The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-11-20

see nothing but to resign ourselves to
the prospect of being hopeless dyspep-
tics. 1t makes me feel so good-for.
nothing, too. You will never make
such q failure when you come to the
real duties of life"
Don't talk so, said Alice, shaking
her head. Why, | was just making
up my mind that | am good for nothing,
can do plenty of things, but they're
not the kind that can make my living
by, unless ] 90 regularly and hire out,
and don't want to do that so long as /
have good home"
"Of course not. 1t seems pity"
said Mrs. Garde, with a sigh, " that
Just such abilities as yours couldn't be
fitted in somehow to places where they
are needed"
"Oh, don't put book at me-" said
the mistress of the next house at which
Alice called.
"Why, Mrs. Warner, what is the
matter?' asked Alice, in concern, as
that lady, after placing chair for her,
sat down and burst into tears"
"Oh, it's my eyes troubling me again.
Your book would do me no good unless
you came and read it to me. And
books are not the worst part of it, al
though it's hard enough not to be able to
read. But look at the mending-basket,
piled up with two weeks mending. |
try to do little bit at time, but ii hurts
my eyes so | can't go on, and the doctor
says they will never get well unless |
give them perfect rest. Why" she
said, half laughing, " bad to pin the
children's clothes on this morning where
the buttons were Off"
Never mind the pins, but do take
care of your eyes" said Alice. 1t is
real trouble, and | am sorry for you.
Let me read you one Of these stories.
Or perhaps you would rather | did
some of this mending. Do let me help
you little. 1t wouldn't take me very
long to do that whole pile"
"Of course it wouldn't, you ale so
quick and handy. How fortunate you
are, Alice-eyes and strength, and so
bright and smart. You can do any
thing you want TO do. Yes, you my
do it--if you'll let me pay you for it.
And you don't know what blessed help
it will be. No, you shan't touch them
unless you'll agree to it,"
can't get anybody to do" continued
Mrs. Warner. Alice laughingly con-
scented, and settled herself at work.
" | sent for Sarah Crandall, the other
day, to come and do up odds and ends
for me-that's what | must get some
body to do for awhile now. And she
sent word that she'd come in three
weeks. She's always engaged ahead.
What is the reason, | wonder, that you
can't find folks to do the little useful
things just when you need them most?"
Alice walked home with some new
ideas in her brain.
" haven't made up my book club,
but | wonder if / haven't done better
than that. | believe it's just as they
say, there's enough to do of what | can
do if it only could be fitted in. I'm
going to try if | can't fit myself in some
how"
A week later she said
" Mother, Pm going to work"
I" suppose so. You're always at
work"
" But 1 mean Pm going to earn my
own living"
Not away from homer"
" Well, partly"
q" Alice, you can't. Haven't | often
said you shouldn't go away as long as
there is home for your"
"Don't be frightened, mother" said
Alice, laughing. MY goings won't
be serious. I'm going two days in the
week to Mrs. Garde's to bake and to
wind up her housekeeping, so that it
will run smoothly between whites. Pm
going one day every week to Mrs. War
ner's to mend her up, and half day
to Mrs Drake's, whenever she wants me,
to be hat-trimmer, dress-draper and
toucher-up in general. Do you think
that what | can do at home the rest
of the time will pay for my board and
lodging?"
{" think it will"
"What | earn outside will clothe me
and good deal more. So | am self
supporting; for, when any of these are
done with me there will surely be 9TH
ers to whom l can fit in my work-Syd-
neu Duure, in Christian REGISTER.