The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-16
"The key to unlock the gold mine

1.-THE key to unlock the gold mine,
mammal"
"What do you mean, childa"
81 went out, you know, to get away
from myself and my wicked thoughts.
As l passed along the street l de-
cided to call on Nellie White. She
was not at home, but Mrs. White in
sisted on my going upstairs. l found
her almost buried under pile of
sewing, and worrying because she
was not able to send some delicacy to
Mr.. Hatfield, who, you know, is quite
i'll at his boarding house. Mamma, l
thought of my marmalade, and said:
Mrs. White, I'll make some orange
marmalade if you will furnish the
materials She looked perfectly de-
lighted. And here l am, ready for
work"
1T was very kind to offer, Alice;
but l fail to see why you are SO ex-
cited"
"Why, you precious, stupid mann
my, mean this to be the first step to
my business life. When / take the
marmalade to Mrs. White, shall tell
her that, if she is suited, l would be
very grateful if she would recommend
me to her friends. You know / can
do all kinds of preserves and pickles,
and my canned fruit cannot be beaten,
and as for cake, it's literally angels
food" and Alice flung both arms
around her mothers neck.
my child, not cook"
why not, dearest? Surely, man.
ma, anything is better than this hor
rible struggle. am really shabby;
Helen will soon be kept from school,
unless she can have new shoes; and,
mamma, know that you have been
forced to stay in for other reasons
than because you were tired. l am
not blind, mamma, DEAR" and trem-
BILE crept into the loving voice. AS
if to hide it, Alice jumped up, and
began tossing the oranges from hand
to hand.
"You see, nanny" she said, II
shall really make these gold, and by
the same magic make apples silver,
and you shall ride in your coach"
"My brave, true girliel Come, dear,
I'll help" In little time the mar
malade was ready, and proved to be
delicious. Mrs. White was delighted
at Alice's success, though greatly
surprised at her request that she
should recommend her to her friends
as one capable of making all kinds of
preserves, jellies, pickles, canned
fruits, and cake. ea'e
The first orders came in on note
paper, and her patrons tried to ignore
the fact of having money transactions
with her when they met her. But
|
allow this attitude, and surprised her
friends by the cool, dignifed way in
which she referred to her business.
In little while she gave her friends
her business cards, on which were a
list of her prices, with the request
that they circulate them and recon.
mend her work.
Orders began to come in, and she
realized a little of the success of
which she had been dreaming. 1t
still requires close economy to live
within the income of the family from
all sources. Alice knows that her
success depends on doing her work
in the very best manner, and at fair
prices. She does not allow the gen.
erosity of her friends to assert itself
by paying her more than her work
is worth. By this method she keeps
their respect as well as her own. Her
home duties are such that she could
not give all her time to any outside
work. This that she has undertaken
gives time and opportunity to be all
that her home duties demand. Is it
easy? No. Many times she stands
flushed and tired over the stove
when her heart cries out after fresh
air and sunshine. But one lock at
the changed faces of her father and
mother, and the consciousness of how
much she has lightened their bur
dens, reconciles her to the petty trial
her work involves in comparison with
its compensation.-Outlook.
Traced by His Footprints.