Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-08-15
|BORN TO SERVE
By Charles NJ. Sheldon,
Author of "IN HIS STEPS, ""JoHN KINGS
QUESTION CLASS, - edward
BLAKE, - Etc.
CCopyright, 1900, by Charles NJ. sheldon.l
CHAPTER I.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER I.-CONTINUED.
"But even from money point of
view, mother, such a position as this is
not to be despised. If my services are
satisfactory, l can get $4.75 or even
five dollars week, and my board and
lodging and washing and other Incl
dentals thrown in. Suppose l had a
position as a stenographer in one of
the offices downtown. | could not pos
sihly command over $50 month. Out
of that take my board, lodging, wash
Sng, clothes, etc. And | could not pos
&ibiy save out of it over ten dollars a
month. Whereas, working out at
service, l could save twice that much
in actual wages. If go into Bond
mans store, for instance, as a sales
clerk, l cannot get over five dollars a
week, out of which l must board, lodge
and dress myself. Mother, l have
thought it all out, and l feel that l
must go in answer to this advertise
ment. l don't mind the social stigma.
l do mind the bitterness of living in
idleness at home. Let me do some
thing useful if it is only for little
while. am sure a servant can be
useful"
at is a dreadful thought to me,
Barbara" said Mrs. Clark with a sigh.
NI never dreamed that child of mine
would ever be hired girlr"
"Say servant mother. Servant is
n noble word. Christ was a servant.
Don't you remember DR.. Laws sermon
on that word last Sunday?"
The girl spoke lightly, not knowing
herself the depth of the truth she
stated, and yet her mother started and
shrunk back almost as if the words
were sacrilege. 1t is possible, how
ever, that the Older woman caught
some glimpse of that great Light in
the social life of men; for, when she
spoke again, it was with yielding to
Barbara's wish that was new to her.
az don't understand you, Barbara.
IF only the money that your father
saved for your education had been
more wisely invested, we might-but
Ut is too late to think of that now. 1t
IS the thought that you are throwing
away your preparation for life on
something beneath you that makes me
oppose this. But if you do go from this
other motive, that changes matters
somewhat"
"Of course it does, mother! Let me
go. / should not be happy to go with
out your consent. / will do this: will
go for trial. This is probably the
only way l can go, anyhow. But, if
after reasonable time | find it is i'm
possible for me to continue, if even my
dream of any possible service to So
,ciety turns out to be ridiculous or fool
'ish, / will come back and-and-be a
burden to you again, mother, until /
find out what 1 am good for in this
world"
cit is only on some such condition
that l am at all willing to have you
take this step, Barbara" said her
mother, reluctantly, as Barbara rose
and stood up by her for a moment in
silence. She suddenly stopped and
Kissed her mother, and then walked
over to the window and looked at her
watch.
"After six. I might as well go right
aver there now"
IhSS VIII uSh you LUZ ItleTenCeS,
the mother spoke up, nervously, al
ready doubling the wisdom of the
whole affair.
Barbara resolutely gathered up her
courage.
'EI have Prof. Whites letter-the
Chautauqua summer, mother, L can
take those" Barbara referred to a
summers experience when in company
with several seniors from the college
she had served as head waiter and
housekeeper at large hotel in state
Ghautauqua assembly.
~They are good as far as they 60"
Eyes, mother, and l am sure they
viii go far enough in this case. This
family" Barbara picked up the pa.
per and read the advertisement again
TO get the street number correctly
~is in crying need of help. They will
aot drive me away without trial
references or no references"
Mrs. Clark did not reply but looked
and felt very anxious.
1t was a serious step in her daugh
&sx's life and under any circumstance