The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-29
A FORTUNE FOUND IN A
PICKLE JAR.
CGood Housekeening.1

room that evening. The round table re-
uuced TO It's lowest terms, and covered by its
red Canton flannel spread, looked cheerful
under the drop-llght. Mother Frank sat near
the table with her knitting, her hands flyiug
onsily back and forth within the circle of
light. The invalid was bolstered up on the
shabby little lounge at the other side. The
invalid was Frances. Amy was taking
surreptitious peep at her Roman History,
and Nab was buried in pile Of account
books and paper. C'The Chancellor OF the
Exchequer," whispered Frances to ANY,
Presently the Chancellor of the Exchequer
looked up, and raped the table three times
with her pencil. 1.-THE meeting will please
come to ORDER" she commanded. Mother
Frank went steadily on with her knitting;
ANY shut her book with sigh, and Frances
raised herself on one elbow to command a
better view of the situation. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer hemmed portentously, and
rose to make speech.
"The Indians are in the habit of holding
council before they go to war;" she began.
I'VE are, so to speak, those Indians. we
are at war with our circumstances. 1t is the
noble privilege of man to triumph over cir
cumstances, yet l cannot conceal from this
assembly that circumstances are at present
somewhat pressing 1t is my painful duty
to inform you" there she made narrowing
pause, with her hand thrust man-fashion be-
hind her back. and slowly refreshed herself
with glass of water shat close examina-
ton of the books which our financial mana
ger"-a bow to Frances-'h anded to me this
evening reveals the distressing fact that we
are not making both ends meet Meet they
must and shall, and lap over both ways. The
question naturally arises, How shall this be
done? The family treasury lies before me
on the table. 1t contains ninety-seven cents.
My next weeks salary is already appropri-
ated to certain needful articles for household
use, leaving but small margin for Donnets
and gowns. What shall we do in this pres
emit emergency? l await suggestions"
There was a moments silence as she sat
down, broken only by the click of Mother
Franks needles, and then Amy pushed her
hair back over her shoulders and got up. 81
am not speech maker like Queen Mab." she
said, with candid little smile, "but think
ii would be better to say ''What can we dop''
instead of What shall we do9"
THAT was very good suggestion indeed"
said Mother Frank.
"But it likewise narrows the horizon"
said Nab again. when we come to count
our resources, we stand something like this:
II On mere arithmetical machine, by day,
at 50 much month"
NAB, dear, cannot let YOU speak of
yourself in that way" interposed Mother
Frank.
"Oh, assure you, Stone & Gambler con-
slider me so, and good thing, too; but, con-
sidering that their hours are from eight to
six, the emcluments are not grand, and am
at loss to see what more can do in the
time have. Amy must go through school,
If we have to pawn all our India rubbers.
Mother Frank has the care of the house on
her shoulders
And Frances, the good-for-nothing, has
to be waited on, and is of no earthly use,"
broke in the invalid.
Now, that's all nonsense. You know it
Is Don't you keep our account books, do
our mending, help Amy with her lessons?
Don't you beat eggs, wind our worsted, ar
range our flowers, stone our raisins?"
Ne have so many raisins!'
"The principle is the same,' said Nab,
grandly. Don't you 90 to talk about being
of no use. Now, to come down 10 business
again, it seems necessary tina. something
should be done. We have house over our
heads, to be sure, but da contraire, we have
to pay the interest regularly on the mort
gage"
Suppose you count all the possible open
ings," suggested Mother Frank.
"A good idea," answered Frances. "Plain
sewing, machine sewing. fancy work, mend
ing, Kensington embroidery, lustra painting
(any fool could do that, wood carving"
'Oh, you soar too HIGH" interrupted Nab
"Stenography, type-writing, law-copying,
lamp-tending, Photographic book
agent Qife of President Harrison, two vol
umes), automatic kindergarten, proof
reading, elocution, circular-folding. dolls
dressmaking, old ladies' mil linery."
None of these things fit u.s." said Frances,
ruefully.
Mother Frank laid down her knitting, 81
can do plain sewing and mendipg," she said
"and will help all can in any way, though
all my accomplishments are of the old
fashioned sort"
mo one wants any more accomplishment
who can cook like you." said Frances.
Mother Frank" began Amy, suddenl y.
What, dear?"
81 heard Emily White say yesterday that
her mother was too tired to do any preserv
ing this year, and she said she wished Their
was some place where she could buy some
homemade pickles."
There was another moment Of silence, and
then Mother Frank looked brightly at us
around the table. II am not sure but Amy
has hit just the very thing" she said. 81
can make pickles, can't |, girls?"
But, Mother Frank, would you go rouu
with distressed gentlewoman air, AMI carry
pickles for sale in a big basket?" asked Ma
amazed.
"Why, no, of course not: but | think i'll
made number of extra jars when did my
own preserving, 1 could dispose of them, per
haps. In some quiet way"
There's place in tow n where they go
Tor such things" said Amy, cage rly. THAT
new woman's Exchange over on Bank street,
don't you know? You can get cake, and
jam and bread, and lots of things there-all
home-made-but don't know whether they
have pickles or not"
what thing it is to be school girl, and
hear all the news" Nab remarked, coming
around and pulling Amy's pigtail. "Shall / |
make in quiries for you tomorrow, Mother
Frank"
IF you will, dear; for that is something 1
know | can do"
but won't it be too much for you, moth
er? OF course we will all help, bat it will
make you so much extra work."
mot bit too much. / like to fly around
the kitchen very much better than like
sewing, and all that combining work."
THAT was one thing we all liked about |
Mother Frank. She always said what she |
liked and disliked, and treated US as if we |
had sense enough TO understand. What we |
should have done with martyr mother, who |
smiled and looked patient and never COM
plalned, L cannot imagine.
The conclave broke up after that, and |
While Amy strapped her books together and |
laid the cloth for breakfast, and Mother |
Frank set her mullins to rise in the kitchen,
Nab gave Frances an arm up stairs, whence |
smothered sounds of merriment. accompan-
led by peculiar thud now and then, soon
announced that Nab, always in the highest /
spirits when the family finances were the
lowest, was entertaining Frances with a
ballet dance on the matted floor.
NAB came home at noon the next day. |
brlstilng, with information. II have been
over 10 the Woman's Exchange" she de-
CARED. WASHING tho 90 - do;f ind