The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-26
A BRAVE GIRL.

/ am not inclined to disparage the
physical bravery involved in facing bast-
ions and taking cities, but do say that
this is not the most difficult side of the
virtue, and that there are moral victories
won in daily life evincing as honorable
ana enduring courage.
Matte was the only child of Major
barley, 6 man who had done good ser
vice in the Mexican war and been re-
warded for ii by an honorable and lucra-
tive government Office.
He lived in good style in handsome
house, and Matte was generally under
stood to be as well in money matters as
she was attractive in person and win
ming in manners. She visited in the
most fashionable circles and was rather
noted for her pretty toilets and the num-
Der of her beaux.
Matte had, however made her choice.
Unreseryedly she had given her Affect
ions to Mark Tsylor,a young man OF no
particular family, bat Of handsome ex-
terror and fair business prospects. Many,
indeed, wondered at the Major sanction
ing the match; but there are always rea-
sons within reasons, and the poor father
had his private motives for forwarding
the views of the man who seemed most
in earnest about marrying Matte.
But before Mattie's pretty wardrobe
was finished, and while the lovers were
vet undecided as to whether the wedding
was TO be public or a private one Maj.
barley was found dead in bed one morn
ing, and the house of pleasant auticipa-
tions became a house OF mourning,
This was but the beginning of MIttie's
troubles. Vague but terrible rumors of
suicide and ruin began TO be heard, AM
Matte, even in the frst gush of SYM
patty for her desolate condition, could
feel that indefinable something which
expressed disapprobation as well as pity (;
but after the funeral was over she was
quite sensible that her friends and ac-
quaintances were ready to stand aloof
from her at the first good opportunity.
The world, upon the whole, is not fla
grantly unjust; it thought it had good
reason for its disapprobation. Maj. barley
had done wrong he had squandered
money not his own; and poverty and
dishOnor it refuses to sanction. In main,
il is right. And when Matte knew all,
and knew, also, that it was generally be-
lieved that her father had slunk into the
grave because he was afraid 10 face the
wrong he had done, she did not much
blame the world. She knew it must
Judge men and women on general rule.
But she did blame Mark, for he had
no such excuse. lie had made partiou-
lar promise to her and her alone. But
when misfortune does not strengthen
love, it kills it and before Maj. barley
was in mis- grave Marks behavior bad lost
something of its respect, and he soon be-
came querulous and inattentivr. Mat
tie did not hesitate long. In few dig
nified lines she gave him his dismissal,
and it was cody accepted, with very
unmanly and ungeneTous reflection upon
the dead.
Then the poor girl began seriously to
consider her future. There was absolute
ly nothing for her but the furniture of
the house in which she lived and the
halfinvitations which she had received
from her two aunts TO make her home
for time with them. One had a large
family and lived in pretty jersey vii
lage; the other was an invalid and travel
ed great deal.
She sold the furniture at auction, pal d
out of it her fathers funeral expenses
and found that she had about sixteen
hundred dollars left. Upon the whole
the invalid aunt seemed the most desira-
BILE and she accepted her invitation first.
It was the beginning Of summer, and Mrs.
Dayton was going to Europe for her
health" Matte was TO go with her, but
it was not until everything was arranged
that Matte found that she was expected
to pay her own passage. She drew four
hundred dollars and went to sea with a
heavy heart.
The next six months were simple
record of an imaginary invalids whims
aud unreasonable tyranny; and Matte
took under these circumstances her first
lessons in that knowledge which teaches,
How salt the SAVIOR is Of others bread
How hard the passage to descend and
Climb
BY others stairs"
And in spite of all Mattie's efforts and
humiliations, she did not please, Mrs.
Dayton and her niece parted at last on
very bad terms.
She had still nine hundred dollars, and
she found herself one morning in June
in New York boarding house asking
herself twenty times an hour; "What
shall do with it7" One morning she
lifted paper and eagerly ran her eye
over the wants" This paragraph sup
piled her with the idea on which rested
a very prosperous future:
"WASTED-A thoroughly artistic, pro-
fessional cook. A liberal salary giSen
and two assistants allowed. Apply, etcs. y
Now, ifthere was one thing for which
Matte had 8 natural aptitude, it was the
making of deIicacies and the beautiful
arrangement of the table.
HWhy should not learn to do this
thing?" she said. "This very day 1 will
see aboutit."
She had to make many a fruitless
walk and TO bear a good deal of imperti-