New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-07-08
HER 0NB |. ERROR.
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
CHAPTER XII.
AT STOCKER'S.

S. AT sTOCKER's. -:-
The employment which had been, by
so peculiar an accident, put into the
way of little Ida, was singularly
adapted to her, and she took to it &C.
cordingly, very shortly becoming of so
much service to Mrs. Stocker as to
justify that lady's frequent appeals
to every one who was aware OF the
fact whether she had not known what
she was about when she chit on the
bit of a thing" as one who had just
the knack that was wanted in her
business. Whether it were so, or
whether the child's intense desire
to be employed in some pro-
ftable manner made up for
any deficiency of practice, as it did for
that Of her body, certain it was that
she did acquit herself remarkably we'll
in all that was allotted her to per-
form, and, in the actual stringing of
the pearls, out-did her mistress in
~quickness; and, what was really
valuable to Mrs., Stocker, had a re-
mariable quickness in detecting a
damaged or defective article, by the
adoption OF which into a piece OF
workmanship much time had often
been lost and trouble occasioned to
the good woman, whose sight was not
strong, and who had known the
labor OF many half day thrown
away on the unmaking, consequent
on such an error, before she had the
advantage of her little assistants
services in that way.
"She's worth all the money to me,
If it was only for that" the good
natured woman said, when recounting
the inestimable qualities of her
protegee; sit s only them that has
known what it is to spend half the
night undoing what it took you best
part Of the day to make up; and then
the work never to look as is did be-
fore.
1"The money" was no great matter,
to be sure, and there is no doubt
whatever that Ida was indeed we'll
worth it, and perhaps a, little more;
but there is this to be said-Mrs. S.
liked good living, when she could get
1T, and the child Jared more delicate-
.ly and regularly than she could posi-
bly, have done at her mothers, who,
poor soul! was quite content to see
chat her child improved by it, and
:subsisted herself upon the slenderest
of diet, that Ida might have descent
clothes, and shoes whole and water
tight. On another point, too, she was
very punctilious; she would not have
her girl neglect the little she was able
to teach her, and even strove to i'm
prove herself by such poor means as
came in her way, that Ida might in
some degree be better taught than
those with whom she now had any
chance OF consorting.
By Toms aid there was never want
ing some kind OF literature at the
lodgings in Goswell-road; it was mix
ed variety, and not OF the most Sc
lect, but beyond all compare better
than none. She learned to read, then,
with great fuency, and with perfect
freedom from any OF the bad habits
which too often clog the requirement
of that simple accomplishment; with
more difficulty she, to some extent,
mastered writing, though Ida was
never very much distinguished for her
~caligraphy, There was still a percep.
tionin it of something failed, or want
ing, though it was impossible to say
exactly what.
Needlework was out OF the question,
though the poor child made several
5hearty attempts to master it; in
arithmetic, Nelly never knew exactly
the extent OF 1da's progress, since Tom,
who was the chief instructor of the
science, usually waxed impatient Of
any delay on the part of his pupil, and
proceeded to exempl1fy the mode Of
working the sum, by which the result
being satisfactorily demonstrated, the
thing was of course considered done
though whether to the perceptiblt
ratification OF the tryo in the art
might be questioned. The gooc
mother also made vigorous wal
against the intense coc]Sneyisms with
which young Ida's conversation be
came plentifully besprinkled from he
:intimacies both at home and abroad
and this proved the most difficult
g. part OF the edecationary system, Tom
OF course, being a high authority, ant
one whom it was rather a. triumph tx
be convicted Of initiating.
But the little creature was yer,
docile and affectionate, at least witt
the only parent she could remember
and it often formed a part Of Nelly
g long fits OF meditation and self-re
ious OF her misfortune, and so full Q
pride in her new sphere ofhelpfullness
.enlarging to Tom on all she did an,
was to learn to do-that she coul
ever have thought herself wholly los
and abandoned to despair while thi
was left her.
But Ida gloried not more in he
advance of Importance than did Tor
in the fresh opportunity it gave hir
of adding to his good offices with hi
friends -Tom had moved himsaIf !
true prophet in the matter OF tn
office; the question OF his dismissa
occupying only three minutes and a
many words-'"sEYou may co." fror
Es the foreman, with an absolute refusa
to pay him for even the remnant {
time which was due, and on whic
Tom, like good general, had counted
to disburse the cabman's claim, whic
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