bt, a life time of labor would fail to
cancel. Many, from pride, resort to this means of getting a living,
because--why I never could comprehend--taking boarders is thought to
be more genteel than needlework or keeping a small store for the
sale of fancy articles.

The experience of one of my friends, a Mrs. Turner, who, in the
earlier days of her sad widowhood, found it needful to make personal
effort for the sustenance of her family, I will here relate. Many
who find themselves in trying positions like hers, may, in reviewing
her mistakes, be saved from similar ones themselves.

"I don't know what we shall do!" exclaimed Mrs. Turner, about six
months after the death of her husband, while pondering sadly over
the prospect before her. She had one daughter about twenty, and two
sons who were both under ten years of age. Up to this time she had
never known the dread of want. Her husband had been able to provide
well for his family; and they moved in a very respectable, and
somewhat showy circle. But on his death, his affairs were found to
be much involved, and when settled, there was left for the widow and
children only about the sum of four thousand dollars, besides the
household furniture, which was very handsome. This sad falling off
in her prospects, had been communicated to Mrs. Turner a short time
before, by the administrator on the estate; and its effect was to
alarm and sadden her extremely. She knew nothing of business, and
yet, was painfully conscious, that four thousand dollars would be
but a trifle to what she would need for her family, and that effort
in some direction was now absolutely necessary. But, besides her
ignorance of any calling by which money could be made, she had a
superabundance of false pride, and shrunk from what she was pleased
to consider the odium attached to a woman who had to engage in
business. Under these circumstances, she had a poor enough prospect
before her. The exclamation as above recorded, was made in the
presence of Mary Turner, her daughter, a well educated girl, who had
less of that false pride which obscured her mother's perceptions of
right. After a few moments' silence the latter said--

"And yet we must do something, mother."

"I know that, Mary, too well. But I know of nothing that we can do."

"Suppose we open a little dry goods' store?" suggested Mary. "Others
seem to do well at it, and we might. You know we have a great many
friends."

"Don't think of it, Mary