Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-05
finally vanished quite. They were
dead. There could be no longer any


The g0verness who knows nothing
and is only amiable and kind to the
children, with leaning in the direc-
ton of religion, is rapidly dying out;
the march Of civilization tramples up
on her. The high schools and the
Cambridge colleges are making her
existence impossible. Therefore Kath-
arine was happy in having obtained a
post as governess in the simple and
unpreteL ding family Of the Emptages.
They lived in Doughty street, where
they occupied the lower part of the
house-that part which commands the
kitchen. There We're six children, all
girls; the youngest was six and the
oldest fifteen, and they were all Katf1-
arlne's pupils. The bread winner was
a clerk in the city; he had, do really
believe, all the virtues of his profes-
sion; not one or two, but all; they
arc too many to enumerate; suffice it
to say that he wrote like copper plate,
and kept books with accuracy; was as
punctual as the clock; never wanted
any amusement; did not smoke to.
bacco; drank half pint of beer with
his dinner and another with his sup
per; walked into the city and out
again-hel had walked in and out for
thirty years, being now five and forty,
and his salary now reached the very
handsome figures. of three hundred, at
which point 1t would remain. His
father was clerk before him; his
brothers and uncles and cousins and
nephews were clerks; his wife was
the daughter of clerk; he was stepped
in clerkery. In appearance he was
neat, clean, small and spare, with a
modest whisker of black hair; he had
ventured to become as bald in front
as If he were partner; he believed
that he had attained to a really lofty
elevation on the social ladder; GER
tainly there were fewer above than
below him; and he considered his ca.
reer remarkable example of what
may be effected by ability backed by
industry and honesty.
His wife was small and neat, like
him, but she looked much more worn,
because to keep six children neat and
respectable is work of an even more
responsible character than that Of a
clerk in n city house. l suppose there
was nowhere harder worked woman,
and, fortunately for her governess,
there was nowhere a kinder hearted
woman,
CHAPTER VI.
DITTMER Book.
There Is not much society for ram.
flies such as this of Doughty Square;
friends and relations of course there
are; but there is little hospitality, and
one can not expect much visiting
when the ladies Of the household are
occupied all day long in keeping the
family neat and respectable to out
ward show. The theater, with an or
der to the upper circle is the most
desired form Of female recreation.
Nevertheless, the Emptages had one
regular and even constant visitor. He
came every morning and smoked a
cigar-of Hamburg nufacture-and
cOnversed with Mr.. Emptage and the
ladies. He came at first with the
view of improving his English by con-
versation, but, it must be confessed,
he now came chiefly for the purpose Of
conversing with Katharine.
He was young German named Dit.
mer Book. He conducted corresponds
ence for the house, which also EN-
ployed Mr.. Emptage, in many foreign
languages; he wrote letters and took
down instructions in shorthand; he
drew forty pounds a year; he lived
upon that salary, and he presented the
appearance Of one who lived upon
four times that salary. The young
Germans who come to London in the
day of small things practice the small
economies; they share bedrooms: they
isfying kind, large in bulk to satisfy
the Teutonic hunger but cheap. Eigh.
teen pence Il day is considered by
some of the younger adventurers as
an ample allowance for food; for ev.
erything not absolutely necessary a
German who means to rise must wait.
Dittmer was q sturdy, well-set-up
young fellow, actually without spec
tacles. He had the blue eyes and the
fair hair of his country; his manners
were gentle: he firmly believed in tie
enormous superiority Of Germans over
the rest of mankind. He loved dane.
ing, though he got none; he could sing,
playing his own accompanments, the
folk songs Of which the good German
never tires; he sung them with great
feeling, and in the evening when the
largest lamp was lighted-the gas lamp
and the children, with Mrs. Emptage
and Katharine sat at the table saw.
ing, and Mr.. Emptage sat by the fire
side, his legs crossed with an even.
ing paper, enjoying the leisure OF a
gentleman who has put away care for
the day, it was pretty to see Dittmer
spreading his fingers over the keys
and to listen while he warhled orc
after the other the ditties CT the father
land.
1t became the custom with the young
man when Katharine stayed until nine
no one could stay later because that
was the time for tie family supper
to walk home with her as far as the
door of Harley House.
Cro be continuedo
A Den of Daniels.