Year: 1875

From Appleton's Journal


Betty's Story.


stood by the garden fence the morn
ing before | was to leave the old house
forever, and looked up and down the
road. The first who came along was the
child OF neighbor, little girl of eight
years. on an errand for milk, with white
mug in one hand, and her two pennies
tightly clutched in the other. Coming
along in the same direction was a singu-
lar looking man in velyetcen and cordu-
roy-the clothes well fitted but much
worn. His long handled net in one hand
and his tin box slung at his side, were not
necessary to show me, that he was "a bug
hunter" for the cruel wretch gave a visi-
BILE sign of his calling in butterfly pinned
to his hat, with its wings fastened down
by slips OF cardboard. l saw that he was
young and good-looking, and he had
taste Tor more OF the animal creation than
insects, for he honored me with a pro-
longed stare. showed my dislike at this
scrutiny in some way, for he turned his
gaze to the other side of the road and con-
templated it with great earnestness.


Just then heard cry Sally Perry,
the little girl in question. had stumbled
and fallen, breaking the mug and scatter
ing her money in the dirt. The ug-hunter
quickened his steps, raised the little girl.
and helped her to find her money. Then
he took her by the hand and led her to the
country store, which stood a short dis
tance above. They both emerged pres
emily, Sally with new mug, the two
chatting together, and they were soon
lost in the turn of the road


sighed. This was to be my last day
in the village. / was an orphan and
henceforth was to make my own way in
the world.


My father had been one of those unfor-
tunate men who seem to be industrious
without success, and who manage to be
always pushing on without advancing a
step. He was a bad manager. So long
as my mother lived, he conlrived to exist
without being more than trifle behind
hand each year but those trifles accumu-
lated until, in many years, they made a
considerable sum. BY my mothers ener-
gy, which conquered my fathers indecis-
ion, my brother Victor had been educated
as civil engineer, and, few months af-
ter her death. had been offered situation
in Brazil, which he had at once accepted
was thus left alone with my father TO
keep house. AS we could not afford to
maintain Il servant, | did all the labor of
our petty housekeeping. The work agreed
with me, and. in spite of all the shifts and
contrivances TO which | was driven, l kept
lively, healthy and strong. The result
was, that l had no society of my own
years. My father had been born and bred
a gentleman, and being without means,
shrunk from contact with those of his or
der. He grew more reserved day by day,
and even morose, and, after the death of
my mother, lost his grip on life entirely,
and so died.


| was left alone My father had Il
maiden sister who had wealth, and who
knew how to keep it, and even add to it.
but there was no intercourse between her
and my father, and did not even know
where she lived. The funeral expenses
managed to deiray, and then found my
self with little money. knowing nothing
of the law and caring less, as woman
generally does, | went through no formal
ity of administration, but sold the house
hold effects for what they would bring
paid off the law debts my father had left,
deposited one half of the money with the
rector OF the parish tur my brother Vic
| tor, if he ever came to claim it, and with a
hundred and nine dollars in my pocket.
and my fare paid, went TO New York to
seek some kind OF employment


| had notion of becoming II teacher.
A woman in need always tries to teach
professionally. and her desire in that Ill
rection is in exact ratio to her liability.
could draw tolerably well, and, though |
had little knowledge of thorough bass or
counter-point. could sing or play music at
sight and was deXterous performer on
the piano-torte. If could get scholars in
music or drawing. or situation in some
school, could do very well. So found
a cheap boarding-house, with the rector's
recommendation, put modest advertise
ment in the Herald, and waited.


But no note came requesting my seryi-
ces. and no pupils inquired for Miss Nor
man. My full name was Florence Eliza
beth Norman Grey; but | had dropped
the first and last part OF it. Norman was
the name of an old college-mate OF nv
father, and Florence had been given me
after his sister whose christening gilt-a
silver mug still retained. l waited.
however. patiently, until l was reduced to
my last ten dollar bill, and then sat down
diligently to study the advertisements in
the Herald, thinking if the mountain
would not come to me, it was about time
! l should go to the mountain.


| | skipped the shop girl list Not that |
had the slightest objection to remain all
day and simper, and look insolently at
customers, and throw back my head, and
tap the counter with my pencil and cry
out, "Ke-yaish." at the proper intervals;
but knew that should have to stand ali
day on my feet, my task-master not car
ing that he is staying his unhappy slaves
in insisting on that wearying position.
Laudanum would furnish a cheaper mode
of taking ones life, and be less painful.
Companion to an elderly lady was more
enticmg, but to be snarled at and nagged
by my employer, and suspected by a tribe
OF nephews and neices Of vague designs
on the family estate. was not pleasant
thing TO think OF, much less to endure
But ran through all the advertisements
without seeing anything. turned to the
servants columns, euphuistically headed,
"Help wanted--temales, and amused
myself with the style used to express the
| upI HaSiraa of A..