The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-02
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
IN SEARCH OF WORK.
CHAPTER %.

w nat olQ the coming OF this aunt,
who really was no aunt at all, mean
for me? AS heard mothers sobbing
gradually grow less, l distinguished
the calm voice talking quietly. Then
went back to them.
'Zena, L am a lonely old woman.
Don't you think it is your mothers
duty to come and keep me company
for while2 You, too, if you viii. 1
have no one to care for. no one who
cares particularly for me-"
Would you like to go, mother?"
81 think-so-Zena. I am SO tired.
Perhaps I. could rest there" That
had been her constant plaint-she was
so tired"
"Of course you can restI No one
could rest in a noisy place like New
York with all the street noises-even
at night"
But, zena-?"
81 must get to work, mother
haven't been able to look for work
even" l turned to Aunt Susan, be
cause mother hated so to be left alone.
But if she gees with you 1 must find
a position at once"
After a good deal of talk-mostly
between Aunt Susan and met was
decided that mother should go and
stay with her for a few months at
least. When she urged me, 1 firmly
told her 1t was necessary that 1 begin
to earn money. I had refused to al
low mother to visit. She would pay
her board. Aunt Susan had very lit
be fair to foist mother upon her, even
tho she had invited her, without pay
ing
So we packed up our few posses
sions again. and mother and Aunt Su-
san started upstate. I gave up the sit
the bedroom until 1 found work, then
I would move where it would not take
so much time to go back and forth.
( Not a doubt entered my mind that
I would be successful. Not once did
I think that would not be in demand
as a worker. Had 1 not good edu
cation? If the girls I saw in stores
and on the street at the time the
workers filled them, were capable of
earning, I surely would have no
trouble.
I gave mother-rather gave to
aunt for her-all but 500 of what
was left When I said goodbye to
them at the Grand Central station, all
1 had in the world was that $10o, a
lot of stylish clothes-too stylish by
far for working girl. I soon learned
and my faith in myself
1 bought all the papers and took
them home with me. felt so sad, SO
alone, 1 feared 1 would break down,
and 1 realized 1 must waste no time
giving way to my emotions. l was not
particularly strong, and SO must also
conserve my strength.
1t had been hard to let mother go,
while at the same time it was a re-
lief. 1 had begun to be very anxious
as to what We would do when our
money gave out.
1 thought many times of what Aunt
Susan had said: Il guess the Lord
sent me-" 1 was sure He had.
I spent the entire evening search
ing the columns Female Help Want
ed" Surely when SO many people
were in need of help, would have no
trouble at ALL 1 cut out dozens of
the most promising advertisements,
arranging them according to location
as nearly as possible SO that l might
save time and carfareD .r.f
1, who had never used street cars.
was anxious new to save the nickel
ride would cost
I had decided I would try for
position as private secretary. I wrote
a good hand, which 1 thought a requi-
site. So the next morning l started
out on my search for employment
sans experience, sans proper clothes,
sans everything save courage.
called at place after place in the
business district only to learn that the
places had been filled; or that because
/ was neither a stenographer or typist.
1 wouldn't do
I did not get thru the day without
other unpleasant experiences also. One
man told me 1 didn't look as if I need
ed work. He had looked me up and
down. My clothes were not indica-
tive of need, he said, with a sneer.
1 didn't tell him neither mother or
I had put on mourning because dad
hated the idea. Neither did I tell him
1 wore stylish clothes because they
were all I had. and could not afford
others.
(Tomerrew=A position at last)