The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-05-02
AN ELDER SISTER.

| CnarleS II. Snlnu, Ill CulCdSo IuullS.
She was the eldest daughter and
many burdens fell on her shoulders.
Her parents were plain honest people;
they had managed to get three girls
through high school one after another.
The three boys, as so often happens,
did not develop any desire for more
than common-school education, and
got jobs as soon as they could. One
drove a delivery wagon, one was an
office-boy, the third wore the uniform
of big hotel and sat in row with
other bellboys under the clerks watch
full gaze. Two of the girls soon found
schools, continued to study, succeeded
beyond their modest hopes; the third
became an assistant in the public libra
ry, studied cataloguing, began to spec
ialize on "books for children" A hard
working young reporter recognized her
worth, found some one who could in
troduce them, made the never-out-of-
date romanti-practical courtship which
lasts forever and day. So these two
were married on hundred dollars OF
savings and made most enchanting
success of life, croakers to the con-
trary.
Then the father, whose business was
with horses, road-making and small
contracts, was thrown from a wagon,
crippled for months, got "out of the
SWIM" and was never again able to
earn much. In a year or so the mother
needed care and the two daughters
who taught, consulted together. The
eldest one secured a school where she
could be at home every night, paid the
bills and practically ran the house;
the other contributed the greater part
of her salary. The two of them were
simply doing their duty as they saw
it, and they we're contented
They especially wanted to make
home for the three boys who had some
how missed fire so far, because they
were drifting, spending, getting into
debt, picking up bad acquaintances,
and yet lavish with promises of re-
form, flowing with evanescent hopes
and full of day-dreams.
The elder sister studied all three of
her brothers, made them a sweet and
gentle home, full of quiet beauty, knew
the people they worked for, strength
ened her hold on them in every posi-
BILE way Two of the boys responded
slowly but surely to all this affection,
and began to contribute to the family
excheQuer, helped to read books aloud
in the evening, became interested in
ISarah's expense accounts and patient,
Icheerful economies. She began to be
very proud of them.
| The third brother had worked up to
a place of some responsibility, and he
IembeZZled money from his employer
Sarah rose to the situation, believing
with all her heart that he ought to
have a second chance. She and her
sister took every dollar they had, sold
their little libraries, and made up the
sum needed Then Sarah went to see
the head of the firm in that quiet
!. straightforward way which was her
heritage.
"Mr. Day." she said, "You do not yet
know it, but my brother has stolen two
hundred and fifty dollars of your
; money. Here it is. He came to me
and told it himself. Be good to us, let
him resign and keep this matter quiet.
We shall make man of him and this
: will be the new start"
Of course he acceded; not one man
in thousand could have done other
wise. Henry came home, worked in
the garden, went to night-school,
: studied under Sarah's guidance, found
where he belonged, got in a machine
shop at last, struck his gait, and
held it.
Mr.. Day heard of all this, watched
Henry's progress, saw that he was Of
fered junior partnership five years
later. Then he met Sarah on the street
one afternoon and made an explana-
ton: Perhaps you think it odd that
urged Brown to take your brother
into the firm and guaranteed him. Well,
: certainly owe it to you and to him.
found out afterwards why your
brother went wrong. My head clerk,
a much older man, made a lot of him,
. taught him expensive tastes, let him
into the whole thing; that man injured
dozen young fellows and l fired him
good and quick. You knew this?"
Eyes, sir" she replied.