Daily Republican., 1890-02-15
FITTING HERSELF IN.
BIT SYDNEY DxYnr.

Br SYDNEY DAYRE.
"Weli, there's one thing certain" said |
Alice Barnes, "I'm not likely to get
much unless 1 got It for myself. And
there's another thing very uncertain, and |
| that 10, how I'm TO do It Pve thought ]
AID thought shout It; aud the more |
think, don't eco my way. ALI tho wise |
folks nowadays are writing aud talking |
about girls doing for themselves. They |
say, find out what you can do best, and |
then do It.
"But can't do anything best-that Is,
any Of the things toat people can make
living It. I can't teach, and can't
write st0ries, nor do astonishing fancy. |
work. I can only do the common, every |
day things; AMI father wouldn't let me
go away from home to do those, even II I
wanted to. which DON'T"
| Alice was situated exactly as great
many young girls lud themselves. Tho
old ct girl In large family with slen.
der income, she hal picked up moder-
ate amount Of schooling and had done
plenty Of work. She could play little,
paint little, and sew and cook great
deal. The younger children, for whom
she had given willing service. were now
growing old enough to assume their own
shares Of the household burdens; and
Alice began TO Ind time to think OF
thlngs which she wanted, and things
which she would like TO do II only che
knew how.
II want more books and 1 want more
clothes; and father has enough to do
without my looking ~ him. Oh, dearl
wish had boon brought up to some
thing regular 10 do; but how could
be?J
With q tender thought OF the toll-worn
, mother, whose right hand she had been
all through these years Of struggle, she
took up monthly magazine which had
strsyed into her way.
Around the Fireside. This Is Just the
kind of thing I'D like to have. It's full
Of good talk about girl's helping them
selves; and, ten to one, before the year
was out, might get some suggestion
that would show me way. But
!. couldn't afford 1t any moro than could
Hy."
In turning over the advertising pages
. her eyes fell upon the terms OF sabscrIp
(: tion.
y "And one to the getier-up of the
= club There, now, might try that.
could do any amount Of walking abou
aud talk. Five subscriptions and then
should have it. It's no harm trying
10 think and to act meant one will
o Alice; and 1t was not long before she wa,
y entering the house Of one Of her neigh
: bors In the little rambling country town
: MAY come IMP" she asked, pausiuR
|. at the door.
"Oh, dear, yea, Of course you can, Mis-.
If Alice, If you'll oaly excuse the mess I'm
ip. set aside all my other work to-da,
= to see II couldn't Ak over the children
last summer hsts--millinery costs &C
much, you know, when there's four Of
'em, and myself, too. though everybody
knows don't spend much on myself
But the girls 10 gettin' little iussy sine,
they've grown 90 big, and it's hard t.
suit 'cm any more; and the same way
with their dresses. They want more fix
Ings about 'em, amt satlsfed no mor'
does plain sewing, but thinks theJ
ought to have regular dressmaker. At
dollar a dayi Now, look here at this"
With all her sympathy for Mrs.
brakes perplexities, Alice could mol
help smiling at her wooden arrangement
of ribbons and flowers.
LET me see II could twist that into
any better shape" she said, taking thu
hat out of Mrs. brakes hands.
"Oh, you're so good, Miss Alice
There now,-ii you haven't the real mil
liner touch. Some folks can do any
thing they sets their hands to. amt
bit of knaek myself."
"Oh, Pve had TO have knsek," ssit
Alice, laughing. ~ have tribe at hom
to do for. Mother never has time 10
such work, like you. But don't 20,
think some book like THE would hell
YOU ON such things, Mrs. Drakef l
gives q lot Of Information about doinI
things at home"
"Bless your heart, Miss Alice' neve
have u moment for reading, even II
could afford tho money, aud | can't
But l do hope you'll have good luck
My! ALT you made that hut look JUS
s'. like 4 now onel" -, i,
"Yes, that looks something like,
said q hslf-grown girl, jlst then entering
the room with look Of great diheonten
on her pretty lace. II Amt going Il
wear this dress 10 school any more
mother"
.Why nots" asked Mrs. Drake.
"The girls laugh a. it. They say tina
looping up In the back looks Ike I
: ploughed field" 3,
"Dear mel worked aud fused hal
n, day over that" said Mrs. Drake, look
as ing ruefully at the expanse OF snaried- vi
M | put8. II Couldn't MAKE hean VI .a'
>. how that bought pattern meant en- u
70 GO
ID "Trip them out. Katie" said Alice
n. "snd can draIe 1t for you In lev
a. moments, II you'll let me
ens snow did you ever exclaimed Mrs
At Drake, -, under Alce's deit fhse's,
4 few graceful loopfigs tooi tho place 0
10. the pufis. Then with directions Tor
Nd little pressing, she said eood-by, amid
''' shower OF edmiring thanks hom mothe
= and daughter.
Alice took her waf to the rouse
young Mrs. Garde, WHO wss ono Oh he
good friends.
" "Y,s, IN take the BOOK Around III
iFircside. I'd take dozen BOOKS II the.
W. would show me any way 10 'nahe .nl.t
to q little smoother aluHni my hfes'ue' al
hands ase so tied wis these t"o Gu
dren that have NO ime 10 see TO IN az
in the kitchen; aud il bad, a0nt d
l.eve things would te much oott
s, We're ising this io.lo1est KIND OF
W. life. Frank ID hsli ak hies, ~ y,
tine, and I'm beallL,Le 10 link "e vi