Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-04-16

the next day to look for work. It was
impossible for her to find a place as
teacher in the freedmen's schools.
Twenty graduates of the university are
waiting for the first vacancy" said the
principal.
She went to the large retail store of
the town and met Peter Barr at the
door,
You advertised for bookkeeper,
Mr.. Barr?'
81 did did. Walk in ma'am. I'm
goin' to try a woman this time. They
come cheaper, an I'm in favor of givin'
the fair sex chance. / suppose you
have references?"
Yes; am sure you will find them
satisfactory" She turned to the win
dow to open her papers.
why, bless my SOUL" exclaimed
Barr; ''it's Betty's Polly. Hello, gal !!
Are you bookkeeper ?"
81 am sure you will find me compe-
tent, Mr.. Barr she said earnestly.
II hain't doubt of it. But it's i'm
possible Your color, child; you ha1n't
forgot that? l couldn't give you work.
Don't be worried now, gal," he said,
kindly.
You need saleswomen? Try me,
Mr.. Barr. 1t you will not trust the
books to me, let me 60 behind the coun-
ter"
Barr scanned the neat figure and gen.
tie face. | bet you'd be sight nicer
and potter than them impudent
wenches I've got there ~ he broke
forth. "But / couldn't do it at no
price, If you was behind the coun er
not customer would come before it,
Polly turned to 60 out. Barr, who
had known her since little child, was
touched by the tears that crept down
her cheeks. 81 need scrubbin' done.
could give you that!" be said.
"If can do no better / will scrub"
said Polly. But" she added resolute-
ly, 81 am fit for better work than that"
Mr.. Yeats, the lawyer, had adver-
to his Office and showed him page of
her writing. every fair, clear and bus
mess like % he said
Il can also use the typewriter" she
added, modestly.
"Why, that's just what | want You
don't belong here, I fancy; new-com-
er like MYSELF"
mo. [ was born here. I belonged
to DR.. Blake"
GA slave You're a niger? Great
Scott You didn't expect me to en-
ploy nigger" He sprang to his feet
and buried her out Of the door.
Two weeks later in such efforts as
these. Polly sometimes met with abuse
or insult in her efforts to find work, but
not often. Her mother was a favorite
with the kindly people, who had
viewed her own efforts to gain an ecu
cation and standing room in the world
with an astonished amusement, as they
might have looked at worm that was
trying to stand upright. She came
home one night aud sat down in front Of
the fire with set lace.
"YOh Civ up, darlin' ?" said Betty.
eyes, give up. There is no place
for niger except in the kitchen"
she said, quietly.
"You kin help me a lot, Polly" the
Did woman venIured, after pause.
Polly did not speak for Jew minutes.
. Mother" she said, "I'll make a place
Tor myself! It is my head that is
trained, not my hands, and I'll live by
It : I'll give you rest. You shall have
your holiday"
A week later the towns people were
to see one Of the front win
iows of Aunt Betty's little house filed
With tape, pins, ribbons, ETC., while In
the other were rows of jars Of Jelly and
pickles. They had always bought the
Jelly and pickles; it was convenient to
buy their needles and thread at the
same place. especially as they were Of
tered at a less price than at Bars great
After a month or two, when the wo-
men of the town had grown used to
into "Polly's' little shop, they
began to find there patterns, knit
hoods and O1ittnnC ond Othor 1jkt1o
rifles that Barr had never brought to
he place. Polly herself was always
1uiet, courteous, quick. Why should
one BUY jam from her and not hood
They fell SO gradually into the habit of
0uying from her that they probably
never asked themselves the question.
As years passed the shop Widened into
WOODEN and cotton stutfs, shoes, china,
etc. 1t became rival to the empori-
I'm. Polly had good taste and good |
Judgment in making her purchases.
She was satisfied with quick sales and |
small profits. Her mother gave up
work, and at last had her long-prom-
sed holiday.
Polly now has her friends and COM
0anions among those of her own people
who, like herself, are educated.
How did you find courage to make
'u1o FCdtu1O. OhO vi GuCIu dSktu u0I.
There was little courage needed"
she said. There was no reason why a
white woman should not pay colored
woman for one kind of service as we'll
rs another, or why I should not earn
my living in trade instead of III cooking.
The only difficulty was to make them
familiar with the idea.
Many of Polly's sisters in both the
South and the North. educated. modest,
intelligent girls, are searching eagerly
for work now outside of the kitchen.
Can they learn nothing from her
story?
The HomeIy Plaintiff.