Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-09-10
MAKING A HOME.

more than quecr-lt Is crazy. DUST
think of girl ofyour standing and
position going to housekeeping all
by yoursclfl What will people
think? What will they say2'
Busting little Mrs. Archer was in
more of GREATNESS hustle than us
ual during this expostulation. She
did not seem to know what to do
with her hands, or whether to put
her muf1 into her satin bag or her
satin bag into her muff, or her hand
kerchief into both. Finally she de
c;ded she would put her handker-
chief to her eyes, which she did with
good effect, continuing her appeal.
"Why, my dear Annie, what can
YOU mean, really? Think OF your
lovely home and all its comforts and
pleasures? Consider your father
aud mother, your widowed sister,
your younger sister, your brothers
Think of your friend, think CT your
self 10 solitude, think
Mrs. Archer was completely over
come by her own eloquence, and for
once words failed her.
Annie Coleman, taking advantage
OF the break, came to the rescue of
her cause.
Listen, Carrie Archer, and don't
you say a word to interrupt me. Let
me tell you what | mean. To begin
at the beginning of your objections,
| admit it is queer, very queer, but !
am queer, and it is my privilege TO
be so. ] have for long time had
the theory that wnen girl grows
up TO a certain age, or perhaps |
should say an uncertain age, she
ought to go forth into the world and
have a home of her own. Ii this
comes 10 her with husband, well
and good-only there is 50 much to
follow. If it comes to her, or she
comes to it without husband, very
well and better, for her risks are not
as great, and the rates are lower.
Yes, she ought to have home of
her own, where she can rule and be
Independent. Just as long as she
remains at home she is to her par
ents child; dictated to with kind
concern in every way; troubled if she
dlsregards their opinions and wishes
ly asserting some OF her own; never
approaching that she has any right
to any such commodities. If girl
marries and goes away they give her
up, and receive her again with GER
tain respect, pay Difference TO her
new ideas and independent views. l
have seen it. My married sisters
are treated with much more conf
denca than | am, but III show my
self doubly worthy. lam not sacri-
fcing family or family pride. l am
sustaining it. | am not leaving
home and home comforts, but | am
going to them. am not deserving
family aud friends. There are too
many in our family; We need. thin
ming out, like rare plants in rich
soil-lovely Ggure, isn't it2 | am
not going into desolation. | shall
occupy my uncle's cottage in the
pretty little suburb OF Elton, and
have German maid for companion
and servant. shall read and write
all | wish. | shall visit and enter
tain in small way to my hearts
content. shall sew and sing, draw
ard dream, and, in fact, do just as l
please, exactly as please. AS to
what people will say and what they
will think, care not e.. People
always say and think what they
choose, whatever you do, aud ]
might as well De as Independent Of
their opinions as they usually are of
facts. Thereof
"Have you finished, Annie ?" ask
cd Mrs. Archer looking up very
meekly.
"Yes, l will give you one more
chance" laughed Annie.
swell, all l can say in tue end is
what / said in the beginning. 1t is
a very queer thing to do. What
does your family say?"
ooh, they rave, but am deter
mined. They do not need me at
home at all; the family is complete.
servants plenty. If 1 were poor l
should be that much better off, for |
should have one object at least-to
earn my living. believe that peo-
pie who do not need the work should
not take it and the pay from those
who do need it, so / seek for no
sphere in that way; SO, my only re-.
source is to have home, and / will
have it and keep it. Will you walk
in my parlor?'
Annie's voice broke from the seri-
Gus to the gay. She was 10 truth
queer girl.
ooh, wish, do wish you were
married, Annie |" cried Mrs. Archer
with despairing air.
"Well, / am not, nor am | likely
to be. hate men, so don't mention
them. Mercy, how tired | should be
Of having one man always around! l
never saw one yet that / would not
get talked out with in about week.
never could go out or do as /
wanted to do-oh, there are a thous-