Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-06-05
TRUE PRIDE.
Story of a Brave Womans Battle
with the World.

what? 10 out to service? Nettie
Cabell. have you lost your senses?
Where is your pride?"
I'm the right place. aunty. There is
no need to draw hair-splitting distinc-
tions. If ! engaged as music teacher,
wouldn't that be going out to service?"
"Yes-that isl should call it obtain
Ing situation. But chambermaid!
A nurse! The idea is positively shock
ing"
my dear aunt, am neither afraid
nor ashamed to dc what am best fitted
to do, can not teach music; and if l
could, tho field is full, at starvation
wages; to say nothing of the merciless
din into sensitive ears all the day long.
Look at Mildred. When night comes
she is fit for nothing but a restless sleep
of hideous crochets and quavers. No;
art is we'll enough for those that have
calling that way. l haven't"
"But your lovely stories! They"
Are in the publishers hands, and l
must bide my time. II could manage
to live upon pleasant fancies, might
wait till their merit is decided upon.
But l must keep the wolf from the door,
will not be dependent upon my mother.
She must take care of the others. If
my friends oppose re, shall be sorry;
but nothing else is left for me-"
IF you could only be content to wait.
Or if you could get sewing to do"
''Sewingl Yes, that is eminently re-
spectacle, I grant you; but break my
back and spoil my eyes? No; can not
sew; but ! can clean up room and tidy
parlor without smashing the bric-a-
brac. i can take care of little children,
for / dearly love them. l shall not de-
grade myself nor my friends. There
must be families where / can find a
home and the kind of work that pre-
serves both health and temper. pre-
fer to be nursery governess, and this
is what shall apply for; but if fail,
then shall not be too proud to take the
other position"
"Why don't you answer some adwer-
tisements," persisted the aunt; 'the
papers are full Of them"
81 have written up at least quire of
paper. in that way" said the girl, who
seemed to be armed at all points; land
as to car fare, have squandered four
dollars these two weeks, running here
and there, with hundred others, only
to find my services respectfully de-
clined. could not be shop-girl. The
battery of eyes in position so public
would confuse me into a regular nonen-
tity. can not sell books, or peddle
cosmetics, or push my way into public
offices and private dwellings. | have
not the courage, nor the address. And
am truly thankful to have escaped the
necktie- making, the envelope-address-
ing and other like tortures"
"Well, there is the Young Women's
Christian Association. What are they
good for, if not to find employment for
such as you-a refined, educated, we'll
born grip"
"There you go, auntie, on your usual
hobby. Refined, well-born paupers are
only too plentiful. One thing is sure-lf
there is any evidence of good birth in
me, it is the desire to achieve some-
thing myself; not to be drone simply
because the things / can notdo are out Of
my reach and those can do seem be-
meath me. l have tried all avenues.
MY name is on the books of the Y. W..
c. A. They received me with much
courtesy, and promised to remember
me If any thing should come in their
way; but meanwhile, 1 prefer not to
starve. can not wait. What do you
think of Mrs. Scilly~ho starves on four
cents a day at the shirt factory, rather
than earn four dollars a week at the
laundry tubs? Too proud to keep soul
and body together"
''She is very different" contended the
perplexed elder lady. "Those publish
ers! Why can't they tell you whethe
they will accept your books? They must
know.
'.Ah, auntie, the mills of the press
grind slowly, and are not always
wonderous sure for unknown writers. 1
have no doubt of ultimate success
Till that happy day dawns must do
what my hand findeth to do
Cant you do typewriting or short
hand? Any thing but menial service"
81 have not the five dollars to pay for
lessons on the typewriter, nor the
leisure to learn, to say nothing of the
funds to buy an instrument Still less
can l undertake stenography. That OF
itself is profession. You know hoy
faithfully have tried teaching at Z b
orphan asylum. wanted an occups
that would bring me in at least adecS
living, but which would leave me Z
70 write evenings There the laborf
30 hard. and my nerves so uns
thst When sysRing came ] 81