The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-10-31
MISS PEMBER-
TONS PRINCIPLES.

but only one of them avOwed princl-
pies, or the principle, and that was the
property of Miss Pauline. Miss Girl
selda had never subscribed to it-opcn-
ly; neither had she ever opposed it
openly, which was probably the reason
the Pemberton household struck out
siders as "the dearest, contest, most
peaceful little dOve-cote that eve was
Miss Griselda, sitting quietly night
after night on one side Of the student
lamp which stood on the center table,
with her noiseless knitting needles that
never clicked nor stopped, even when
she talked-partly because she never
talked-seemed even more placid b
she was by the contract Of Miss Pau
lines extreme restlessness on the other
side. Miss Pauline herself declared
that Griselda excited her.
Sitting still all evening and every
evening, like a dumb clockwork knit
ting machine, may be good for the poor
folks that get the stockings" h COM
planned, but it's mighty hard O Il the
poor folks that have to live with the
machine. For me, it's a matter Of prin-
ciple to stir about some. Sister. would
you please let that man or woman,
whichever it Is. be a few minutes be-
midland in getting that stocking, and
tell me what you think we ought to do
about hat child? This Is the third
meal she's had from us, as I suppose
you've kept count"
Annie Bergen, sitting at the tiny
table in the tiny kitchen, finishing the
last crumbs Of a meal large out Of all
proportion to the table, the kitchen,
and, indeed, to everything except the
appetite that attacked 1t, heard herself
called that child" with a vague sense
Of alarm. She slipped down from her
chair, walked over to a loo between
the kitchen and the living room. knock
ed gently. and too waiting for an an
swer that did not ome
She was a short, 'stocky" little girl
Of twelve or fourteen. neatly and not
so very shabbily dressed, whose face
might be described as honest looking"
Miss Pauline's voice drowned the sound
Of Annie's knuckles on the door.
mo. l don't want you to leave it to
me. You know my principle-never to
encourage poor people to get something
for nothing. If I was rolling in riches
I'd think the same. But l haven't the
heart, either, to turn a child away
hungry"
Annie heard that-could not help but
heal it, for she had pushed the dooropen
without ceremony. "Please could I
work fer me board?" she inquired in
one anxious breath. lest Miss Pauline
should say something which. like the
not be recalled.
"Gracious, child. say 1t slower!"
Gould l work here for me board ?
Mother told me to ask, and say she
could keep me home nights If you
hadn't anywhere to let me sleep. l
can sweep and dust. and make fires,
and wash dishes, and redd up the hou re
real nicely. I've tried so many houses
to get work, and nobody'll believe l
amt too little"
"Annfe," said Miss Pauline. slowy
and jud1cially, I'VE don't need any ona
to help us. l told you that yesterday.
md the day before, when you ASKED.
and we've not grown any more feeble,
nor the work grown any heavier, since
then. But if you are going to come
here till it does, and look hungry every
time you come. l don't see that we can
do any better than to let You do some
thing for your meals. It's not my prin-
ciple. though. to let any N work for
me for nothing. If you're going to be
worth anything. you'll be worth a dol
lar a week to us. and you can have
that and your meals
That's your doinGs," said Miss Pau
Inc, severely, to Miss Griselda. after
The radiant Annie had departed. NO.
yOu dldn't say anything. but you look
ed. You don't feel about these thiags
the way | do. We're Just giving that
child work ont OF charity, and slr.
! knor's /. an rs tha worst 'hing in The