Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-10-12

Alice continued TO make a monthly
| visit home, and each time she was
| able to play something new for her
| father. He was greatly pleased at
her progress, although II seemed that
/ the expense attached to 1t was con-
| siderable, for at Thanksgiving she
asked him, with some apologies, for a
hundred and fifty dollars. Il shall
not need so much again, hope, she
said, by way of encouragement
You may call this my Christmas
| present, papa.
At Christmas Alice was again at
/ home. At breakfast that morning
Mr.. Dean announced, as he usually
did on holidays, that he would spend
a part of the forenoon at his office,
Il am somewhat behind in my
work. he explained, and there are
| important letters that must be
written
wait an hour or so before you go,
papa, said Alice, and will go down
and tidy up a little for you. l know
/ that Office must be a sight to behold. I"
SO when the lawyer reached his
Office, at about 10 o'clock, he found
his daughter established there, with
everything in "apple-pie order, as he
| expressed it. But his attention was
at once attracted to one unfamiliar
article of furniture. Where in the
world did that typewriter come
from?" he demanded.
1t should be explained that the
! typewriter at that time, although it
I had already made its way into pretty
general use in the city, was a novelty
in village offices.
why, that is your present to me,
papa Alice replied. Isn't it a
dear? And I can perform on it quite
well-much better, at any rate, than
l ever could on the piano.
Her father stared in establishment.
"Why, what have you been doing?"
he asked, blankly.
Taking lessons in stenography and
typewriting, to be sure" she an
swered. And now l must show you
my present to you. Allow me-" she
said, with an elaborate gesture, ito
introduce Miss Alice Dean, your
future typewriter, stenographer and
clerk"
A light broke in upon her fathers
mind. DO you mean that you have
been studying shorthand and type
writing instead of music?"
Why, yes" replied Alice. THE
truth is, I could never have made a
musician. Oh, of course l play a
little-mostly by ear; but really,
papa, if you must know, l didn't in
herit any ability in that direction to
speak of. thought it would be much
better for me to take lessons in some
thing that l could learn to do well,
and that would be of use. So with
the help of mother and the girls,
planned this little Christmas surprise
for you. hope it is a pleasant one.
You have needed assistance in the
Office for long time, you know"
Where did you learn all those new
pieces that you have been entertain
ing me with if you haven't been TAX
ing piano lessons?" asked the lawyer,
as if cross-eXamining a witness.
"Oh. got those at Miss Sherman's
school OF stenography. You see, a
hand-organ played twice week I'M
der our window all the summer and
fall. 1t was very distracting, but I
couldn't help catching the tunes.
And now, papa, want you to dictate
some of those letters to me, and see
what it means to have a stenographer
at your elbow. l may not do so very
well just at first, but l shall hope to
improve.
But at the end of an hour, when
Mr.. Deem was adding his signature
TO several neatly typewriter letters,
he was obliged to admit that his vol
unteer clerk did very well indeed.
You would certainly be of great
help to me-" he said, and of course
should be delighted to have you in
The Office; but will you be contented
10 spend your days writing letters for
country lawyer
"Oh, don't intend to be contented
with that! I shall begin to study at
Cnce.
STUDY" said Mr.. Dean. inquir-
ingly.
Yes; study law, of course. And I
shall have fine tescher-one of the
test-read lawyers in the State, so peo-
lie say"
DO you mean that you intend to
enter the profession?" asked the law
yer, amused.
Certainly. Why not?" answered
Alice.
why. my dear child, there are
only two or three women lawyers in
the whole State"
well, then, when I'm admitted to
the bar there will be three or four.
You see, papa, 1 have chosen my
career. The law has always had a
fascination for me. But never really
decided to try for it until my gradua-
ion day. Do you remember the talk
that you had with DR.. Carter that
afternoon? l heard part Of it. 1
couldn't help it, you know. Well, I
made up my mind that l would try
20 be as much to you as Dick Carter
would be to his father. I may not
succeed, but you will help me in the
attempt, won't you, papa?"
There was a CLEAN of pride in the
DID lawyers eyes as he looked into
he eager face that, with all its youth
"ul freshness, resembled so strongly
ais own time-worn counteIance.
We'll. well see. he said.
He did see. In due course OF time
Dick Carter became a full-hedged
physician, and he joined his father
IN practice. But even before that day
the weather-beaten sign over a GER
tain Office on Main street was re-
placed by a brand-new one, which
read:
DEAN & DEAN,
Attorneys at Law.
From Youths Companion.