The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-08
Good Advfces to silly Girls.
The Rnral New Yorker.

An old woman brought me to my senses
and it's because | was go terribly CRATE
full to her afterward that | dare to med
die with other folks affairs sometimes
now | am an old woman myself.
"You see, | was in love with a young
fellow. but | wasn't quite Sc much in
love with him as [ thoght | was.
That's all that saved me. You know,
when girl is really in love she just
can't reason. wasn't quite so a gone
as that. III had been, Grandma Stet'
sons talk wouldn't hava done me no
good.
"Henry-that was the young mans
name-had been keeping company
with me for sometime, and heiwas pleas
ant and bright, and [ liked him first
rate, and finally he made me think we
was awful much in love with each
other. So we engaged, and we kinder
pla nned to be marred the next sep
tember-that was in March.
"Now Henry was a good enough fel-
low. He was a member of the church.
and he didn't have no bad habits, and
he'd had a good education, for them
DAYS. So far he was all right, ut
we'll. he was one of these folks that's al
WAYS out of a job. He'd got plenty OF
ability, he could turn his hand TO
most anything but he WANT over ana
fond of his work, and he'd never
stick to anything but a little While.
His folk supported him, and he let'em,
even though they WANT really able 10
do it. He tried canvassing, but he
didn't like that. He did bookkeeping.
but he was careless and made mistakes.
and lost his job. He got a chance 10
work in the p~ostotlice, but that didn't
lust suit him. The doctor wanted q
driver and Henry got the place, but
he had to harness the horse and take
care of him, and he didn't like that, SO
he give it up. And that's the way IL
went. He got lots of good places, but
in every one of 'em hid either not DO
his workgood enough, or he'd get SICK
of 1t or not like it.
"All this fretted me terribly, for |
was real ambitious. [ WANT but IL
then, and I was smart and capable, II
I do say it. There WANT so many
ways for a girl to earn money in them
DAYS as there is now, but I managed to
find plenty to do, ever if the pay wa,
pretty small sometimes. Mother had
a big family, and so l helped her with
the work more tnan enough to pay my
boaId. There was a straWshop at the
village, and they put out the work, so
I seWed hats and in theb usy season L
earned considerable. Then when there
wa'n't any of that to do, I'd sew fol
the neighbors, and d few times l had a
al>o,, tn n 10 ,n r nf sick tnlES
"Henry used to come IN and SIT
down and watch me working, ana mo
be SO pleasant and talk so entertaining
that liked real well to have him there
az was saving every cent could TO-
ward getting married. Henry was
supposed to be doing the same, but
he Want earning anything, most O
the time, and he dressed pretty we'll
a good deal better than did.
"Well, things was goingon way Wnen
Grandma Stetsou was look sick ana L
went to take care OF her. She was SICK
quite a while, and L stayed with hel
till she got all well. She knew all a,
bout my being engaged to Henry, ano
the day before l was going home she
begun to talk with me about my get.
ting married. She'd asked me a gooo
deal about Henry, and she knew him
pretty well, too.
"Well "she says, Il s'pose you expect
to be real happy after you are married
You are a good worker ,Asenath, n
you are strong and healthy, so maybe
you will be happy I'd kinder like tG
talk over plans with you. Maybe
can hep you about how to manage,
"She waited a minute, and then she
says, How do you intend to support
YOUR husband % and she looked at
me with her sharp, bright eyes.
II couldn't think Of a thing to say
"What!' she cried; do you mean tc
say you haven't thought anything
about it? Ofcours ef you was going to
marry a man that could support you II
will be different. You wouldn't have
nothing to worry bout. You'd have
your hOusowork and cooking and sew
Ing to tend to, and that would keep
YOU busy, if you did it as it ought to
be done. But seeing as you are going to
marry some one that won't support you
It makes it harder. Yo'll have to DC
your homework and support him, too.
Now you want to think how's the best
way to do it. You'll probably have to
live in the Aillage-there's more chan
ces to get work there-unless you keep
on with making hats and Dunnlts
Now, if you live in the village you can
get different things to do How'd you
like to take in washing? Maybe Hen,
ry'd be willing to 60 and get 'em and
carry 'em home, and that would be a
lot OF help. Or yon could go out scrub
bling. Lots of rich folks have a WON
an come in once a week to wash floors
and such. You might do that. May
be Henry'd stay at home and keep the
fires going while you. was gone. And
then Henry'n be hanging around the
store and post office, and he'll find lots
of chances for you to get work to 90.
Or you might take boarders You are
a first rate cook land there's good mon
ey in boarders, and lots of work, too
Henry's real agreeable, and he'd make
it pleasant for 'em.
We'll, l didn't know what to say.
I felt sort of dazed. I'd kinder had
an idea that when we was married
Henry'd spunk up and get a job and
keep it. I'd never once thought that
I'd have to work as hard after L was
married and maybe harder, than l was
working before
81 didn't say a word to Grandma,
but I tell you | did a lot thinking, and
that night l didn't sleep but precious
little. L come to my senses fast Alter
/ got started.
"When I went home my mind was
made up. I felt terribly to think O
giving Henry up, but | couldn't bear
the idea Of the kind of life Grandma
had mapped out for me, either. So 20
| studied up a way out OF it.. ia have
,o1l- with Harry and fell him that