The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-02-23
GIRL HOUSE BUILDERS.
Two Minnesota Maidens Help Their
Brother to Rebuild Their
Burned Home.

A novel and interesting scene was
witnessed last fall at East ST. Cloud,
Mimi, thriving little town, situated
about 60 miles north of Minneapolis,
on the Mississippi riser. A poor wom-
an lost her home by fire. The home
was not insured. The family con-
sisted of a son about 20 years of age
and two daughters. The son worked
a part of the time at odd jobs and one
of the girls contributed also to the sup
port of her mother, but the income was
small How to rebuild the home under
these circumstances was serious
question. After some thought and con-
sideration the son arranged for sufii-
clent money to purchase lumber and
other material, and, with the aid of
some friends, who helped him at odd
times, he began the work of rebuilding
the home. But as he worked practical
ly single-handed and alone he made
slow progress, and it soon became evil
dent, especially to his sisters, that the
home could not be finished for occu-
pancy before cold weather unless help
was employed. About this time a
brilliant idea suggested itself to one
of the sisters. whats the matter"
said she, with you and aiding Jim
in his work on the home. l can help
mornings before l go to work and in
the evening after | return, and you
can work during the whole of the day,
and you can, in many ways, do the
work of a man. There are lots of
things we can do, such as holding
boards in their place while they are
nailed on, and in lathing and in dozen
different ways" The plan was sug-
gested to the brother and to the moth
er that night, but the brother would
not listen to it for a moment. The
girls were pretty, and not without adj
mirable graces. The brother was
proud of them, and he could not counte
nance anything of the kind. But the
more the girls thought of it the more
determined they were to have hand
in rebuilding the home, and the next
morning they began work, approprj-
ately clad for the undertaking, bright
and early, and no arguments or even
threats served to alter their determina-
ton.
During the first few days the novel;
ty of the scene attracted considerable
attention. but in time the novelty wore
off and the good work went forward
in a most satisfactory manner to all
concerned. The rougher work was
looked after by the brother, with the
occasional help of a neighbor or some
curious person who CHANGED to visit
the scene Of operations.
The girls occupied their time most
faithfully in mailing on the siding in
lathing and in doing the many neces-
sary things to be done in and about
the building, guided and directed by
the brother, who had had some eN-
perience in carpenter work and in the
| building of small houses. The girls
| did not confine themselves to the car
penter work alone. They assisted in
| the brick work, the chimney and in
plastering, and they did practically all
of the painting, both inside and out,
and before the cold weather appeared
had the satisfaction of seeing the house
| completed and occupied.
The neighbors say that, owing to
the good taste displayed by the sisters,
it is the prettiest and contest little cot
tage in the .town-American Builder.