The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-30
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
PREPARING FOR THE NEW WORK

had Just about enough money to
buy the white dress the management
required the girls to wear. But as my
room rent was paid IN advance, and
would have to spend nothing for food,
decided to risk it,
'Yeuaean come at onee?" Mr.. Har-
per. as he told his name WIS, asked.
In the morning. yes" Then with
out scarcely realizing that the idea had
even entered my own mind, said:
There's girl in the same house
with me; she works in a shop now
would you like her to come if she
IF she is neat and willing. You
say she has a position now?"
Have her come and see me. You
live in the same house. where?''
I gave him our address. He wrote
| it down carefully. just as some one
called him on the telephone.
BE here at S tomorrow morning.
You will be given your hours and
shown your duties by one OF the head
receiver, Bring the other girl along
| if you can"
| I spent the morning shopping. I
bought the cheapest things I could
find that would answer. If didn't
suit. or for any reason did not stay
with them, I would have no use for a
cheap white uniform. The canvas
shoes felt SO comfortable that I was
| sure 1 could stand and walk miles in
them without getting lame as I had in
my high heels.
81 have taken a place in q restau-
rant, I told Mrs. Lynch. IT get the
! same pay and my meals beside"
| was glad to be able to tell her this as
| it would obviate any questions she
Knight have felt inclined to ask about
my leaving the store.
ITS afraid I am that you will git
sick carryin' them big trays. You
amt used to doin' hard work, and it's
| hard work to wait on folks. I tried
kapin boarders onct and it's most out
of me moind 1 wint wild their fussin'
and wanting things they wasn't willin'
| to pay for fa-tall. Folks is mighty
queer whiA it eernes to their stomachs.
Them folks what amt niver had moth
! in anyway is the worst"
| "I1l not get sick" told her, smiI-
ing at her queer talk Sometimes she
spoke quite correctly for a few words.
But if she said very much she lapsed
/ into the funniest progue and pro-
nounced her words in such a funny
way that I had all I could do not to
laugh at her. And wouldn't have
hurt her feelings for anything.
| IT amt so sure you won't. But you
can tell about that after you've tried
it,
1 mended and washed all the rest
OF the day. I had now learned to
wash my clothes so they looked fairly
we'll At first they were so queer
looking, sort of gray, I hated to have
any one see them, and yet I rubbed
4 the skin off my hands trying to get
them clean. But now I had a tiny
wash board which put in the basin,
and a box OF soap powder, and took
fairly we'll.
I was beginning to have a lot of
respect for girls ana women who did
those things well. I never had given
a thought to my bea ukifully laundered
clothes, nor TO the maids who did
them, any more than to the cook or
other servants. Now I dirnly realized
! that all of them had to learn how te
do their work SO perfectly, ana I won
deFed if they had found it hard. OF
IL, because they we're born poor, il
had come easily and naturally.
I could scarcely wait for Mary to
come home. She told me in the morn
ing that it would be after 6. but that
If wanted to wait for her we would
go out to dinner together.
Not in that place we went last
night That's too rich for my blood
IL know a little place what sells grub
for half. It's pretty good, too"
| I had promised to wait, but could
not help wondering IL the place were
clean. I felt sure Mary would not be
too particular. It's cleanliness had
been one of the attractions of the
cafeteria for me
tTomorrow-Mary decides to go with
zena.)