Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-02
THINGS THAT APPEALED TO
TESSIE

| did not make as much money as Tessle
did. He was an assistant porter in
a cloth store, and his wages were S9
week. But Tessie thought him an ex.
ceedingly pleasant fellow. He was
always neatly dressed, his hair was
faultlessly oiled. his handkerchief was
perfumed, and he wore a scarfpln that
caught TesSie's fancy. The big ruby
| and the diamonds surrounding it were
| glass-and not the finest at that-and
| the gold was brass, but Tessie didn't
| know. 1t was real enough dazZler
| to her. Tin, also, could "spiel' better
than the other fellows, she thought.
and he could sing the latest popular
songs with what seemed to her perfect
art.
Tim became Tessies STEADY The
| engagement was brief. Presently, Tim
| and Tessie set up III housekeeping.
The three-room fiat cost them $3.50
month rental. They just managed to
live on Tins 50 week. But they
were happy pair Tessic eyed Tim
more fondly than ever, and when he'd
| come home and after 4 hard days
! work sing You're Only Teasing Me-
or something of that sort, Tessic was
overwhelmed. An impartial critic
might have expressed serious doubts,
and perhaps the neighbors didn't say
all that they thought. TO Tessie Tins
voice was the acme of perfection, or to
sum 1t up ia her all-nclusive word,
grand
They had two children. One. girl
of eight months, died last March. The
baby was sick quite while ana the
doctors and the undcrtaker's bills We're
considerable. That was the beginning
of their bad luck. The loss of the child
was hard enough blow, and, besides.
the little girls sickness and death not
only absorbed their tritling savings, but
plunged them into debt But they had
another child left. boy, going on
four years. They concentrated Their
love OH him and faced the world with
courage.
Three months after Tim lost his
place. 1t was 10 fault of his-iust
streak of had luck. He tried hard to
get another job, no matter at what.
He couldn't.
Now couple with a child and debts
and great Self-respeCt must get along
independently somehow. Confidence III
each other doesn't satisfy the landlord.
and rrocprs. butchers and bakers
haven't vet acquired the habit OF sup
plyng provisions on good intentions or
future prospects.
TeSsie had mettlc She hadn't ior-
gotten her old trade. Her eyes troubled
her n great deal. but she was deter
mined to keep things going without ap'
plyng to anybody for assistance She
went TO one of her former bosses anu
not u lob making boxes for tobacco
oirorpttcs. The material she would
carry home and there make up the
boxes. The pay wasn't much' TOT
every thousand boxes she got So. III
tool; her week. working ten hours Il
day. TO make II thousand boxes.
Since July Tessic has stuck /" Inc
lob. II is difficult for woman TO Keep
house. bring up boy. aud work Ten
hours n day, but Tessie has managed
If, II is especially difficult Tor one
with rranulatcd cyeljds to bend over
such a task all day long. Tcssie, how
ever, didn't complain. She knew that
Tim was really looking for work anu
was willing TO take anything he couid
oet She knew he had run OF nara
| luck.
The 81 week Tessc earned has sup
nortel the whole family since July
! Thclr living is simple. Sixteen or eien.
| tceu cents a day for meat, loa1 Oh
bread day, and two quarts or po'a.
toes q week. Tessie and Tim dispensed
with butter. They had some, but II
was reserved for the boy. The cost OF
t,eir living. not including rent. was
about thirty cents day. Then Tessle
paid fifty cents a week for insurance
for herself and the boy, and the same
SIM for insurance for Tim. They
didn't mind scrimping along on 70 a
week. 1t was the back debts willch
worried them. They could pay only
| little on account now and then.
The other day Tim finally got 1op
There was happiness in the little nome
when Tim came home and told the
good news. 1t was an event.
This is n simple, true little story
n.horeor Tessie is the heroine. Does
she not deserve to bc:-New Aorh
Post.