The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-08-27

work. Their father died when Char
lotte was thirteen, and the mother
struggled on as best she could"
The simple story of this ONE girls
life is deeply interesting.
"Our mother ruled us absolutely, and
her only law was love-" Charlotte told
Mr. Starr once Charlotte had planned
out her life gloriously She would
write-she always meant to do that
but to be thoroughly prepared for her
profession she intended to be college
graduate-ge get the literary style When
q child at school she wrote her compo-
sitiOns with the dream in her brain Of
one day. getting stories printed and be-
ing an author. But FIVE years ago the
mother whose only law was love died.
Charlotte uncomplainingly put aside
her own cherished hopes and dreams
and became the head of the family. No
college now, apparently no hope of
writing stories, either. The very bread
the family ate had to be earned by
Charlotte and her sister They took
their places in a large store in Oakland,
Charlotte as cashier, Sister Nan in one
of the departments. Sister Mary kept
the house for them and the brothers.
But the girl who was a born writer
could not forget the radiant dream of
her childhood 1t fairly broke her
heart to give up being an author. She
wrote something of her grief and dis
appointment to a friend
But you will see how the Power that
rules human destiny plans for US bet
ter than we can plan for ourselves if
we only do the manifest duty that lies
nearest us day by day.
Charlotte's friend who received this
letter showed it to a literary lady
whom she knew. The literary lady was
struck with the power and grace Of ex-
preston even in this everyday letter.
She Immediately commended Charlotte
to William c. Morrow, a well known
writer of San Francisco. Charlotte
went to see him.
Write me something on a subject
will give you" said Mr. Morrow.
She wrote it nights and Sundays, a
fairy story, and it hit the mark so ex-
actly that Mr.. Morrow gave her further
instructions how to proceed. In the
scant and precious spare time allowed
to a department store cashier she be-
gan teaching herself to compose. She
and Sister Nan served in the business
-+ol III i-IDv All e
past 6, on Saturdays till 10 at night,
and yet this determined girl snatched
bits of time to write. Sometimes 1
o'clock in the morning found her at her
desk, when Sister Nan, who embodies
common sense for two, would make her
stop and go to bed
BY and by she got some stories print
ed, OF course she did! Nobody who
strives perseveringly, and strives in
faith, ever is finally disappointed. 1t
is in Charlotte Canty's favor, perhaps,
that she has had little time to COM
pare her own work with that Of so
called classic authors. She is there
fore bravely original. Living with her
brothers and loving them dearly, as
they likewise loved her, she was able
to enter into thorough sympathy with
them, and through them with all
youthful masculinfty. She has written
some spirited and charming stories for
boys This, for lack Of knowledge of
them, women seldom are able to do.
One Of the best known Of Miss Canty's
general stories is ''The Whistling Girl, .
which has been widely published.
The brothers for whom she worked
are young men now, and in this case,
at least, men appreciate what women
have done for them This no doubt is
owing to the influence and remem-
brance Of the sweet mother whose only
law was love.
Charlotte Canty now looks forward
with reasonable assurance to the day
when she will write books and spend
all her time in the tasks she loves
Not yet however. She still sits at her
cashiers desk and does the work her
hands find to do, not grudgingly, but
cheerfully, thankfully, writing still il
her off moments and waiting, serene
sweet tempered and strong, in the sure
faith that she will come into her king,
dom. MARY EDITH DAY.