Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-03-02


and Italians. At first Jennie, all I'M
used to their manner and mode of
expression, unwittingly held herself
aloof. But she found them so bright,
so responsive, and with such an eager
desire to learn, that soon all barriers
were leveled by the spirit of CANA
raderie in the quest of a common
cause.
In June the club discontinued for
the summer. Miss Kraft informed the
girls she was going to be married in
two weeks, and would not be back till
September. The firm that employed
Jennie failed in August and closed
its doors. Then began discouraging
search for work. When day after day
of the weary tramp of the hot streets
resulted in nothing, and Jennie beheld
her small store of money nearing the
vanishing point, the only alternative
of going home doomed UP before her.
AS last resort she went to the ex-
changes where wOmen's work is sold,
but it needed money to buy materials,
Her mother, glad beyond expression
to see her, could not, however, conceal
the fact that finances were at very
low ebb. But Jennie, in the club and
her tour of the exchanges, had learned
few things which she meant to put
to practical use. There was still
some fruit on the place, the plums
were looking well, and wild blackber-
ries in plenty were to be had for the
picking. Jennie had arranged with
two of the exchanges to try her jel-
lies and jams, and while she did not
know much about making them, she
knew her mother did, and she could
learn, so she set to work. The first
consignment sold a bit slowly, but
there was an encouraging call for
more.
The next unheard-Of thing she at
tempted was the forming of girls
club for mutual improvement and So
cial enjoyment. She had obtained per-
mission to use the schoolroom for the
first meeting. Either through a mis-
understanding, Overmastering curiOs-
ity, or sheer deviltry, several of the
girls brothers and SWeethearts drifted
in, and sat together in the back seats.
The girls We're up in front, curious and
eXpectant. Jennie beheld the male
contingency with just touch of dis
may. She also discovered Joe Banks
among them.
81 believe" she said, Eve can get
together for study and social evenings,
and have some very good times. In
a small place like this, although we
are thrown together a good deal, we
never really know each other very
well. 1t is not knowing each other
that makes the miserable, foolish gos-
sip, makes us say and do unkind
things we never would if we knew.
Where I've been I've seen what 1t did
for the girls. Oh, you don't know how
wonderful it was to me to see how
the unselfishness, the kindness seemed
to wipe out criticism and spiteful
words among those girls, just from
getting together and knowing each
other in the right way"
The young men, who had come to
have some fun, looked at the floor, or
up at the lights, but remained quiet.
Jennie went on to explain the business
Of forming the club, and added: 1--WE
had not thought of having gentleman
MEMBERS but it may be a great advan-
tage to have them" Here audible
smokers came from the back of the
room. They subsidized when Joe Banks
rose to his six feet of height and said !:
II think it would be greatly to our
advantage if the boys were allowed to
join, and I hope the ladies will amend
their constitution"
Jennie promised that this would be
considered at the next meeting. But
it was all in such formal, impersonal
manner that Joe wondered If she had
forgotten his existence. After the
meeting he hung around to speak to
her. He wondered how 1t was the
great city had not spoiled her, but
instead had opened into bloom a ma
ture quite wonderful to him. In a
stammering, ineffective way he tried
to tell her this, but she stopped him
with some businesslike questions rela-
tive to the preparation of the ground
for spring planting. She meant to
have a garden, and especially wanted
to start small fruits. He asked her If
he might come and give her any help
full service he could. She assented in
a dignified manner more BETTING the
new president of "The Helpers" than
the little Jennie Ames he used to
know.
1t was surprising the number of new
facts that sprang up regarding the
culture of small fruits, which made 1t
necessary for Joe to call at the Ames
cottage. The jellles and jams were
selling well, and Jennie was much abb
sorbed and happy in her work.
One day when the autumn began to
turn the greenery into gold and scar
let, Jennie asked Joe where she could
find bittersweet. She remembered
h..