Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-03-19

asking what | know of property they
are going to buy, and if / will help. Of
course I'll help, but, dear me, it's an
other long letter to be written. This is
from o member of our weekly literary
society-she wants the copy of an old
poem | read one evening. This from
some one else who wants something
else-and so On and so on"
"You can't help yourself, Mrs.
JONES'" said her friend laughing. cit
is simply the penalty you pay tor being
rich and liberal"
Helen had not taken up the new
book, finding a portion of her work
which could be carried on while she
was waiting. Having at last received
the needed instructions she returned to
her sewing-room with mind very full
of what she had heard and of some new
ideas awakened by it.
81 could do that. [ should like it,
too. Not as we'll as music, but great
deal better than ewing. [ wonder-l
wonder II people wouldn't like to hire
such work DONE"
She took time to think of it. and an
hour later she was again tapping at the
door of Mrs. Jones' room, opening it in
response to the cordial summons, to
find the lady sitting at her desk with an
expression Of perplexed WEAKNESS.
81 beg your pardon" said Helen, ap-
preaching her with little hesitation.
81 hope you will not think am taking
too great liberty, but am quick with
my pen. Father used to say [ wrote a
very plain hand, and l thought perhaps
I might be OF little assistance to you
about the invitations you were speaking
Of"
Indeed, | dare say you could, my
DEAR" said Mrs. Jones warmly. "Writ
ing notes and letters is becoming hard
er and harder to me the older | grow.
although, to tell the truth she added
with frank smile, 81 never was so
very ready with my pen. Schools in
my days were not what they ere now,
you know. and girls were not so care
fully trained about so many things.
Yes, sit down, my dear, and let me see
you write one of these invitations"
Helen selected he1 pen from liberal
variety on the desk and looked at the
note, the result OF ten painstaking min
utes to poor Mrs. Jones. How the
dear soul had hesitated over it, giving
fore venturing the first uncertain touch.
Wrinkled her smooth lore head as the
cramped little letters slowly made their
appearance.
And now the young girl, after quick
glance, dashed off the few lines Of the
invitation, as if her hand took delight in
the movement, as indeed it did, for her
pen, paper and ink were all such as any
chirographist might rejoice in using.
Dear me, how beautiful 20 ex-
claimed Mrs. Jones, in paroxysm of
generous admiration, what beautiful
hand What beautiful note 20 She
tore up her own and threw it into the
waste basket, as she got up with laugh,
saying:
''Let the sewing 60, my dear, and fin
ish those for me. [ shall be proud to
send them out"
She was fastening from the room as if
rejoicing in being set free from an I'M
pleasant task, when she suddenly
turned again to Helen.
80, my dear Miss Varne, don't you
think you could see to these other notes
Tor me too?"
81 think So" said Helen, ''if you will
tell me exactly how you want them an
swered.
For few moments Mrs. Jones sat be-
side her, giving her such information
as would enable her understandingiy to
dispose of the Wearisome mail matter.
Two hours later, after a round among
her numerous charities, she looked
over the pile of neat miSsives with great
and then went to Helen,
who had resumed her duties in the sew
ing room.
so my dear, if I only could afford to
have you for my private secretary ~
she exclaimed enthusiastically. "But
[ don't have enough writing for that,
only you may be sure [ shall not put
my clumsy hand to paper SO long as [
can have you to do what little | have to
do. And I have been telling my friend,
Mrs. Grace, about YOU"
.''You are very kind" said Helen.
'Not so very, Pm sure the kindness is
toward ourselves. Well, Mrs. Grace
wants lot of selections of poetry writ
ten out for some kind of party she is
to give, and when [ showed her your
she was charmed, and
wondered if you would be so very
obllging as to write them for her"
"But / am sewing for you,'' said
Helen, smiling.
"Never mind the sewing. You never
ought to spend an hour sewing-but [
hope you will do mine till you can do
pen lies idle"
"No more sewing" said Helen com
ing home to her mother with a radiant
face one evening not long after.
''Not bit?'
''Nota bit. It is crowded out at last.
[ am to 60 for two mornings each
week to Mrs. Jones, to attend to her cor
respondence. Every other morning
during the week is filled with engage.
ments Of the same sort with some of
her friends, and as am almost always
done II two or three hours, can under
take more work if find it, which Mrs.
Jones says surely shall.'
"And is it pleasant work ?''
"Just as pleasant as could ask Not
at all hard, and all done in pleasant
places and for pleasant people. And
they pay me well. and O, mother, I
shall have plenty of time to practice,
and little money to spare for music
lessons. shall reach my mark some
day."
"Just because you did faithfully the
first thing thai came to your hand"
said mother.
A Great Irrigation Scheme.
From the West Shore
The great Bear River Canal in Utah,