The Republican., 1900-12-27
JENNY'S POSITION
BY Mrs. Charles c. Marble.
ENNY!" The tone was queru-

so plainly expressed upon the speak
er's face, fully atoned for it. Jenny,
! want that you should git supper to-
night"
The girl readjusted the bit of ribbon
she was placing upon a hat of rather
ancient shape, and answered only with
an impatient frown.
Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed, and
Jenny still continued in the same en-
ployment.
The mother, with weary sigh, arose
from the chintz-covered rocking chair
and moved towards the kitchen.
'Your father and the boys'll be com
ing in afore long," she said land you
know how cross they be when the table
amt set and the victuals ready"
There you CO." replied Jenny, an
grily, tossing the hat from her; "al-
ways complaining! Your time must be
everybody's time. l didn't say wasn't
going to get supper, did II"
The mother by this time was in the
kitchen, turning some flour into bowl.
Jenny picked up the hat again, and
twisted and retwisted the ribbon.
I'm determined to have this hat
trimmed for church tomorrow" she
said, aloud. Its nothing but cook.
sweep, wash dishes; wash dishes, sweep
and cook. Life is becoming almost un-
bearable."
From the kitchen, presently, came
the mothers voice again.
Jenny, amt you goin' to set the
table? You amt done a thing about
the house to-day, and I'm ennymost
ready to drop
"Of course intend to set the table"
impatiently returned the girl, having
adjusted the ribbon to her satisfac-
tion. Anybody. to hear you talk.
mother, would think you did all the
work of the house"
Welt" in weary tone. cts true,
Jenny, that you shirk more and more
every day you live. I'm the first one
up in the mornin', and the breakfast
is all done long afore ever you come
down, that you know. I'm gittin' OLD,
too, and this gittn' up Nv winter morn
in's in the cold hes brung on the rheu-
matiz mighty bad. Eff git laid up with
it, l don't see what's to become of all
of you, l rally don't"
"Why father will have to hire serv-
ant, that's ALL" retorted Jenny. For
my part, I'm about tired of poking
along in this country place, anyway.
I'm going up to the city to learn type
writing, and get a position"
The mother made no reply, but
thoughtfully, with her thumb, pressed
an indentation into the biscuits before
resigning them to the oven.
The following morning dawned mild
and sunny. Sweet and clear to the
Bently family came the distant sound
of church bells, and as Mrs. Bently
stood upon the kitchen porch. broom
in hand. the look of weariness upon her
face lightened.
II hev a notion to go to church nv
self" said she, addressing her husband.
-'We he'd such a late breakfast that |
calkerlate we kin do without dinner
till late into the AFTERNOON. It'll be a
change and rest for me, too"
Farmer Bently, who was filing his
pipe, hummed unconsciously bar of
the hymn There is rest for the weary"
amiably:
81 don't like to be throwed out ov NV
reg'lar meals, Marfar Jane. on a Sun
day no more'n ov week days, and |
reckin' the boys air ov the same mind
as me-"
"You bet!" slanged the boys, who
were backing their boots and doing
other personal chores, sit don't seem
like eaten eff you don't sot down TO
meals at regular hours"
Then I'll not 60" submissively re-
piled the mother, land maybe it would
MT hev done me no good, nohow. I'll
sot down, howsomever, and read the
Bible spell. l git a good deal ov con-
ISOLATION out'n ov it; more'n do out ov
Parson Whites sermonts / sometimes
think. The last time I went to church
he preached about the angel havin' the
key ov the bottomless pit, and about
the dragon and the beasts, and settin'
seal onto Satan. There weren't one
word ov comfort for me in the whole
sermont. Nothin' of love fer the heart,
nor rest fer the speret."
Monday found Jenny more deter
mined than ever upon seeking liveli-
hood in the city.
"Alice Brown and her sister had on
lovely new hats in church yesterday"
she said, fretfully, to her mother at
breakfast. "and l am going to earn
money and dress myself like other girls.
] am indeed! Father will have to give
me that 800 which grandfather willed
me, and before that is gone I'll be
earning $40 e week or more"
Through the mothers mind darted
a vision of her daughter dressed in
manner ill-beftting her slender means
and station in life, target for sly in
nuendoes and questioning smiles, but
she only said:
suppose, Jenny, l git sick and you
so fer away? There wouldn't be one
livin' soul to take care of me as a darter
ought, and your father will find it
mighty hard, I'm thinkin', to raise
that 500 now He hes been a-usin' ov
it, you know, onto the farm. 1t do
seem as though l hev about everything
4o haar ~ do en- - ond tho OvaruorI,o,1