The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-12-20

the salaries of those who stay on.
I'm cut down. ria-children-your
father has been cut DOWN.
"Oh, John! How much? Fifty
pounds?'
''The chief partner sent for me. He
spoke very kind. He said it was very
hard on an old servant, but what was
he to do? He said that all his personal
expenses had been cut down to the low
est, and the establishment in the city
kept up in hopes Of better times, but
the trade seemed gone away for good.
and what was he to do? And then he
said that he was very sorry indeed,
very sorry for me he was, but he could
no longer go on paying salaries on the
same scale, and he was obliged to offer
me q reduction of"-John doubled up
and groaned as one who has an inter-
nal pain-"of half my screw-take it or
leave it-take it or leave it. That's
all, Maria
"Oh, John! Only half-that Is what
we married on, sixteen years ago. 1t
was plenty then. But now" she
looked around her. Six children! And
the eldest only fifteen! She groaned
aloud.
Three hundred pounds year does
not seem to some people a great In
come; but many families have to make
three hundred pounds suffice for all
their wants and all their lu1uries;
think of the clergy, half-pay officers
and widows. In careful hands - no.
where are the hands more careful
than those Of the London clerks wife
Athree hundred pounds will go very
long way, particularly when you get
such governess as Katherine-a
chance which falls to few. But divide
the three hundred by two-Mrs.
Emptage rapidly made that division
and gazed before her in CONSERVATION;
some clerks have to do with hundred
and fifty, even clerks with families OF
six. But none knew better than this
cousin of a thousand clerks what the
income meant.
"Oh! children" she cried, "what
shall we do? The things that we must
give up! How in the world shall 1
keep you respectable?"
Then she looked guiltily at Kath-
arine.
"You will not be able to keep me any
longer" said Katharine. "Oh! / am
50 sorry for you. am indeed"
katharine, my dear, have one more
meal with US, If it is only cup of tea.
Children, Katharine will come and see
US sometimes-won't you, my dear?
When Katharine came away at nine,
she met Dittmer Book smoking Ham,
burg cigar under the lamppost.
"They know all now" he said. II
was afraid to komm. I am sorry for
them. Yet they have still one hundred
and fifty pounds. In Hamburg that Is
a good pay for clerk. One hundred
and fifty pounds. Three thousand
marks. Count it in marks. So 1t Is
twenty times as great-ten marks a
day? They have been too rich. the
English. But they will be rich no
longer. The English clerks are sent
away. The German clerk remains. l
have but forty pounds year. Eight
hundred marks. Yes, the German re-
mains and the Englishman is sent
away. It is the new conquest Of Eng
land. The German remains"
81 fear they will have to deny them
selves in many things" said Katha-
rine.
"They will eat enough, but they will
no longer be rich. They will no longer
have such a Fraulein to teach the chill
dren.'
mo. I must find another place"
"It is sometimes hard to find-I fear
the other place"
II shall find it somehow. Oh, have
no fear"
Fraulein'-Dittmer turned pale,
smitten with sudden terror-"you leave
this good family; you so away. Him
mel! Where can 60 to meet you
now?"
Katharine hesitated.
"Do you still wish to meet me. Dit
mer?" she asked, without the least
coquetry.
Zach! You ask if 1 wish-what other
pleasure have l than TO meet you.
Fraulein? There is no one else iii the
world who listens when I speak"
eff it is only TO tell me what is in
your mind 1 will try to arrange for
seeing you sometimes. But"
"Fraulein, it is sweet to open my soul
to you because you understand and
are kind. You do not laugh. ia! 1t
fills my heart with joy to be with you
and to see your facc-so wunler-
schoin-"
"Dittmer, you must not"
"You ask If still wish to meet you.
Ach! And all the Gay at:nly work I
see your beautiful eyes and hear your
votce-so soft and sweet"
Go be continued)