy to
start cooking and sewing-school for poor
children, because 1 am persuaded that big
part of the misery OF poor homes comes
from the women not knowing how to cook
and sew. l want you and Julia to take week
about managing this for me-"
:" But, Mrs. Hoffman, we can't cook or
sew ourselves" said Sophy.
''Thats one more objection than ] gave
you leave to make, but pass it by. I'm a
splendid cook, and a first rate seamstress,
and can teach you and Julia quite fast
enough for you to teach the school. Now,
don't give me any answer till you have talked
it over with Julia"
The only answer Miss Sophy could make
was a soft KISS on her friends hand. What
she and Julia thought of the plan needs no
! telling.
BY one of the little inner wheels, ''work-
! ing together for gOod'' in Gods blessed
providence, Mr.. Parsons was ready to accept
the proposal at once. There happened to be
at this very tune q saleswoman out of en-
ployment, whom he desired to secure; he
promptly accepted the ''two half girls" and
| engaged the second woman.
Mr.. Hoffman never again, as long as he
| lived, saw his wife look ennuied or dull.
Anybody who has tried to cipher out one
page of that great life-book, ''what can do
to help" knows how rapidly other pages
unron themselves, clearly and distinctly,
before the eyes. This cooking and sewing
school brought along in it's train unnum-
bered other things, here and there, that
seemed crying out to be done, and Mrs.
| Hoffman's days were full She kept her
promise about not spelling her husbands
! home life with the presence of her pro-
teges. A long room that had been intend
ed for her laundry, but which she did not
use, as her washing and ironing were
done out of the house, was partitioned
into kitchen and dining-ro room, where
the cooking class took their lessons in pre-
pairing and serving meals. A little table in
| this dining-room was set apart for Julia
| and Sophy themselves, and though they
could not be expected to devour all the food
prepared, they kept such part of it as they
wanted, dividing the rest for the children
to take home.
The two teachers had a bedroom in the
third story, and adjoining it sitting groom,
where the sewing class gathered. This was
| taught after dark, and the cookng-clasS In
the afternoon, in order to catch the public
school children, and, as matter of fact,
mothers often came to both In the morn
ings, besides getting ready for their after
noon and evening work, Mrs. Hoffman
strictly required each girl to spend an hour
or more in the open air; and as there was
material for both classes to buy, and a
great number Of proteges to be "looked
AFTER" this law was readily obeyed. Mr..
Hoffman's part Of the scheme was paying
for the materials used and the teachers
salaries, and he emphatically declared that,
simply from a selfish standpoint, it was
one of his best paying investments.
But all earthly plans are liable to Interrupt
ton, and it looks very much as if Julia
was soon to desert this charming work.
Her ''young man" has been promoted, and
declares it is high time she was cooking and
sewing for him.
'tBut that will only leave room for some
other pale faced girl to get her color back,
under your goodness, Mrs. Hoffman," says
Julia, her own cheaks showing at this par
ticular moment red enough for two girls
| Elizabeth p Allan, In Interior