Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-01-27
another volume,
keepers Guide,

announcer VOlume, entltled Inc House
keepers Guide.
''No one wants the books. & The
last woman I called on said Washing
ton wasn't her husbands ideal, andlshe
considered herself about as good 6
guide for housekeepers as the woman
who writ books about housekeepin
while somebody else did the cookin' -
Here Mary laughed Historically and
being worn out and nervous, ended by
having good cry.
''There, there; don't cry, DEAR
begged old Mrs. Fairchild, soothing
ly, "canvassing may not be your vocA,
ton, but you are bound to succeed
yet. You're energetic and willing, and
there will come turn in the tide,
Mary, before very long, I know"
Mary's tears had relieved the ten
sion on her nerves and her mother
faith in her ultimate success encour-
aged her in spite of the fears she en-.
tertained for their future welfare, and
she dried her eyes and began to smile.
"You're regular sunbeam, mott er, u
she said, kissing her affectionately,
"and I hope you're true prophet, as
we'll, and that the turn in the tide you
predict will soon OCCUR"
And yet, despite her attempt at
cheerfulness, Mary was very sad when
she retired that night, little thinking
that her darkest hours had passed and
that bright future was about to dawn
for her.
When Farmer Fairchild died he
left his wife and child in comfortable
circumstances, but little by little
their property had diminished until
at last Mary was forced to seek en-
ployment. She first tried teaching q
country school, but was obliged to
give that up on account of long
period of illness. She then tried
book canvassing, but was not fitted
for the work and was not successful,
yet, having her mother as we'll as her.
self to support, she was determined
not to be conquered by adverse cir
cumstances. She slept little that
night, and woke early undetermined
what work she would attempt next.
This question was solved in an unex-
pected way, for a letter arrived from
relative in Western city, telling
Mary she had the refusal Of position
in large department. store. The
salary, $50 month, would keep the
two until something better offered
itself.
So the Fairchilds sold their little
home and went out to the thriving
Western town, where Mary at once
began work at the lace counter of Mr..
Ha1per's store.
Mr.. Harper, a pleasant, middle
aged man, was fine manager, keep
ing watchful eye on his employees,
and he soon noticed how anxious
Mary was to master all the details of
her department and how carefully she
attended to the wants of her patrons.
Before the end of the year the new
clerk was at the head of the lace de-
partment at good salary, and at the
close of the second year she was pro-
noted to tho position OF purchaser of
her line of goods, going East thrice a
year for that purpose. Mary deserved
her good luck, yet her advance had
been so rapid that she made some
enemies, who were always ready to do
her an ill turn. But she also gained
an ardent admirer in the cashier of
the store, a rather ill-favored man of
uncertain age, toward whom Mary
had conceived IN unaccountable an.
tipathy. Whenever Mr.. Mullen came
near her she became as distant as
possible, but her shyness, as he called
it, only attracted him more to her. 1t
was only after he had declared his
love and offered her his hand as if he
were offering her great honor, that
he became convinced that Mary posi-
lively disliked him. Then, being
mean at heart, he began to hate her
and plan for her humiliation. In n
short time he became very friendly
with one Of the clerks under Mary,
fostered this girls dislike for her
superior skillfully, and finally enlisted
her did in dishonorable scheme
which he had formulated.
One day, at noon recess, this girl
WeuU u INC uOOrWalker anu In great
excitement declared that a bolt of
very valuable lace had disappeared
from the counter. The foorwalker
accompanied her to the departm ent
and began thorough search for the
missing lace. Under the counter he
found little portfolio containing two
magazines, and between these maya
zines was hidden the bolt of costly
lace.
"Whoso is this porlfolio?" no in
quired, sharply, holding up the Lace.
at belongs to Miss Fairchild," the
girl answered, readily, "but, surely.
sir, you cannot think she would steal
the lace. It must be some mistake,
although" she added, as If reluctant
ly, 81 heard her only yesterday cay
sho would give anything if it belonged
to her."
"When Miss Fa;rchill returns from
lunch tell her to como to the presi-
dents Office and you accompany her."
sold the foorwalker, tui ming away to