The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-04-17
SELECTED.
FITTING HERSELF IN.

smother thing very uncertain, and that J.
how Pm to do 1t. I've thought an,
thought about 1t, and, the more think,
don't see my way. All the wise folk
nowadays are writing and talking abou
girls doing for themselves They say
Find out what you can do best, and thei
do It,
"But can't do anything best,-that is
any of the things that people can make
living at. l cau't teach, and can't writ
stories, nor do astonishing fancy work
can only do the common every-da.
thngs and father wouldn't let me g
away from home to do those, even II
wanted to, which don't"
Alice was situated exactly as q grea
many young girls tiud themselves. Thu
Oldest in large family with a slende
income. she had picked up a moderate
amount Of schooling and had done plent,
of work. She could play little, paint
little and sew and cook q good deal. Tn,
younger children, for whom she had CIV
en- willing service, were now growing ole
enough to assume their own shares of thu
household burdens; and Alice began Il
find time to think of things which sh,
wanted, and things which she would lik,
to do If she only knew how.
II want more books, and l want NOR,
clothes; and father has enough to d,
without my looking to him. Oh, dear
| wish had been brought up to some
thing regular to do; but how could be p
With a tender thought Of toil-worl
mother, whose right hand she had beel
all through these years of struggle, sh'
took up a monthly magazine which hat
srayed into her way.
around the Fireside. This is just the
kind of thing I'D like. to take. It's full
Of good talk about girls helping them.
selves; and, ten to one. before the yeaI
was out, mig ht get some suggestion that
would show me a way. But l couldn't af-
ford 1t any more than l could fly"
In turning over the advertising pages,
| her eyes fell upon the terms for subscrip.
| ton.
And one to the getting-up of the
club There, now | might try that.
could do any amount of walking about
and talking. Five subscriptions and then
should have it. us no harm trying
anyway"
TO think and to act meant one with Al
ice; and it was not long before she was
entering the house of one of her neigh
bors In the little rambling country town.
May come in?" she asked, pausin Z
at the door.
"0h, dear, of course you can, Miss AL
| ice If you'll only excuse the mess Pm In.
| set aside all my other work to day to
see If couldn't fix over the ch.ldren's
summer hats,-milinery costs 80 much,
you know, when there's four of 'em, and
myself, too, though everybody knows /
don't spend much on myself. But the
girls is gettin little fussy since they've
grown 80 big, and it's hard to suit em
any more and the same way with their
dresses. They want more tixings about
'em, amt satisfied with Jane Ann Perry's
work,-that just does plain sewing,-but
thinks they ought to have regular dress
maker. At a dollar a day. Now, look
here at this"
With all her sympathy for Mrs. Drake'e
perplexities, Alice could not help smiling
at her wooden arrangement of ribbons
and flowers.
Let me see II could twist that into
any better shape" she said, taking the
hat out Of Mrs brakes hands.
"Oh, you're so good, Miss Alice. There
now,-if you haven't the real milliner
touch. Some folks can do anything they
set their hands to. l amt bit of knack
myself"
"Tye had to have knack," said Alice,
laughing. II have tribe at home to do
for. Mother never has time for such
work, like you. But don't you think
some book like this would help you on
such things, Mrs Drake? 1t gives a lot
Of Information about doing things at
home.
BLESS your heart, Miss Alice, | never
have q moment for reading, even IL
could afford the money, and can't. But
do hope you'll have good luck. My !!
amt you made that hat look just like q
new one!"
| Eyes, that looks something like" said
half grown girl, just then entering the
room with look Of great discomfort on
her pretty face. II amt going to wear
this dress to school any more, mother"
"Why notp" asked Mrs Drake.
1.-THE girls laugh at 1t. They say that
looping up In the back looks like a
ploughed aeld.
"Dear me | worked and fused half a
day over that" said Mrs. Drake, looking
ruefully at the expanse of snarledup puff,
II couldn't make head or tail Of how that
bought pattern meant ZEN to GO"
"Trip them out, Katie" said Alice, land
can drape 1t for you in few moments,
II you'll let me-
NOW, did you ever!" exclaimed Mrs.
| Drake, as under Alice's left finger, few
graceful loopings took the place OF the
putfs Then, with directions for q little
pre- ssing, she said good-by, amid show
er Of sdmiring thanks from mother and
daughter.
Alice took her way 10 the house of
young Mrs. Garde, who was one of her
good friends.
Yes, Alice, I'll take the book Around
| the Firesile. I'd take a dozen books If
they would show me any way to make
things little smoother around my fire.
side. My hands are 30 tied with these
two children that have no time to see to
things In the kitchen; and, II had,
don't believe things wOnld be much bet
ter. We're living the fOrlOrnest kind Of
life. Frank Is half sick most of the
time, and I'm beginning to think It's the
wretched cook, I. How can . man live
ON poor bread all the time and be we'll
It's sour one week, and heavy the next +;
and that's about all the variety we have"
TOO bad" said Alice. ~ wish with
all my heart ould get you good girl"
| "You can't. I've searched the entire
country. Mother has sent two or three
out from the city, but they always get
homesick and 60 back. see nothing
but TO resign ourselves to the prospect Of
being hopeless dyspeptics. 1t makes me
feel 90 gOOd-for nothing, too. You will
never make such failure when you come
to the real duties Of life"
Don't talk so," said Alice, shaking
her head. "Why, l was just making up
my mind that am good for nothing.
can do plenty Of things, but they're NO,
the hind that can make my living by,
unless 90 regularly and hire out, and
don't want to do that 80 long Is have $
good home"
"Of course not 1t seems q pity" said
Mrs. 0arde, with sigh, THAT lust suct
abilities o. yours couldn't be lifted II
somehow 70 places where they are need
3D.
"Oh don't put book at me-" said tn
mistress Of The next house 1t which Alic,
called.
| "why, Mra. Warner, what IL the mat
tsti' asksd Alice IL concern, - that isdy
altar placing chair for her, at dow
and burst Into tears.
"0l. re ny eyes troe6llng me again
Yoof book would d. ~ % good unIes
you cane md rsad y ~ NJ. And book