Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-04

down any longer. mean to show him tina,
l can work as well as any boy or man"
| "What do you propose to do, my dear?"
'Oh. any thing I'll clerk, or run errands,
or keep books, or sell papers-any thing but
sitting still at home"
II you are bound to do something, think
you might keep pas books; that would save
the hire Of one man"
After little debate this was decided
upon IS the best thing for the present for
her to do.
The next morning at the breakfast table
the subject was preached to Job.
80, poohl poohl the ideal A woman
tinker with my books; get 'em all mixed up
so I'd have to hire an expert TO undo her
work She don't know enough" These,
and similar expressions Of doubt, were his
| replies.
But let me try, papa, let me try it, in
sisted Sadie
"Oh, what can women dos" asked Job,
scornfully "Their place is at home; sew
ing, cooking. and such work is all that
they're fit for"
All, hal Mr. JOB, and so you display
! your Ignorancel That's an old-fash-
| toned idea about women. The question
! today is not "What can women doi'
II
women can not do7" The eminent Mr..
Thackeray says, that "Any woman who has
not a positive hump, can marry whom she
pleases." To-day we may go further and
lay down the fact that "Any woman of ordi-
| nary ability Chump or no hump can do or
be whatever she pleases."
She is the kindest of doctors and nurses,
the straightest of accountants, the best of
u 60 Lo, L..
front rank in every business or profession
that she has yet attempted.
The result of Sadles coaxing was, that
Pa Jonson allowed her to take part of his
books home for weeks trial. At the end
of that time he was forced to acknowledge
that women could keep books; and in two
weeks he had discharged the hired book
keeper, and Sadie was duly installed ID
bis place. Sadie and her mamma saw by
the appearance Of the stores books that the
business was in bad state rather rue
down at the heel Every body owed them,
and they owed every body. But while their
debts mast be paid to Keep up the creG;s,
their debtors would not, or could not pay
them.
Here was Mr.. Jones, charged with five
dollars for tobacco. fifty cents for sugar,
etc. There was Smith, debtor to twenty
five dollars for sundr!es, etc. Smith and
Jones being notorious dead-beats, of course
their accounts were utterly worthless. In
deed, 1t was time there should be new
management, for few months more of the
old, and the firm would certainly have been
swamped.
The Dash system was at once instituted !;
one clerk was dismissed, and Volatile
second daughter-begged so hard to be
allowed to quit school and take his place.
that her wish was granted. And would
you believe iti Jane, the third daughter,
made such a to-do about Viola's promotion,
that she, too, got clear-vowing that she
would take the place of the delivery boy.
and deliver the lighter packages.
Mr.. Jonson staid around the store most
Of the time; but for all that he might as
well have been home trotting the baby
Still, he kept up the appearance of manag-
ing the concern, while his young working
AmaZons were the real power behind the
counter.
The new management had been working
about year. The debts were fast dissolv-
ing before the clear-headed and economical
management and cash system, when a
cloud began to threaten the financial hori.
ION.
The young men of Winona began to whis-
per together at their clubs.
'fBy Jove," said Charley Brown fwho
was sweet on SadIe), ''ain't those Jonson
girls trumpsP'
'Trumps!" exclaimed Ed Lightner (also
sweet on one of the sisters). swell,
should remark they arei They're regular
gold mine to old Jonson."
The girls suddenly found themselves way
They were invited to every thing, and had
beauX by the dozen, until affairs began to
look dangerous to business in interests, and
they called meeting of the three eldest
daughters of the family to consider what
should be done.
Viola was chairman of the meeting, which
she called to order, and stated the sense OF
the meeting.
"Sisters and fellow-glrls; the enemy are
after Us. We must prepare to repulss
them. Our work is not yet done; we can
not afford to break ranks and go over to the
should like to. Therefore, l move that we
form a consolidated union to resist the
charms of certain land uncertain) young
persons in the enemy's ranks until our
debts are all paid, and the mortgage on
papa's house Is removed"
THAT great BOBBY of Jim Shanks al
most proposed to me last nght!" broke In
Nell aged fifteen.
Don't revile the enemy" said Viola;
"we may have use for them some day in
the future. AS for me, I've been parrying
with couple of them for some time past"
Some of the others had also been at
tackled; so the result of the conference was,
that they all agreed not TO engage them
selves until after the debts were all
cleared.
Affairs glided along smoothly for several
years under these arrangements. Papa
Jonson was good-natured and happy, as all
indolent people are when they have but lit
tie to do. One day Sarah came into dinner
flushed with excitement and joy She held
in her hand the notes and mortgag on their
home. She had Just paid the lasc of it, and
they were finally free of debt.
glr. Jonson patted her on the shoulder,
called her his little business manager, and
bestowed other high compliments upon her.
OF late he has not been heard to say:
"Oh, what can women dor' But in
stead, he was one day overheard
saying to neighbor Jackson (who, by
the way, is nearly eaten out of
house and home by big family of lazy
boys) Il say, jackson, I've got a good rule
for getting on in the world
"W hat is it!r asked Jackson, who is not
much OF a success, financially.
RAISE daughters" was the laconic but
expressive answer.
In fact, Papa Jousou was as proud of his