The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05
and mother Ito balance" as Fife

er TO neT mOtner; DrlSHt, eHelSelic
lassie, afflicted with the American
girls mania for doing something"
The children had been cautioned
not to mention Bert's letter, SO the
chatter to which the parents listened
indulgently was OF the prospect for a
new tennis net, the new teachers, and
Baby Maidie's play house. After tea
was over they gathered in full con-
clave, for the Trumans, pere and
mere, believed that the youngest had
right to join in the discussion of
anything that affected the whole fam
lily. And what would touch them
more nearly than Bert's going away ?
"Who is going to have the first
say?" asked Louie, the irrepressible.
Mr.. Truman smiled family at her.
"You may, daughter. Say all you
are going to and then leave the floor
to the rest of us"
Louie paused, rejecting. 81 can't
think of it all now. I believe l would
rather say it in between times"
ooh, let's let Bert have the first
say" said Fife.
Bert looked up, manful but blush
ing. "You know what | think. OF
course, it's hard for you and mother
to have one of us go, but | must go
sometime, for there's nothing to do
in this little place; and now there is a
good chance; good salary to begin
on, and business one can work up in
and be learning all the time. And I
think l would better 60"
II think SO, too" said Effie impul-
sively, 81 only wish had a chance
to be earning something. And l
could, too, if l could only have two
terms from Miss Hahnemann. The
last time | was in the city she told
me that if l was farther advanced
she could give me enough beginners
to teach to bring me enough to sup
port me"
"Yes, yes, but we are talking about
Bert now," said Mr.. Truman, little
impatiently. "Let me see Crandalrs
letter, Bert. All, he wants you to
come next week. Pshawl that's too
soon. Forty dollars the first year.
You know you can't save much out of
that"
81 can send home ten dollars a
month, anyway" said the boy eager
ly. "Of course, that isn't much but
it's quite little help"
"You think you could, but there
would be constant little demands up
on your purse that you can't calcu-
late on"
Then mother spoke. "I'll tell you
what my idea is: That whatever Bert
can spare, he shall not put directly
into the family, but shall help Effie
in her music with. You know, father,
she has no way to help herself, should
it be necessary for her to do SO, and
we have always planned to have our
girls taught one thing thoroughly,
though we have been unable to carry
out our plans. And in this way Bert
will be making good investment for
nothing pays like education"
81 am perfectly willing" said Bert.
"But l don't like your spending
your money on me-" objected Effie.
"That is good and proper senti-
ment, my DEAR" said Bert, patting
her on the head. "But let that be the
last of it."
So it was taken for granted that he
was going, and the next ten days
were very busy, full of preparations
by mother and sisters, and final visits
and leave takings by Bert; for he was
very popular, and as soon as the vii
lage young people heard of his pro-
posed departure they resolved ito get
in as much fun as possible before
Bert goes"
"I'll send Effie ten dollars month,
anyway" he planned. Probably l
can save more, but I'll make sure of
the ten. That is, after this month"
He tried to imagine what his new
home would be like. He was to board
in private boarding house, and even
that outlook was a pleasant one to
him. 1t would be new experience,
and he could not see how any part of
this new life could fail to be fun
Indeed, he might almost be justi-
fed in thinking SO, for he had not
been in Morristown long before he
had hosts of friends. He was bright,
good -natured, and was one of the
people who are always ready to en-
terrain instead of insisting upon be-
ing entertained. So he was immed-
lately made to feel as one of them
selves by the young people, and it