Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-04-02
Am I so very terrible?"

you were V6ry-V6fy StanQOmSn.
Will you have some sugar in your
tea? l made some toast. Papa
she stopped suddenly, then went on in
subdued voice-''papa used to say
that made toast better than any of
the others He is dead" she added.
after another pause, and Leslie saw
her eyes grow dim behind the glasses.
when did he"
Three months ago. He was a
country clergyman down Wealdshire.
He caught fever visiting a parish
Toner. There are seven OF US, and
mother I'm the second.
She poured out the tea while she
was speaking, and was obviously fight
ing with her tears.
Seven of u.s. Just fancy! Poor
mother didn't know what to do. So
the world, and mean to fight it, too!
What awful stuff London milk is, isn't
it? l don't believe there is a par
ticle of cows milk in it, do you?
Seven Of us-three boys and four
girls-and we are as poor as poor
can be. Won't you take some milk,
if one can call it milk?"
And you are young to fight the
world" said Leslie, with tender
sympathy for this young girl who
could be so cheerful under such ad-
verse circumstances. What are You
going to do?"
Lucy Somes laughed as she put a
fresh piece of toast in the rack
I'm going to be a governess."
"A governess? In gentleman's
family?'
Lucy somes shook her head en-
phatically.
''Oh, no, thank you! know what
that means. Six young children to
teach, all the mending to do, and
heaps of other things for twenty
pounds a year-less than they give
their cooks. No, no; am going to
be the mistress of one Of the country
schools
''Yes?" said Leslie, vaguely.
Yes; l am going to try to get the
mistress ship of a board or voluntary
school in some country place
couldn't live in London. I don't
seem as if 1 could breathe here. Every
morning I wake and fancy 1 have
been shut up in a coal mine. Did you
ever notice how the smuts come into
the room when you open the window,
and that's what London folks breathe
all the time"
1T does not seem to disagree W tn
Them" said Leslie, with faint smile
1T disagrees with me-. retorted
Lucy. laughing. "Oh, no, no! Give
me the country, with plenty Of space
to move about, and the flowers and
the birds, and butter that isn't man
ufactUred from fat, and milk that
isn't a mixture of chalk and water.
Don't you think it will be very nice to
be the mistress of a school in some
pretty village? There is always a
nice little house for one to live in,
and perhaps I could afford to keep
young girl for a servant, and-and-
be able to save some money to send
to mother to help her out with the
rest Of u.s."
Leslie listened, and her conscience
smote her. Here was this girl, no
older than herself, alone in London,
and so bravely ready to fight the
great battle, thinking little of herself
and so much of those dear ones she
had left behind.
"Of course 1 am rather afraid of the
exams, went on Lucy, knowing
somehow, that the best thing she
could do for this sweet, sad-looking
girl was to talk of herself and so
coax Leslie from dwelling on her own
sorrow. They are dreadful; but
have been working hard, and l think
l shall PASS. I'll show you some of
my books, shall I-may I? But You
must have your tea first quite com
fortably. 1t was so kind of you to
come down to me; was feeling so
dreadfully lonely and-and friend
less. London is such a big place to
be alone in, isn't it?"
''Ah, yes!" said Leslie.
Il tried to make friends with the
sparrows," said Lucy, laughing; Il
put some crumbs on the window-sill at
breakfast and they came and ate
them. But they are not like the
country sparrows; they look, some
how, so dissipated. suppose it's
because they sit up late, like every
body else in London. And the ami
mails are different. The very horses
look knowing and sharp. Now you
shall sit in that easy-chair while
show you my books" And half
timidly she put Leslie in the chair and
arranged a cushion for her as if she
were a great invalid.
Leslie's tender heart melted under
all this gentle sunshine of sympathy
and friendliness, and when Lucy,
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