Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-03-30

OR
TIE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
OR
CHAPTER XII.
AT sTOCKER S.

way of little Ida, was singularly
adapted to her, and she took to it &C
eordingly, very shortly becoming Of so
much service to Mrs. Stocker as to
Justify that lady's frequent appeals
20 every one who was aware of the
fact whether she had not known what
she was about when she chit on the
"bit of thing" as one who had just
the knack that was wanted in her
business. Whether it were so, or
whether the child's intense desire
to be employed in some pro-
fitable manner made up for
any deficiency of practice, as it did for
that Of her body, certain it was that
she did acquit herself remarkably we'll
in all that was allotted her to per-
form, and, in the actual stringlng OF
the pearls, out-did her mistress in
guickness; and, what was really
valuable to Mrs. Stocker, had a re-
markable quickness in detecting a
damaged or detective article, by the
adoption of which into a piece of
workmanship much time had often
been lost and trouble occasioned to
the good woman, whose sight was not
strong, and who had known the
labor of many a half day thrown
away on the unmaking, consequent
ON such an error, before she had the
advantage of her little assistants
services in that way
''She's worth all the money to me,
If it was only for that" the good
natured woman said, when recounting
the inestimable qualities of her
protegee; cts only them that has
known what it is to spend half the
night undoing what it took you best
part of the day to make up; and then
the work never to look as is did be-
fore.
1.-THE money" was no great matter,
TO be sure, and there is no doubt
whatever that Ida was indeed we'll
worth it, and perhaps a little more;
but there is this to be said-Mrs. S.
liked good living, when she could get
1t, and the child Jared more delicate
ly and regularly than she could posi-
bly, have done at her mothers, who,
poor soul! was quite content to see
chat her child improved by it, and
subsisted herself upon the slenderest
of diet, that Ida might have descent
clothes, and shoes whole and water
tight. On another point, too, she was
very punctilious; she would not have
her girl neglect the little she was able
to teach her, and even stroye to I'M
prove herself by such poor means as
came in her way, that Ida might in
some degree be better taught than
those with whom she now had any
chance of consorting.
By Toms aid there was never want
ing some kind of literature at the
lodgings in Goswell-road; it was a mix
ed variety, and not of the most Sc
Iect, but beyond all compare better
than none. She learned to read, then,
with great fluency, and with perfect
freedom from any of the bad habits
which too often clog the requirement
Of that simple accomplishment; with
more difficulty she, to some extent,
mastered writing, though Ida was
never very much distinguished for her
caligraphy, There was still percep-
ton in it Of something failed, or want
ing, though it was impossible to say
exactly what.
NeedleWork was out of the question,
though the poor child made several
hearty attempts to master it; in
arithmetic, Nelly never knew exactly
the extent of Ida progress, since Tom,
who was the chief instructor Of the
science, usually waxed impatient of
any delay on the part of his pupil, and
proceeded to exempllfy the mode Of
working the sum, by which the result
being satisfactorily demonstrated, the
thing was of course considered done:
though whether to the perceptible
edification OF the tryo III the art,
might be questioned. The good
mother also made vigorous war
against the intense, cockneyisns with
which young Ida's conversation be-
came plentifully besprinkled from her
intimacies both at home and abroad;
and this proved the most difficult
part of the educationary system, Tom,
of course, being high authority, and
one whom it was rather triumph to
be convicted Of initiating.
But the little creature was very
docile and affectionate, at least with
the only parent she could remember;
and it often formed a part of Nelly s
long fits of meditation and self-re-
proach--as she watched her, SO obllv-
fous Of her misfortune, and so full OF
pride in her new sphere OF helpfullness,
enlarging to Tom on all she did and
was to learn to do--that she could
ever have thought herself wholly lost
and abandoned to despair while this
was left her.
But Ida gloried not more in her
advance of Importance than did Tom
in the fresh opportunity it gave him
of adding to his good offices with his
friends. Tom had proved himself q
true prophet in the matter OF the
Office; the question of his dismissal
occupying only three minutes and as
many words--"You may CO." from
the foreman, with an absolute refusal
to pay him for even the remnant Of
time which was due, and on which
Tom, like a good general, had counted
to disburse the claimants claim, which
he had engaged to do in the evening
So Tom found himselfin the sorriest
Of plights. Mrs. Grejous sindignatior
. L I l.