The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-12-07
WHAT SHE DID.
Duties Faithfully Done Opened tho
Way to Better Things.

well, I've been thinking ABOUT IL,
and | have come to the conclusion that
by sending away the girl and cutting
things down to the lowest point OF
economy, we can manage it. Then you
can finish your school course, too"
"And who would be doing the work
while practiccd and went to school?"
81 would"
"Dear little mother" Helen laughed
as she fondly kissed her, sit would be a
tjoke, sure enough, to SEQ you undertak-
ing the work for all these children"
'But you know people always con-
trive to do what they have to do, some
how, Helen"
eyes. but I've been thinking, too. 1t
is who must continue to do what ]
have to do. What / have to do is sim
ply to go to work and earn my own liv-
ing, and help you, too, a little sooner
than l expected to, and I'm afraid in a
different way from what hoped"
''Why, Helen, what is there you can
do until you are ready to teach music?''
''That's just it-what can II"
"You have very good general educa-
ton"
"Yes, but as have gone on depend
ing on music for my bread, have just
browsed around among studies, choosing
what liked best, and not keeping to
any regular course. So can't teach in
a SCHOOL,
'But it seems to me, Helen, there's
nothing you can't do" said her mother,
patting the hand which lay over hers.
81 can do good many things that
don't seem to count for much to make
money with. can cook, but don't see
my way to make business of that. /
can write good hand, but you remem-
ber father never liked the idea of my
going into an Office, and anyway there
are a dozen applicants for every situa-
tion of that kind. / can keep house,
but can't afford to live at home and do
it-could get a place as governess for
little children / suppose, but then I'd
have to go away from home, which
couldn't endure and you couldn't
either"
''No indeed" said her mother, tighten
ing her grasp on the hand.
81 can do fancy work, but the market
is overcrowded. l can sew-yes, can
sew"
''Well, what of that?" asked mother.
"When / made those breakfast caps
for Mrs. Long she said she often paid a
dollar and half day for sewing not
so nice as mine"
"Well!" said mother, a little i'm
patiently.
ga dollar and half is good pay"
''You don't mean that you would go
out sewing, Helen?"
81 think would if / couldn't find any
thing else to do"
Mother protested, while Holen laughed
and called her proud, adding:
''But won't do it if can help my
self. I'll try first if there's any thing
polite for me-"
She did try, but at the end of week
came to mother, saying: "Im going to
sew for Mrs. Gardner Jones'"
you'll break down your health,
Helen" said mother in last helpless
objection.
"No 1 won't. I'm to work only eight
hours day and it's long walk going
and coming"
She never let her mother guess, brave
girl that she was, how hard to her seemed
this looking forward to going among
strangers to do work so different from
what her taste would have suggested,
giving up indefinitely the studies she
loved. Even to herself she would not
acknowledge the keenness of the hurt,
but wisely trampled down all but the
reflection that it seemed the one thing
for her TO do now, and she would do it,
and do it as well as she could.
There were ompensations-who of us
has not found them in the heroic facing
of duty? 1t was bright room in which
she sewed and Mrs. Gardner Jones
proved herself an agreeable and kindly
task mistress, pleasantly Disgusting the
she gave under cloak of sug-
gestion and always ready to defer to
Helen's taste and judgment, often sit
ting for chat with the young girl and
never failing to treat her as an equal.
Mrs. Jones was lady rather beyond
middle age whose one daughter married
and left her, and she had motherly
feeling toward all young girls.
'Come in, come in," she said one
when Helen had gone down to
her morning-room to receive some direc-
tions. "Yes, there's somebody coming,
but never mind, its my young friend,
Miss Miner. Miss Helen Varne, Miss
Miner. Sit down, Miss Varne-there's
a new book. No hurry about the work,
we'll see about that later"
81 just ran in to tell you," said Miss
Miner, "that can't write those invita-
tions far you. gave my hand little |
burn this morning.
Sorry, poor thing, for your hand.
But, o dear what can do without it's |
help?" The lively little woman held up |
her plump ones in despair.
81 suppose you will have to write
them yourself"
eyes, and it will take me the whole
while you could have done it
in half an hour, you are so quick with
your pen. And that isn't all shall have
10 do. 1t is getting more and more of q
burden to attend to my mail matte-.
Not my rcal letters. you know-not tn,
writing to mydaughter and an old frieni
or two. But look at all these. Here's
,ne from lady who is Interested in a
cause that don't know any thing about
except that 1T has great many friends.
she wants a cont ibution, OF course, nd
here are other things ] would rather
give to, so must write to decline and
make II polite. H0re's one from the
FRESH Air Fund asking what | know of
! property they waIlt 70 buy, and If |