The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-02-06

Miner. Sit down, Miss yarne-tbere,s
a new book. No hurry about the work.
Wen see about that later
y just ran in to tell you," said Miss
Miner, that can't write those invita-
tlons far you. gave my hand a little
burn this morning.
sorry, poor thing, for your hand.
But, y dear, what can I do without it's
help?" The lively little woman held up
her plump ones in despair.
Il suppose you will have to write
them YOURSELF
Eyes, and it will take me the whole
morning, while you could have done it
IN half an hour, you are so quick with
your pen. And that isn't all 1 shall have
TO do 1t is getting more and more of a
burden to attend to my mail matter.
NOT my real letters, you know-not the
writing to my daughter and an old friend
or two. But look at all these. Here's
one from a lady who is interested in a
cause that don't know any thing about
except that it has great many friends.
She wants contribution, of course. and
there are other things I would rather
give to, SO must write to decline and
make it polite. Here's one from the
Fresh Air Fund asking what 1 know of
property they want to buy, and if I
will help. Of course I'll help, but, dear
me, it's another long letter to be written.
This is from member of our weekly
literary soeiety-she wants copy of an
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. sit 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 was wait
ing. Having at length received the
needed instructions she returned to her
sewing-room with mind very full of
what she had heard and of some new
ideas awakened by it.
Il could do that. l should like it, too
Not as well as music, but great deal
better than sewing. wonder-I won
der, if 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 WEAKNESS.
Il beg your PARDON" said Helen, ap-
preaching her with a little hesitation.
Il hope you will not think 1 am taking
too great liberty, but am quick with
my pen. Father used to say | wrote
very plain hand, and thought perhaps
/ might be of little assistance to YOU
about the invitations you were speak
ing Of"
Indeed, I dare say you could, my
DEAR" said Mrs. Jones, warmly. "Wri-
ting notes and letters is becoming harder
and harder to me the older 1 grow, al
though to tell the TRUTH she added
with 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 sucl,
as any chirographist might rejoice il
using.
HDear me, how beautiful!'' exclaimed
Mrs. Jones, in paroxysm of generous
admiration, ''what beautiful hand!
What beautiful note!' 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, anG fin
ish those for me. 1 shall be proud to
SonQ Jnem OUT.
She was fastening from the room as if
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, ''if 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 a ound 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 the sewing
room.
so, my dear, if only could afford to
have you for my private secretaryr'
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 I can
have you to do what little I have to do.
And l have been telling my friend, Mrs.
Grace, about YOU"