Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-02

Barbara looked at the girl again
and the look determined her next
question, even at the risk of loosing
what little hold she might have on
Hilda.
II am going to turn down here to
Mrs. Wards, she said as they reached
corner and stopped. AS they
stopped, Barbara saw the young man
linger and finally stop in his course.
"Ihope you won't misunderstood me"
Barbara continued, looking into Hill
da's face with great frankness. But
does your young gentleman friend
visit you frequently at Mrs. Vane's?"
Hilda turned red, and at first Bar
bara thought she was about to give
an angry reply. Instead of that she
began to laugh little.
"Yes, he calls sometimes. He's in
the packing-house on night force"
Barbara looked at Hilda earnestly q
moment, then abruptly turned, saying
"Good-bye," as she left. She did not
look back, but was as certain as If she
had that the young man had instantly
CToSScu luC StICC anu JOluCu
"And what business is it of mine if
he has?" Barbara veNed herself with
the question as she walked along. II
am glad she said he called. Mrs. Vane
must know it. What business is 1t of
mine if the girl meets him this way3
He probably has very little other time.
Shall girl out at service have no So
ciety, no company o, the whole thing
is of miserable piece with the entire
miserable condition of service. What
is to prevent girls like Hilda throw
Ing themselves away on young men
like this one? And who is either to
blame her or care one way or the other
If she does? And what possible pros
pect is there for me or any one to
change the present condition of
things?'
Barbara walked slowly back to her
work, depressed by the events of the
afternoon. What, indeed, could she do,
if, as Mrs. Vane said, the very people
that needed to be helped into better
ways of living did not care to be
helped; if, like Hilda, they saw no far
Their and cared no more for better
things than the little episode of the
store and the young man suggested.
She felt so helpless in view of future
progress that when she went up to her
room that evening she was in great
need of comfort, and in her search for
the passages having servants in mind
she came upon that one in Titus, Sec
ond chapter, ninth verse:
"EXhort servants to be in subsection
to their own masters and to be well
pleasing to them in all things; not
gainsaying; not purloining; but show
ing all good fidelity; that they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour
in all things"
Il don't think there is any danger of
my 'purloining,' Barbara said, smil-
ing little. Although 1 have some
times been tempted to do little
'gainsaying,' especially when Mrs.
Ward has one of her severe headaches.
really believe 1 have tried to be well
pleasing and also establish a reputa-
ton for good fidelity But that is
wonderful end to the e1hortation:
That they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Saviour in all things If a
servant, a slave in Paul's time, could 60
on serving with that end in view, what
shall say of myself? Is my service
of such character that it adorns like
a jewel that which in itself is jewel
to begin with, the doctrine of God our
Saviour? This is high standard for
hired girl, Barbara. If you live up to
it, it will keep you busy"
She offered her prayer with great
earnestness that she might have the
leading of the Spirit of Light, and in
her prayer she remembered Hilda,
fearing she knew not what for the
girl, realizing as she never before had
realized the many dangers that face
working girls in large cities, and real
izing, too, that, if she accomplished
any great things as she sometimes
dreamed she might, it must be done by
The aid of power greater than her
own, for never before had she felt her
own human weakness so strongly
To be continued