The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-09-06

tent servant, and took up his days
work with its usual routine without
the least expectation that any reply
would come from his advertisements.
1t would, therefore, have given him
a peculiar sense of interest in the fu-
ture, If at about six o'clock that even
ing, as he went out of his Office and
with strange reluctance started for
his home, he could have seen in
house not two blocks from his own
young woman eagerly reading the
advertisement and talking to an old
er woman in a strangely subdued, but
concerning it.
Barbara, what you say is impos-
sible! 1t is so strange that no one
but yourself would ever have
thought of it. You must give up any
such plan"
The young woman listened thought
fully, holding newspaper in her
hand; and, as she looked up from it.
the older woman had finished.
AT the same time, mother, will you
tell me something better to do?"
"There are a thousand things Any
thing except this"
But what, mother? | have tried
for everything. Our friends" cher lip
curled little as she said the word)
"have all tried. No one seems to
need me unless it is this family. Here
seems to be real need. II will be
unselfsh. mother, don't you think, to
do something to fill real demand.
instead of always begging for a
chance to make a living somewhere p
She took up the paper and read the
advertisement slowly.
"Wanted-A competent girl to do general
| housework. good cook, able TO take
| charge of the housekeeping for a family
| of 1--WE. American girl preferred. Good
wages. Apply at once TO Richard Ward.
No. SO Hamilton street"
81 call it a good opening, mother,
And it's only two blocks from here.
And 1 seem to fill all the require
ments. l am competent | am a
good cook / am an American girl
And l am able to apply at once be-
cause ] have nothing else to do. So
do not see why | should not walk
right over and secure the place before
some one else gets it,"
She rose from her seat, and the
mother turned an appealing face to.
wards her.
Barbara! you shall do no such
crazy thing. At least, you shall not
with my consent. II is madness foI
you to throw yourself away. re
think OF my daughter becoming a
hired girln Barbara, it is cruel OF
you even to suggest it. 1t is a part
of your college foolishness. You have
been TESTING with me-"
mo. mother, dear, | have not" Bar
bara walked over to where her moth
err had beer sitting, and kneelet
down by her, putting her hands il
her mothers hands, and looking af
fectionately up to her.
mo, mother, l am not jest sting.
am very much in earnest. Look a
me! Barbara Clark, age 81; gradual,
Mount Holyoke. Member of churcl
and Christian Endeavor society. Plen
ty of good health. No money. Edu
Gated for n teacher. No influence
with the powers that be to secur,
a position. At home, dependent OF
and burden to" here Mrs. Clarl
put hand on the speakers moutl
and Barbara gently removed TN
hand-"a burden to a good motheI
who has no means besides n small
legacy, daily growing smaller, and tn,
diminutive interest on an insuranc,
fund that is badly invested in west
ern land. There's my biography NJ
to date. Do you wonder that ! wan
TO be doing something to be making
some money, even if it is only little
to be a breadwinner, even if"
But TO be hired girl Barbara
Do you realize what it means? Why
it means social loss, it means drop
ping out of the circle of good society
it means daily drudgery of the hard
est kind, it means going to the bot
tom of the ladder, and always stayin,
there! And you, Barbara, of al
girls, fitted to teach, an EXCEPTIONAL,
good student, bright and capable. @
how does it happen that girls VIII
are your interiors have secured goo,
positions and you have not succeed
ed?"
"'Pulls,'" said Barbara, briefly.
Mrs. Clark looked troubled. 81
that college slang?"
mo, mother. Political. | mean tina
the other girls have had influence. /
father were alive"
"Ah, Barbara, if your father wer
living, there would be no talk o
your going to work in a kitchen. An
you shall not go, either. 1t is tn
height of absurdity to think of it.
But, mother" Barbara began, afte
moments silence, "do you realiz
the facts, the plain, homely facts, O
our existence? Every day you ar
drawing on Uncle Wills legacy, an
next months rent and grocery bi
will eat large hole in it. hav