Year: 1869




Until her fathers death, Annie had been
sent to the best schools. and had faithfully
improved every opportunity, in order to re
alize her strong desire to become athorough-
ly educated woman. She had talent, ener-
gy and industry, and the tenderest love for
her mother and little brothers and sisters, to
stimulate her to the necessary labor. Her
''plan was to qualify herself for teaching,
that she might support her mother aud edu-
cate the younger ones.


After paying the funeral expenses, and
moving into apartments, very few dol
lars remained in Mrs Duncan purse She
thought at first of taking Annic from school
and placing her IN store. But, after due
deiberation, she decided that a good edu-
cation would enable her daughter to earn
living hereafter, in way more congenial to
her tastes; and she resolved to make every
effort possible to continue her at school. In
order to do so, it was necessary to find stu
atoms for her two boys, and to earn money
herself by her needle. With the aid of her
sewing machine and the boys wages, she
managed with the greatest economy to exc
out meager living for them all


1t was hard for Annie to see her mother
toiling as she did, early and late Nothing
but the hope of being able to repay her by
her own labors, as soon as her school educa-
ton should be completed, made her patient
ly endure it.


Miss Thomas had been poor when Mrs
Duncan was rich. 1t was return of many
favors that she had insisted upon Annie
sharing the superior advantages of school
afforded.


Helen Prices indignation increased the
more she thought of her insulted gentility
She gave expression to it that evening
when telling her mother of the poor lew
pupil.


''Is it possible. said Mrs Price, THAT
Miss Thomas has done such an improper
thing? Well, if she is going to teach the
plehian classes, | shall certainly send you
where your associations will be of a more
aristocratic kind. We may be sorry for the
poor but it is not proper that we should
show our sympathy by associating with them.
We must not endanger our social position
by doing 50. What would the Mortimores
and AshburtOns say if they knew this p


Nonsense - was Mr. Prices exclama-
tion, that night, after hearing the news his
wife had intended should shock him as it
had herself What harm is that going to
do Helen? The child has too many absurd
notions. She must be told Of her origin, to
bring little common sense into her head.
This young lady may have been the daugh-
ter of rich man. You surely have lived
in New York long enough to know that for
tunes are often made and lost in day and
that some of the finest houses and handsom-
est parts of the city are occupied by the
most vulgar people-snobs and upstarts
Perhaps this 'plebeian, as you call her. is
AS worthy as we considered ourselves when
We belonged to the same class. y
Mr.. Price how horrible you are, ex-
claimed his wife How can you aUude to
such an unpleasant subject? | would not
for the world have you destroy Helen hap
piness by telling her anything of our early
me nave diMdys htpt IL mum uCi.


We'll, now, | have been of the opinion
for long time that it would do Miss Hell
en- good to know that was poor mechanic
and you tailoress in our young days. | see
no reason why | should be ashamed of the
fact; aud, if you are, the sooner you get
rid of such ridiculous folly the better. For
| assure you that one more venture like that
| haze lately made will speedily reduce us
to our former condition.


Mrs. Price began to weap. 'How can
you be so cruel? IT'S very hard, after ali
mystruggles for gentility, cutting old friends,
and Just getting settled up town, aud firmly
established in the most refined and elegant
circles, to be twitted about former poverty,
and threatened with coming disgrace. <


An account of Miss Thomas shocking
disregard for the patrician sensibilities of
her pupils was also given that same evening
by Julia Monroe to her mother, with lib
eral use of such adiectiyes as vulgar, "
''dowdy, and low born"


Il am mortified, my daughter to hear
such expressions from your lips" replied
Mrs Monroe, after listening patiently to
Julia's excited account When will you
learn that true gentility is not in the purse,
but in the mind and heart? If these are
the notions you are getting from your pres
ent companions. | shall regret that | ever
sent you to Miss Thomas school, | have
told you many times that nothing in this
country is more uncertain than wealth. A
family may be in one generation rich in
the next poor recall at this moment the
misfortunes of very dear friend of your
fathers and mine II it had not been for
the kindness of her father, your parents
would have lost all the wealth they inherit
ed. and would now be among the class you
so wickedy despise Anna Duncan was"


why, that is the name of this girl
interrupted Julia.


May it not be possible" asked Mrs.
Monroe, turning to her husband, who had
put down his paper at the mention of the
name, that is our old friend whom we lost
sight of while we We're in Europe ?''