St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-02-01
THE "SELF-HELPER'S"
STORY.
BY DAVID L. Monsoon.


1 at Yale university to furnish stu
dents of small means with light EN-.
Ployment of all sorts in New Haven
and vicinity. It also provides work
during the college vacations. A thor.
ongh canvass of all opportunities is
constantly maintained; and at the Of
ice. conveniently located on the col
lege campus, is prepared daily list
or wants" which students may fill.
To give some idea of this work, I
copy few entries from a recent list:
1. Young man to drive delivery
wagon for department store two
hours every weekday afternoon.
2. The gas company will employ
student to take meter records.
3. Young man of good character to
ledge in house where male protector
ia desired.
4. Young man of good manners, to
distribute wedding invitations at nine
o'clock this morning.
5. Four students as ushers to-mor
row evening.
8. Experiment station wants stu
dent to act as guide. He must be IA
miliar with the city.
And SO on for hundred and fifty
entries on single morning.
The number of families who desire
the presence of a young man of good
character in their homes, for protec-
ton and company, is much larger
than one would at first suppose. Many
elderly ladies and invalids suffer I'M
told misery from fear of burglars,
tramps and sudden attacks of illness
by night. They gladly give the right
sort OF young man his room rent, |
and often his board, in return for the
mere sense Of safety and comfort that
comes from knowing that he is in the
house and can be called on in case of
need.
I held such position during my
last year at the university. The house
was fine, comfortable old mansion,
full of everything that heart could
wish in the way of furniture, house.
hold treasures and bric-a-brac The
prOprietress was white-haired,
charming lady, more than 70 years
old. With her lived an invalid daugh-
ter, hopelessly ill of spinal malady,
and grandson Of seven or eight, a
puny lad, with deformed ankle ON
which he had to wear an iron brace.
It was, in fact, the last feeble rem
nant of once happy, prosperous fam
lily.
When / first entered the house in
the character of protector the old
lady and her daughter received me
rather timidly, and for some weeks
[ went and came without more than
knowing them by sight. Then one
night had to go for the family ply +
sician, and performed a number of e
needed services during the early g
hours; thus won their con-
idence.
This confidence increased as time d
passed, till became in every sense a
member of the household. Indeed, the o
eliance which the old lady and the L
Invalid came to repose in me was we'll P
Ugh pathetic, and on my part there q
rev up a sense of responsibility for
heir safety and welfare such as will n
ever be surpassed if have family "
I my own. Shutters, locks, skylights, n
oofs, back yard gates, fires came d
,ithin my sphere of guardianship. 1 pl
ven took charge of the ordering
rom tradesmen. In return the old
ldy would have paid me with far fr
lore substantial favors than I felt re
{ liberty to accept. may add that al
he services which I rendered were
mong the pleasantest of my whole IN
Re.
One very disagreeable experience tn
sfell me, however, while was in the ST
ouse, and for time was under sus- ST
cion among the neighbors and tn
lends of the family. But am hap nj
7 to say that the dear old lady her wi
If never doubted me. siy
During portion of the year was cri
ere we were distressed by a long cal
RES of pilferings. These thefts were ]
~ embarrassing and vexatious for on
E, since. with the exception of a &c
" family friends, was the only per- I I
a who had access to the house. The
o servants were quite beyond sus- Sal
lion. rs1
Articles had been missed for weeks thl
fore I learned of the fact, net
g kind old lady and her daugh-
. had refrained from speaking tax
the matter to me- First
lch priced locket, containing IN to
miniature portrait had dis to
peared, then several fnger-rings, the
. set with q valuable ruby. After and
8 a string Of antique gold beads B
) missed. then lady's watch, and. lad