The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-11-15

DOTS went 10 neT room ana ioNhCh
herself in She wanted to get away
from everybody-from Aunt Clara try
ing to sew with her twisted fingers in
that old wheel chair; from Aunt Ruth,
going about with the martyr-like ex-
preston she always wore when she
had one of her headaches; from the
fretting of Dot, her seven-year-old sis
ter, who was feeling very much out or
sorts; from the new hired girl, who
had developed a temper and was
showing It by slamming the dinner
dishes as she washed them.
1t seemed to Doris that she was the
one OF the family who had the great
est reason to look martyr-like and
slam things and be cross. 1t was SO
dreadful to be poor and to have eyes
that were not strong. She felt that
she could have endured one of these
Affections. but both together ---!
She had been forced to give up works
ing in Mr. Ellsworth's Office because
her eyes would not stand it, and there
were other things she could do but for
her eyes; and If she could not earn
money, and had none to start with,
how was she ever to go to college?
Then mammals encouraging her to
take the college examination right af-
ter she graduated from high school, in
June, because there might be some
way provided, had made it seem as if
there really would be. And now, when
1t was September and almost time for
the term to begin, and Mary Clark and
Jessie Williamson and Helen Davis
were going, mamma said she could see
no possible way for her to go 1t was
cruel! that was just what 1t was. And
mamma didn't care single mite.
Doris caught herself up here with
little tinge of remorse. Mamma hadn't
said much, but she must be little
sorry, for ever since that last talk,
when Doris had said 1t seemed as If
she didn't want to live If she couldn't
have a college education, her mother
had refrained from asking her to do
the least thing about the house. She
knew that Doris hated housework, but
unless she was sorry for her about
something she tried nearly every day
to make her do more to help.
II despise housework, and I'm not
going to do a bit more Of 1t than l
have to-" was Doris attitude, and
whatever she did do was done under
protest.
So generally mamma did the work
that Doris would not do, and much be-
sides, Aunt Clara, who was mammals
aunt, had a little income, and so had
Aunt Ruth, who was mammals sister
and a widow, and Doris father had
left little property when he died,
soon after Dot was born; but alto
gether ii was not nearly enough to sup
port them, and so mamma had a small
millinery business In the slack sea-
son she did a good part Of the house
work, for Aunt Ruth was not strong,
and Aunt Clara was a cripple, but
when as now, the busy season was on,
they had girl. People had a habit
of coming to mamma when there was
sickness in their families, for she had
q SUI AN1 hNl oAAAEs buA 0AAC NOuAQ nCNC1
stay long at time for she had to be
at home to put Aunt Clara to bed, and
in the morning to get her up. She
planned the clothing for the family
also, though Aunt Ruth did most of
the sewing, and even if they were poor
there were very few girls who dressed
as prettily and in such good taste as
Doris Eastman.
Yes, | suppose mamma does feel
sorry for me, in way" Darts admit
ed, continuing her reflections, but she
can't really sympathize with me at all,
her tastes are so very different from
mine. She likes millinery, suppose,
and homework and nursing. | don't
imagine she ever had the least desire
for an education, so how can she pos
sibly understand how / feel?"
There was the sound of footsteps
approaching and then Dots fretful
voice: Cant come in, Doris?"
mo, you can't" Doris answered, ir-
ritably.
well, here's a letter the postmau
just brought"
The door was opened sufficiently to
take in the letter, then locked again.
Doris studied the address, not at first
recognizing the writing why, it's
from Nellie Bird" she said, after look
ing at the postmark. TITS so long
since she has written, I thought she
had dropped the correspondence. What
a thick letter."
Upon opening 1T, however, Doris
found only a brief note from her friend
o.,rlosyino the rast Of the enclosure