The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-07

time when you have become prepared to
help your mother and lead useful life.
Here's the medal, Susie, and here's
problem for you to solve. Let your
mother know the answer within week.
How can you use this money to the best
advantage by dividing it into two equal
parts and procuring something you want
very mucha Now run along DEAR" as
Susie kissed her gratefully, land think
it over"
what use is Susie to put herself tor"
asked grandma placidly. "Will she stay
at home to help you or will she go away
to teach?"
II need her help badly enough. it is
true,' said Susie's mother, land l only
wish could afford to keep her at home.
But we absolutely need the money she
could earn by teaching to help us along
until Bobbie here gets to be man."
patting the curly head Of the boy who
had crept mp to her knee. Il wish Susie
could find place in our village school"
she continued; "but they want expert
enced teachers there, so l suppose she
will have to be away from home and earn
a small salary for time"
Then the subject was dropped. and
shortly after grandma went away. Susie
thought over her problem many times
during the days that followed. One point
was settled from the first. One five
was to repay mother for the pretty grad
uating dress. Susie knew how much
her mother had herself needed new
dress, and had taken the $500 only un-
der the stipulation that it was to be re-
paid the moment another such bill came
into her hands by teaching.
But the other FIVE! Drawing, music,
more German lessons, a little trip, some
new books-which did she want the
most? All seemed so enhancing. She
pondered for days. Now she had almost
decided for music, now for drawing, now
for the books. But amid her day-dreams
there would come uncomfortable
thoughts of the need about home. and
somehow, predominant above all, there
stood out to her fancy the form Of little
Robbie, her eight year old brother, in
his tattered jacket that called 80 loudly
for a new one in it's stead. The more
that thought occurred to her, the more
it grew in favor until it took possession
of her mind to the exclusion Of all other
cherished plans. One day. before the
close of the week, she rushed into the
room where her mother sat, gave her
hug, and put her precious medal into
her hands. saying: Half is for the drese,
of course, and the other half for little
Robbie's jacket" Then she hurried off.
Just five minutes later Grandma Little
called.
Grandma's very first question. before
she could lay aside her bonnet, was how
Susie had solved her problem. When
she had learned, she dispatched Robbie
to find his sister.
"You have found splendid solution,
my DEAR" she said laughingly, when the
young girl had come. you have fire
head for mathematics. And now let me
tell you that I've been solving another
problem for you. The first thing my
daughter law said to me when went
home week ago was that she wished
she could find nice, sweet young girl
to teach her two little boys. You see
the boys are almost too bright. and learn
rapidly, and they're not very strong. go
the doctor thinks they ought not to be
confined in school. Harriet says she
wants somebody to come for just three
days a week, and she'd like someone to
help her daughter Alice, too. in her
algebra. You see, Alice is sweet girl,
but doesn't take very we'll to solving
problems, as yet. | told my daughter
in law | believed knew just the person
for her. Do take it, dear. You can ride
there on the cars in fifteen minutes each
day, you'll get good salary. be with
nice people, and you can keep the place
for years. Then you can be at home
with your mother half the week besides.
and help her ever SO much. What do
you think of my solution of the problem
my child?"
Il think you have splendid head for
mathematics. grandma" said Susie. as
she and her mother together laughed
and almost cried for joy.-Mary r. Die
fendorf, in Neav York Observer