Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1893-03-31
AN EASTER CARD.

nNO, JEAN" Said Hester IaitOH,
With some energy, ..y0u need not
Rad eternal Goodness to me; ! am
not ID the spirit for it. When Whit
tier wrote that ! suppose he meant
Whist lie said, but what does a man
like that, whose life had always been
plaold and beautiful. know OF a life
like mine? What faith l used to
have seems to have dropped from me
like 3 cloak; and | am not quite sure
sometimes that | believe IN anything,
anybOdy--but you," she added, sec
INK the hurt look upon Jeans face.
The speaker was a young girl. She
was only 10, but her face was old
and sad for her years She came near
being beautiful too. but there was a
GOODNESS about her face, as II she had
reprcssed and held In check all softer
and Rentler emotions.
Her sister Jean was as unlike her
~ possible. No n would think OF
calling her beautiful, and vet her face
had Just what Hestcr's lacked.
Her eyes were gentle. and of a soft
hazel, while Hester's eyes were black.
Jeans hair, too, just suited the
eyes; 1t was light brown, and broke
INTO little rebellious curls about her
face. Hester's hair was black, and
she was tall and full Of dignity.
Jean hardly knew what dignity
meant, in regart to herself, SO sell
dom lid she practice IL; she was too
small, and 50 Hester, although the
youngest by three years, always took
the lead.
They were quite alone, these two;
without near relatives, and few
friends.
They had but little time for friends
Tor life with them was Il very earnest
thing, In which there were no half
holidays
They had been in Chicago two years
now, ever since the death OF their
father.
Hester had been induced to leave
their home in a neighb0ring town, by
seeing an advertisement in . Chicago
paper for u tlrst.class bOOk-keeper.
She had had a very complete educa.
ti0n, and this was one OF the branches
she had mastered, more to please her
father than for any thought that the
knowledge would ever be Of use To
her.
She started that day For Chicago,
TO answer the advertisement in per.
ron. II was but q short journey, and
Ia q few hours she stood In the pri.
vate Office OF u large dry goods cstab.
lishment
She had but u short time 10 wait.
The senior partnero Of Metzon Il Metzou
was sorry. but they had secured a
b~O0k-kecper that morning. Did he
know OF any vacant position Of the
kind? Hc did not; he was sorry K
disappoint her, etc, etc.
She went out and telegraphcd fol
Jean to come. They would have q
better chance here to earn a living
she knew they could find something
20 do, and anyway, they must DO to
gether.
Jean came full OF hope, and to
gether, they had tried to solve thi!
dificult problem: How to live in
large city, without friends and verl
little money.
IT was more difficult than either o
them had expected, aud when aftel
the first week the money began Il
get low, and still there seemed to b,
no chance Of getting employment
Hester locked into Jeans face ant
wondered what they should do. Blu
the following day Jean got a position
o. trimmer in a small millinery es
tablishment. How elated they wer,
over this piece OF good fortune!
Hester, ton, had better success, .ap5
secured the place q .6oE-ee3pcr in
book store, 49, Very modest salary
y trus, ~ the firm was not u larg'
ut together they earned enough
% keep them In the simple way II
which they were contented to live.
This was two years ago; they ha,
been busy years, a constant struggle
with no play.time.
II would give 1t up. Jean, and g
away to the country, for somebody
hired girl, only II we stop for a week
We shall starve," said Hester, bill
torly.
"Don't get blue, dear" answers
Jean. II am head trimmer now
and my salary is to be raised mex
month"
1t was this same evening, a dreary
drlzxling night in January, tina
Hester had Slipped, coming HON
from work, and sprained her ankle 8
badly that Jean became alarmed, an
getting her land-lady to go with hel
she had gone for q doctor. one who's
name she had found In the director,
and who happened TO live ncal
Fortunately he vas at home, an
went back with them at once,
Poor Hester, what hard lessons !
patience she had to learn! VIVA
sOmbre views OF life she took. Life
with its straight unswerving paths
It's selfish human nature, and 1t
weary, endless strife for the might
dollar. She wondered sometime
what would become OF them, wit
her hands idle.
But Jean always cheered and con
forted her, reminding her OF the exit
salary, and pretending not to drea
the future 10 the least.
Tonight she had been rcadir
Whittier aloud, to hclE mako Hest.
forget her own thought Is and h,
own suffering.
eternal Goodness" was one
Jeans fayorites and she had ju
read:
Il know not whore His Islands Lift
Their fronded palms in air;
only know. ! cannot drift
Beyond His loye and care"
whom Hester interrupted her so IL
patiently.
Don't think / am cross, Jes
DEAR she added. 1T is only tn
constant struggle; 1t Is enough to U