The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
WHAT SHE DID.
Duties Faithfully Done Opened the
Way to Better Things.

"But you must keep up your music,
Helen"
Il don't see the way. mother, do you?"
swell, I've been thinking about it,
and l have come to the conclusion that
by sending away the girl and cutting
things down to the lowest point OF
economy, we can manage 1t. Then you
can finish your school course, too
"And who would be doing the work
while practiced and went to SCHOOL,"
81 would"
"Dear little MOTHER" Helen laughed
as she fondly kissed her, sit would be
joke, sure enough, to see you undertake
ing the work for all these Children
but you know people always con-
trive to do what they have to do, some
how, Helen"
Eyes, but I've been thinking, too. It
Is who must continue to do what l
have to do. What have to do is SIM
ply to go to work and earn my own liv-
ing, and help you, too, little sooner
than | expected to, and I'm afraid in
different way from what hoped"
"Why, Helen, what is there you can
do until you are ready to teach music?"
''That's just it-what can -"
"You have very good general educa-
Zion"
Eyes, but as have gone on depend
ing on music for my bread, have just
brOwsed around among studies, choosing
what liked best, and not keeping to
any regular course. So can't teach in
a school,
"But it seems to me, Helen, there's
nothing you can't do" said her mother,
patting the hand which lay over hers.
81 can do good many things that
don't seem to count for much to make
money with. can cook, but don't see
my way to make business of that. l
can write good hand, but you remem-
Der father never liked the idea of nv
going into an Office, and anyway there
are dozen applicants for every situa-
ton of that kind. l can keep house,
bat can't afford to live at home and do
it-could get place as governess for
little children | suppose, but then I'd
have to go away from home. which
couldn't endure and you couldn't
either"
''NO indeed" said her mother, tighten
ing her grasp on the hand.
81 can do fancy work. but the market
Is overcrowded. can sew-yes, can
sew"
Swell, what of that?" asked mother.
"When l made those breakfast caps
for Mrs. Long she said she often paid a.
dollar and half day for sewing not
so nice as mine"
"Well!" said mother, a little i'm
patiently.
ga dollar and half is good pay"
s'YOu don't mean that you would 90
out sewing, Helen?"
81 think would if I couldn't find any
thing else to do
Mother protested, while Helen laughed
and called her proud, adding:
"But won't do it if l can help nv
self. I'll try first if there's any thing
polite for me-
She did try, but at the end of week
came to mother, saying: "I'm going to
sew for Mrs. Gardner JONES'"
"Youn break down your health,
Helen" said mother in a last HELPLESS
objection.
''No 1 won't. I'm to work only eight
hours a day and it's long walk going
and coming"
She never let her mother guess, brave
girl that she was, how hard to her seemed
this looking forward to going among
strangers to do work so different from
what her taste would have suggested,
giving up Indefinitely the studies she
loved. Even to herself she would not
acknowledge the keenness of the hurt,
but wisely trampled down all but the
reflection that it seemed the one thing
for her to do now, and she would do it,
and do it as we'll as she could.
There were cOmpensations-who of us
has not found them in the heroic facing
of duty? 1t was a bright room in which
she sewed and Mrs. Gardner Jones
proved herself an agreeable and kindly
task mistress, pleasantly Disgusting the
directions she gave under cloak of sug-
gestion and always ready to defer to
Helen's taste and Judgment, often sit
ting for chat with the young girl and
never failing to treat her as an equal
Mrs. Jones was lady rather beyond
middle age whose one daughter married
and left her, and she had motherly
feeling toward all young girls.
''Come in, come in" she said one
morning when Helen had gone down to
her morning-room to receive some direc-
tons. Eyes, there's somebody coming,
but never mind, its my young friend,
Miss Miner. Miss Helen Varne, Miss
Mi-cr. Sit down, Miss Varne-there's
q new book. No hurry about the work,
we'll see about that later"
81 just ran in to tell you." said Miss
Miner, shat can't write those invita-
tons far you. gave my hand little
burn this morning"
Sorry, poor thing, for your hand.
But, o dear, what can do without its
help?" The lively little woman held up
her plump ones in despair.
81 suppose you will have to write
them yourself"
"Yes, and it will take me the whole
morning, while you could have done it
In haif an hour, you are so quick with
your pen. And that isn't all shall have
to do. 1t is getting more and more of .
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 lock at all these. Here's
one from lady who is interested in q
cause that don't know any thing about
except that it has great many friends.