The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-04-21
MY CHOICE.
ny STERLING KANE.

morning my cordial salutatiOn Gavo her
q start.
Good morning, Mrs. Polly! How arc
you; aud how arc you getting onT'
swell an hearty, sir, thank Godl
Able TO make my Twin, support my
blind gal, pay my debts, aud keep my
SELF respectfully" aud she gave n low
old-fashioned courtesy, while smiles OF
contentmons radiated from under her
starchy sun bonnet.
You're n cheerful spirit, l take it,
Mrs. Polly. 1t does me good to SEQ
YOU
"ies, sir, l am. I found out q good
while ago it's a good salvo for a sore
heart is a busy par O. hands. Some
folks cultivates irowns and grumbiin',
but that makes trouble worse instead Of
helpin' it."
And you're making good living, are
you, Mrs. Polly"
THANK God, l am. cir. Las week l
done unusual we'll, an my old leather
purse is right considerable pulled up
five dollars in it, an | give q poor neigh.
Dor 4 dollar besides. Putty good, sir,
amt it, for n sixty-fye-year.old par O.
handP. Why, fer q fact, sir. Pm get
tin on better than when my old man
wa Twin an workin' hard to keep me
like q lady. l was sickly them days;
now l got my health. Providence does
the right thing, sir, every time, but We
mustn't try 70 COPE with Him"
I'm glad you're prospering, Mrs.
Polly! l like to sec honest good folks
like You and myself get on well. But
how did you make so much last week? '
->-"Washin', sir, sellin' milk, an maxim
pants"
Why, are you n tailoress?"
Indeed. sir. l am-learnt my trade in
war times, sewed fer contractors, an
got cheated bad as the government did.
Same sort O. rascals is Twin an doin'
business these days. l meet up with
'em all tho time in my work, but poor
women can't help themselves, you
know. But I'm well an hearty, thank
God! an | mustn't stand here a.talkin'
no longer. l must git 10 them shirts O.
yourn, an when you git married. air,
I'll do up your weddin' shirt sweet an
white as q lily. Good mornin', sir"
| gazed after the g~ray-haired, bent old
form in which such n grateful, cheerful
spirit, toiled and moiled, with no leisure
for the aches OF idlencss or the discon-
tent which accompanies ease and in-
dolcnce. With all her hardships and
privations, Mrs. Polly found life worth
living; why not I?
There was many aleague between tho
worldly blessing of her lot and mine,
but when had l we thanked God for
the health l enjoyed, and for the
privilege OF working. What needy or
afflicted ono was there in all the world
supported by my labor and sacrifice?
The old laundress, garrulous as che
was, had taught me n beautiful lesson,
and l did not regret having set her
tongue going.
l called that same morning on Mrs.
Richey, whose attorney | had been for
several years. As it was Il business
call, | went in early-about 10 o'clock,
| think. Mrs. Richey was n wealthy
woman. with nothing to do but lavish
money on her only daughter, Miss
Henriette, who was a belle in society
aud had many %suitors for her hand and
fortune. As l sat in the library wait
ing for Mrs. Ricley 1 unavoidably over
heard Miss Hcnriette talking to tho
servantmaid in tho dining-room. More
potulant, disagreeable tones never fell
on my ear, and l thought to myself il
all young ladies are like the fashionable
Miss Richcy it will be many a day be.
fore Mrs. Polly will polish a shirtfront
for my wedding.
Miss Henrietta was evidently in o bad
humor. People who have nothing to do
ore often afflicted this way. Tho young
lady was dissatisfied with her breakfast,
to which she had Just sat down. Sur
feited seltlshncss is apt to be cross and
hard to please. This is what | heard
from Miss Henrietta:
"Heavensl what n horrid breakfast!
Why was not fresh coffee made for me?
And you know, Kate, | hato chops and
toast. Toll the cook ii she doesn't mako
me on omlet in five minutes she'll lose
her place. l never saw such 4 house!
Nothing goes right. You all seem to
forget that a person has to eat after
dancing all night. I'll have n house Of
my own some day, and it'll be run as q
house ought to be rum"
There was silence for q moment when
Miss Honriotta's troubles again uttered
themselves. Take tina. glass away,
Kate, and got me a thin one. and when
old Mrs. Polly comes around give hor
those common Glasses-tho old wretch
will DO glad to get them!"
AZ, pi,ha,, npI T oro,nalnJ ~ b,,,;
ness. In u few moments l again heard
from the dining-room EXPLANATIONS OF
disgust and WEAKNESS. "Oh, dear, I do
wish mamma would get q housekeeperl
Such doings rs we havoi'
The next thing the young lady came
sauntering lansuidiy into the library.
She assumed 4 bewitchiuG smile when
she saw me, and one might have taken
her for the sweetest and gentlest OF
girls, robed as she was so daintily in n
sott pink morning gown quite covered
with lace.
To my salutation, "How do you do
this morning, Miss Henriette?" che an
swercd: ION, miserable! I'm go sorry
the ball is over, and Pm SO sleepy, aud
I've had such an atrocious breakfast I
feel like tearing everyb ody's eyes out"
With despair the belle dropped into
n huge easy.chair. crossed her silver
slippered feet and began humming one
OF the waltzes to which she had whirled
half the night. Finally, half y!awninG,
she exclaimed:
"Oh, lie is sometimes such q grind
and bore! But, by the way, Mr.. Good
row. are you going to Mrs. Rattlehead's
reception this EVENING"
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