The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-30
The "TaIentS."

truSOt y II HS summary lSld1Q Was totally
unacquainted with the feeling OF utter des-
.olation that cverpowers such a visitor. 1t
is true that Clarissa was therein fact
CIarissa had insisted that / should ac-
company her. md. as we had been engaged
10 be married just one week. / thought il
best TO comply with her wishes.
1 discovered before long that CIarissa
mad a great many friends. L was intro
duced to them all, and found them-well-
very satisfaetory-there were no men
among them-but their conversation was
most singular. / did not understand il. IT,
wss so Biblical
"Clarissa." I said on my way home,
"what do our friends mean by Talents? p ;"
she looked at me with establishment. and
answered:
Thomas Peabody. where have you lived
all your iife?'
In outer darkness. until a week ago.
nv darling"
you poor dear" said Carissa. with one
of her beautiful smiles. you must come
with me 10 the meeting at Sarah Aliens,
and you will learn all about them"
"F;ut," 1 answered feebly-desperately-
gladly. II have an engagement"
Break it," said Clarissa, cheerfully.
Break an engagement L answered,
amazed.
Yes. why not?" replied Clarissa, indiffer-
entity.
/ did not like 10 say too much, but as
gently as possible explained to her the sa-
credness of ones word and fhe absolute
impossibility of breaking it. She listened
attentively. She was evidently impressed
by the Importance of he subject,
The meeting is at 4 O'Clock; you may
cali for me fifteen minutes earlier"
But. ClariSSa." I demonstrated
"Thoma peabody. / hope you are not
going TO slfish. Surely the support of
the orphans is of more Importance than
your foolish engagements
l did not quite understand how the sup
port of the orphan and the keeping of an
engagement were antagonistic, but as a
son ewk-t emphatic statement of mine TO
This effect was received with a burst of
tears, 1 Thought 1t the part of wisdom to
arrange my business so that | might be in
Gus Talents"
guished for scholarship-but i have come
away from the meeting of the Young
Ladies Auxiliary Committee" in a most
humble frame Of mind. 1t was certainly a
great shock to me to find this society of
syoung women graphing with a subject
that.yss perfectly incomprehensible to me.
Ciarissa is laooriHg with the most ex-
emplary patience to MAKE me understand
1t: her enthusiasm is beautiful, and she has
a delightful way OF teaching. / have no
doubt but that she is employing upon me
the most advanced methods Of instruction,
lTOm the hlnucESdElcH up. Il COulu HSlen u
her forever.
''Clarissa, you will have to say it all
over again. very slowly"
IL waS-the extreme of luxury-a comfort
able rocking chair. a shady porch. and
C.arissa with her sweet voice murmuring
Now. Thomas, do try to understand me
this time"
I'VE each had 4 ive-eent piece given to
us-that is the Talent"
II never knew the value of one before
anuara in . the ~ n0r~Drohnndfn
~Teen.as; you are hopeless"
light" / said. meekly.
Mary Brice boug.. a half-dozen of lead
pencils with her talent. Sarah Allen bought
pound of sugar. Ida Waters a pound of
-four, Eliza Brown a sheet of Bristol
VIVA did you buy?' interrupted,
afraid that the list was without end.
With a rretty blush and a conscious little
laugh she answered, II bought two cigars
"what-two for ) cents.'
rs 1t too much?' she faltered.
oh, no. no! What are you going to do
with them"
one for 5 cents and that John Popham
would buy the other. In that way I would
double my talent"
for If there was anybody in the world 1
detested it was John Popham. He is a
sort of far-out cousin of Clarissa's. and
presumes on this attenuated relationship
to keep dangling around her and paying
her all sorts OF unnecessary attentions. /
find him a thoroughly embarrassing young
man.
Clarissa seemed very much pleased when
began to consider what new investment
could be made with the money.
i would not buy any more cigars" /
suggested.
attention.
"You are leading young men into tempta-
ton. especially me-for, Of course. I shall
buy all the cigars that you purchase, and
shall thus eventually become an inveterate
smoker. You see it is positively immoral .
"Oh, Thomas she cried in distress. 81
never thought of that"
L knew that ClariSsa was very conscien-
tious.
please. please do not smoke the two
cigars that you have just bought of me-"
1 allowed myself to be persuaded.
II have made you waste your money
she added. contritely.
hensible.
In a few minutes Clarissa recovered her
spirits and announced that she would buy
two papers of pins with the money. Il
shall sell each pin for one cent. No one
Will Will Esaass to te PaS Z cent oRt T rna %y talent # s
an inspiration TO think Of the pins"
"Clarissa, You ought to be on Wall
street; you would make another Jay Gould
or Vanderbilt"
Thomas. | do not think you are trying
severe.
Thereupon the lesson closed. and Clarissa
decided tnat she must purchase the pins
Immediately so as 70 lose no time. "You
know Mary Brice will sell each lead pencil
for 5 cents. and Sarah Allen will make dus,
caps out of her cheese cloth and get ever
so LAUGH money for them. and Kate Peters
viii make candy out of her sugar. and Ida
Waters will bake cakes-the boys viii be
sur to buy them. you know men are SC
fond of eating-Eliza Brown will make
picture frames and paint them. Mar
garet-"
I really could stand this no longer. Sc
once more i interrupted her to ask what
would be done with all the money. Claris
- "a seemed surprised at the question. and
answered.: "Thouas. / did not know before
that you were so dull of comprehension
now listen once more" Then raising hel
voice and speaking very slowly, as though
I was deaf, she said: 1--WE shall reinvest
the money and keep on increasing our tai
ents for a month. As soon as l sell my
pin / shall use he money TO buy some
thing else, and then I shall sell that, anc
80 on for a month
More pins" / murmurred; surely moth,
ing else could be 50 profitable"
The pressure of business prevented my
seeing Clarissa during the week that fol
lcwed, but at the end of that time L founc
my dear Clarissa t-riumphantly happy: al
the Pins had been sold and the talent
had increased TO goodly proportions
IID - 49, -,