Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-02-17

| went to call upon a friend. she was
packing for a summer trip and my
heart grew sick at the thought of my
prospects.
Il want to get away" / said.
want lust a breath of vacation
Cant you have it?" she asked.
I shook my head. Mr.. Holmes takes
his mother away for two weeks, but
I'm to stay and care for the house
and dog"
THAT will give you good rest"
ooh, / suppose so, but then, 1t viii
all begin again, and-and-1 can't
see any of my friends. I'm ashamed
to tell them where / am" Now, this
was the worst of it. had many dear
friends from whom I was driftins
because l could not receive them In
my kitchen. | meant to be brave, but
when my friend looked at me sympa-
thetically and said, II wish l could
help you" l broke down and wept
like a baby. She put her arms about
me and we were having good cry
when in came the washerwoman with
her arms full of freshly ironed clothes
1t seems she had heard part of our
conversation and she spoke up.
BEG pardon, but If ! might be so
bold l was looking for some one to
help me, and if the young lady would
care to try"
We were both shocked out of our
sentimentahties.
"Oh, no." said my friend. Nan
could not undertake such hard work
as washing"
Il should think not" said I. 81 am
nearly dead as it is
But washing by the day is much
easier than a Homework place." in
sisted Mrs. Wheeler, "and 1 would
start you in easy"
TT is quite out of the question"
said decidedly, and Mrs. Wheeler
went out evidently feeling hurt.
When thought about it l concluded
that had not received her offer in
quite the right spirit, and. asking her
address from my friend, went around
to explain. But Mrs. Wheeien did the
explaining. She placed me in the
only comfortable chair her tiny room
afforded, and, standing before me,
talked more plain, sensible English
than l had heard for many day
Haven't you few dollars saved upc'
she demanded at last.
II have. Some 20 or 3d."
Then get a nice room in a good
house and come to work with me next
week. I'll get you $3.50 a day and
board. You need not work Saturday
or Sunday. TN start you in easy and
you needn't tell your friends what
you're doing if you don't want to-
| was bewildered.
one dollar and a half day for
five days, seven dollars a week and
board, Do you mean it?'
Sure; and Saturday and Sunday
for your own"
And l can have a nice room in a
first class house? Why. of course I'll
come"
looked at her room questioningly.
I can't live in good way because
of the children, but if you've only
yourself to care for"
l nodded and thanked her heartily.
1 had a bad quarter of an hour with
Mrs, Holmes that night, but I was
determined, and she finally consented
that | find some one to take my place.
1t was a hard job, but l initiated a
fairly good girl into the situation Sat-
urday morning, and Saturday night
was installed in cozy little room in
good house, where meals were op-
tional.
Oh. how good it wasl And what a
delight to use the bath! A pleasant
pa3or and a piano were at my SER
vice, and as 1 sat playing softly Sun
day evening in the dim light of the
banquet lamp tears of comfort and
content dropped on the keys.
Monday night / cried from a differ.
ent reason; my back was nearly
broken; but a bathtub of hot salt
water comforted me somewhat and
Mrs. Wheeler was easy with me.
l am working steadily now and do
not find it very disagreeable. I do
not enjoy washing. but nearly all of
my work is ironing, and / take con-
pleasure in that part of IL
now that I have time to do 1t well. In
my homework days 1 had to hurry
50 that ironing was a great trial 70
ne. but now that no cooking. door
bell, or other Interruptions occur. ami
have time to do each piece perfectly.
find something artistic in the beaurv
hat heat brings to limp. homely rag.