The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-12-07

old poem read one evening. This from
some one else who wants something else
and so on and so on"
"You can't help yourself, Mrs. JONES'"
said her friend, laughing. at Is simply
the penalty you pay for being rich and
liberal"
Helen had not taken up the new book
finding portion of her work which
could be carried on while she v rs wait
ing. Having at length received the
needed instructions she returned to her
sewing-room with mind very fall of
what she had heard and of some new
ideas awakened by it.
81 could do that. / should like 1t, too.
Not as well as music, but great deal
better than sewing. l wonder-I won.
der, il people wouldn't like to hire such
work done"
She took time to think of it and an
hour later was again tapping at the door
of Mrs. Jones' room, opening it in re-
sponse to the cordial summons, to find
the lady sitting at her desk with an ex-
preston of perplexed weariness.
II beg your PARDON" said Helen, ap-
preaching her with little hesitation.
81 hope you will not think am taking
too great liberty, but am quick with
my pen. Father used to say / wrote
very plain hand, and 1 thought perhaps
might be of little assistance to you
about the invitations you were speak
in,y Of"
Indeed, / dare say you could, my
dear" said Mrs. Jones, warmly. "Wri-
ting notes and letters is becoming harder
and harder to me the older / grow, al.
though to tell the TRUTH" she added
with a frank smile, 81 never was so very
ready with my pen. Schools in my day
were not what they are now, you know,
and girls were not so carefully trained
about so many things. Yes, sit down,
my dear, and let me see you with one of
these invitations"
Helen selected her pen FROM the lib
eral variety on the desk and looked at
the note, the result of ten painstaking
minutes to poor Mrs. Jones. How the
dear soul had hesitated over it, giving
her hand half dozen little whirls be-
fore venturing the first uncertain touch.
How she had screwed up her lips and
wrinkled her smooth forehead as the
cramped little letters slowly made their
appearance.
And now the young girl after one
quick glance dashed off the few lines of
the invitation as if her hand took de-
light in the movement, as indeed it did,
for her pen, paper and ink were all such
as any chirographist might rejoice in
using.
"Dear me, how beautifulw exclaimed
Mrs. Jones, in paroxysm of generous
admiration, ''what a beautiful hand!
What a beautiful motel" She tore up
her own and threw it in the waste basket
as she got up with laugh, saying;
LET the sewing go, my dear, and fin
ish those for me. 1 shall be proud to
send them out.'
She was Fastening from the room as if
rejoicing in being set free from an un-
pleasant task, when she suddenly turned
again to Helen.
"Oh, my dear Miss Varne, don't YOU
think you could see to these other notes
for me too?"
81 think so," said Helen, 'tif you will
tell me exactly how you want them an
swered."
For few moments Mrs. Jones sat be-
side her, giving her such information as
would enable her understand ngly to
dispose of the wearisome mail matter
Two hours later, after round among
her numerous charities, she looked over
the pile of neat missives with great
satisfaction and then went to Helen who
had resumed her duties in tho sewing
room.
SO, my dear, If only could afford to
have yon for my private secretary"
she exclaimed, enthusiastically. "But
don't have enough writing for that,
only you may be sure shall not put my
clumsy hand to paper so long as can
have you to do what little have to do.
And / have been telling my friend, Mrs
Grace, about you"
"You are very kind" said Helen.
"Not So very; I'm sure the kindness is
towards ourselves. Well, Mrs. Grace
wants lot of selections of poetry writ
ten out for some kind of party she is
to give, and when / showed her your
hand writing she was charmed, and won
dered if you would be so very obliging
as to write them for her.
''But am sewing for you," said Helen,
smiling.
''Never mind the sewing. You never
ought to spend an hour sewing-but /
hope you will do mine till you can do
better. Take up the needle when the
pen lies idle"
''No more sewing" said Helen, coming
home to her mother with a radiant face
one evening not long after.
"Not bit?"
mot a bit. 1t is crowded out at last.
am to go for two mornings each week
TO Mrs. Jones to attend her correspond
,nce. Every other morning during the
week is filled with engagements of the
same sort with some of her friends, and
Is i am almost always done in two or
,hree hours can undertake more work
f 1 find it, which Mrs. Jones says l
surely shall"
"And it is pleasant work?"
"Just as pleasant as could ask. Not
vt all hard and done in pleasant places
md for pleasant people. And they pay
We we'll, and o, mother, / shall have
,lenty of time to practice and little
money to spare for music lessons. I shall
each my mark some day."
"Just because you did faithfully ths
irst thing came to your hand" said
nother.--Sydney Dayre, in Chicago
Standard.
Jef Davis as a Pioneer.
"The first saw-mill ever built in Wis.