How It Came To Pass

In a ccrtain littlo town whoso narac would be of small moment to the reader, aruong lio matter what lofty mountains, there alighted trom the northwardbound train, onc pleasant September dav, n young ludy, who procoeued fofthwith to the prominent hotel of the place. Tliose who consulted the registry book after she had therein entered her name found written Miss A Dodge, and a resolution whs instantly formed to pav all due honor to the bearer of the name. The anival was deenied quite opportune, for the uiajority of the guests, havin been stationary trany weeks as permanent summer boarders, were quite ready for a new diversion. The next. morning Miss Dodge ivas agreeably snrjirised at haring her uc quaintunce sought by quite a nuinber of ladies, and at realizing altogeiher in am'ount of attention which was unparalleled in her expcrienee. She received an invitation to walk to an attraotive spot with onc group of ladies, another intited her to drive over to the luke and yet a third made an sppointment with I her to ascend the hill in timo to view the sunset. All this was very tiatteriug to Miss Dodge, nor could she avoid regarding it us extremely promising to business prospecta. Appaiently the good ladies had been apprised of her mission, and were preparad to profit by it. Neverfcheless, the cominents made byher new acquaiutBSCea whcn slie referred to business puzzled her, and she was astonished to find tbem so convorsant with her Tievvs of life. Sevcral tiuie she was on the point of inquirint: who liad introdüed her to their notice, but somethiug always interfered. In the coiuse of the day Miss Dodge found timo to oall on Mr. Martin, the jüsiness man whose iudueemcata had jrought her to the place. To her infinite relief, úte letned that he was absent Erom homo, and would not return for everal dys. It seerat'd indeed delightful tbati bet'oro settling down to her coiin'nii v.-ork, she might conscientiously enoy the bright holiday vouchsaïed to her. During the evening the guests Were nearly all assem bied in the parlor, ;iv adies aud gentlemen vied with euch other in iloing the stranger homage. iliss JJouge naa always Deen consideren is'ivrable; in the present genial atmosihere stie was becoming truly brilliarit. ilie was impelled to relate anetdotee and adventurt iu a marnier that astonished lerself, and sho found sundry crude opiuons ripening into defimte foroi under :ho defieren tial questioniug to which sh was subjected. The Becoiid day, like the first, contüined (i series of pleasant surprises. In the BorniüK ''v deputatïon of citizsns oalled upon MÍÍ5S Doilgo to request her tü attend a grand gala reeeption to be held in her iionor at tho tov, n hall. This was very channing, but entirely tho reverse of diij'thins; phe luid anticipated &ÍÍ6S Dodge was twenty-iive yoars of agi', and rather above the medium )icij;!:t ot' vvoinan. Siie lmd exuberant magges öf jlossy bro'wn hair, whietshe Wore siraply ooiled above her simpi-ly head, anfl her lavire, lustroiia eyes were of that hnzeltinted giny whiuh is iiidicatire of a deciive temperament. Her features were not actually handsome, vet they were top oharttcteristipally defined to be ever stainped as hoinely ; and wlnn ïlluiuined by the sniile which was peculiarly its own, the face was very attractive. Her caniaae was incomparable, and, moreover, bIio stooil wpII, which tiio Countess Hiiim-IIahn, ín her Faustma, tells us few svoinon can do. The rcception was .1 sucfess. Nunnerous prominent citizcnk barangüe the new corner in words of kindly welcome, and to e"ach littlc ppeocli she veutured npon appropriate reply. Tnrougout the evening constant nderenco was madü to a certain Judge Alder, who wasunfovtu nately uut of town, and whose abBcnce was deempd the ono drawback to the evening enjoymnnt. His wi'o and danghter were present, and they assured Miss Dodge that tlie judge would do liiniself the pleasure of calling as soon as he retornad. Direetly after broatfast next morninp Jude Alden's card was hrouglit to ouv frieud, and in 110 little trepidution she bctook herself to tho parlor to meet tho important man. A most comical looking little individual, endowed with that sleek complucency and comfortahle rotundity indicativo of luxtiriant living, arose as sho entered, and pprang forward with ludicious alacrity to meet her. As his extended hand met hers, tho eye-glasses, so foppishly perched upon his uose, feil frora their proud position, and his honor was forced to readjust them before unbonleniiig himself of the speech trembling upon his lips. " Miss Dodge," ho finally began, ing ono pluinj) httle hnnd npon nis beart, white with tho other be softly prc-SRed the lady's fingers, " it affords mo infinite natisfaction to have the opportunity of inaking your acquaintanco. I have long been your most ordent adm rer, and I may sa fel y assert that I first interested our townspeoplo in you." Hiie the littlo man assnmed a modest expression, whilo Mií5s Dodge, as sho gently disengaged her haüd and nioticned hev visitor to a Beat, wondered ho-w in tho world he had corne to tiiiuk of pleading her causa. " You. aro very kind, Judge Alden," sho rejoined. " Bnfora coming hero I sohooled mj'self to do battlo witli uoul rebufe, and instoad, I met with universal kindness. Apart t'rom individual satisfaction tbis ia encouraging to a v,-omaii who ha3 tho best intérest! of her sex at hoart." " Ah, my dear lady," was the suave reply, "the entire tendeney of yoar labora proves the toree ot' yoar last wordg The woinea of the land havo cause to thank you i'or the coinmon-sense views you have dissctninated. ' Ivory ioite is of avail, I ara uware, bul hitherto my litrid of act i on has been so smaü that the fruit of my efforts can soarceiy havo been spread vcry widely throujru the land.'1 " You aro too modest - too modest. Why, it would be impossible to estímate ood you have done." "Bat liow do yón lenow anything nbout 1110 y Mr. Maitin has hitherto been my only acquaintance here, and with hini - " "A town poswssing the facilillos of oura," iuterrupted the juilgo. chuokling with exclusive amusement, while the wiödonj ot' in owl Bettled upon his countenaricc, " Deed soaroely to rely upon a Ir. Martin tbr information. We manage to keep up with the cummt literatura of t!ie day, I .nie yoti' '■ I do bot doubt it, yet canr.ot coiot-ive wliat yon thus learn abont me." '.' Truly jthut is a comioul remark - you m:it excuse my saying go, Miss Dodge - i mi di UUU111..U r uiam. ior a iaay oí your (ion to m.-iko." " I do not understand you," she said, regarding hiiu witíi a puzeied ir. "Why, situply, the auihor of yourwrit :inpti " f'My wrltings- my writings! Wky, v!i have you geen any of my letters í" "It would be rather nbsurd to iutrude upon Misa Doáge'a prívale oorrespondBnoei whea ben booka and magazine arficli 8 have so large a circulation." "My books? My magazine sitíeles ? Judge Alden, I never wrote a line for pablication in my lite," cried the astonisbed giri. The little jiídge looiced seriouslv béfén led and assuined rather a scvere tone, as he replied : "Iiss Abigail Dodge forgeta that hor disguise haa long sineo been penetratcd, and that our quiet comnnmity, as welí as ! the great woiid, reooguizes her identitv with öail Hanulton." "Gail Hamilton ' 1? Oh, Judge Alden ! Truly, this explanation of the mystery never cntered ray brain. Wliat shall I do What will the peoplethink of me'r' I ain ut Gail Hamilton ; mv name is not Abigaü. I am s-imply" Amiie Dodgo, and 1 catne hcre to open a inillinery and dressmuking oslabüsliraent in oonneotipn with Mr. Atartin's store. My rrc ption In iv has astonished ino, but Iattnbuted it to a de&ire to encourngc tuy industrial schciaeSi" The judge seeuied quite as much flustered daring ibis speech aa did his painfully embarraesed companion, but he v not the man to perniit circumstaucesluns to audanger. his dignity, Cloeely ques" tioning Miss Doclgc upoö thefacta of her luie, he was soon thoiougbly conversant with all iK'i'üiul pointp. " My dear Misa Dodge," he then said, you talk well ; and if you will be guided by me. you ueed hare no diiHculty in extrieating younself trom tbis trifling dileinma." Hureupon he proposed that shn should at to his caliiiig another meeting at the town-hall, and that she should undertake to explam her positicn us sho had dono to him. A!so, lio suggestea tlint it might be s well to let it be supposed that he and his family bad known from the rirst who sha was. Without somo decisivo uteO, all her v.'cll matured plans would be ruined, and therefore sho yielded. The judge periorined his part of the oompact, und ai'ter keeping her room all day, Miss Dodge stood thut evening once more Burrounded by au udmiring assemblage. Tuoio was BOinetbiag regal in tho gul;; appearanee; her eyes sparkled with un unwoated fire, her ooruploxion was brilliant, aod people won dei ed why thoy hud never büfore discovered how "hand some blio was. Leaning agaióet her oriinson covered desk, sha gazed eahuly over the room until a hush had fallen over the audience, thcn she began, as tollo ws: " My friends, I learn from Judge Aldea tbat I havo boen baslcihg in the sunshine of favors aceorded to me under a total misapprehension. This deeply mortifies me; and unaccustom;il ns 1 a in to speaking in public, I oannot rost nntil 1 have ezplaiued cay position to you. When vou haar all, your gcnerosity wiil, I trust, cxonerate me trom any suspicion of coming anu.ng you under talse pretenoes." An observer it' physiognomy would have fouud a bundant material ter invrstigution in tliat assemblage when the speaker proclaimod tfaat sho was not a culebra ed writer, but simply Annie Dodg?, an uuknown module, tíoine txehaiiL:' d lances ;t' consternation and surpriue, i t.icrs ehdeavored to look unconcerued, as tliough thev had all alone behmd the I dl otlers, in whotii a sense of the ludiorons was keeuly developed, seerned beartily to enjoy the li:;comfiluii) of their neighbpra With one accord. wever, all paid breathtesa attenticn to the musical voico of the noblelouking wonian beiore thera. "From my earliest cliildhood," sho aaid, " I bave yearned for independence. l)o not understftiid that I was imbuod by a quixotio desire to wiest froni so-called tyrannioal man oertaia vital eoncessions. 1 hitve never fuund man more tyrarmioal than wonian, and I hold it for truth that, as society is at present fashioued, we vomen havu to a graat extunt in our own hands our weal and our woe. Ev ry earntst woman who makes practical use of tho enormoua inüuence she has it in her power to exert, aocunipliahes more for the good of iiuinanity taan liundrods wlio bliudly prate aiiuut vague rilits and rrongs. Wherevei woman turno, Work stares lier in tho face ; and if sho strives to attain firmness of purpose and noble siiperiority in the avenues alroady opened to her, new ones will present tfiemselves when needed. "My lathor is ono of the officers of a prominent insurancü company in l'hiladelphia. He possesses no peconiary resourees bevond bia galary, and I am the oldest of his seven daughtérg. With their slender means, ïny parents wished their mode of lite to appear on au equal footing with that of their more prokperoua neighborg, and this Btrugle to keep up appear mees, which is the bnno of many Philadolphia familie?, robbed both father and mol lier of all jieace. As wo seven girls adran eed into womanhood, our position became undurable. I grew mehmchohc in broodiug over it, and pieturmg to layaelf how diiferent our lot would have been had some of uí been boys. We could hav;s then havo added sometían g to the comnion stock, instead of passing our days in paltry manceuvrea to present to the world a hollow show at the oost of real comfort ; we couhl havo lightened the burdeus of our parents, as we grew older, instoad of inoreasing thera. The desire to Uring about a changa gained firm possession of me. But what could I do? Educated at a fashíonable school, tny poor brain was lnd?n with p. chaotio rnass of faets, none of which were sufficiently well digegted to bo of any tical ftdyamage to ra?, "All the bonrrets vnrn in onr family had been made by me from tho time I was quito a emiü girl. My mal wore apt to be scant, yet I generally Bucceednd in producing a presentable aröcle. üne dy, in making a cali, I found a yoüng fricnd bewildeied over her iir.st efïbrt at bonnet manufacturo. My longing to handln her profusión of rich matcrials was so great that wlile we wero t til kin g I took the work from her. In less than an hour I had fnshioned a most stylish little bonnet. 3Iy frinnd was in an ecstaoy oïdelight, and told mo that if I would only go mío tha millinery business shü would gct ma all the cusiom I needcd. At once I coiifíded to hor my desire for profitable oocupatiou, and the resull was that shu gave several orders from her own fomily, yrith promisea of others from hor i'riends, provided my parenta would permit me to accept thtni. "I went homo in high glee, which was only dampeoèd by a dread of tho oppoBition I must encountur. When I first broached the subject the dear souls were shocked, they would not object to my teaching, but my father said that so long as be was nble to keep a roof over our heads he woiild not be disgraoed by having a daughter of his earn" her livelihood by uicnial exertions. ' How would it he,' said I, ' if I could write a book r1 ' That would be quite a different matter,' was the reply. ' Or what if I could play the organ, or sing in ohurchi" That, too, I V.'aa told would bo considered nnoxceptionable. ' Well. then," Í petulantly exïlaimed, 'ifthe Lord had endowed me with apiitude for teaching, or i tion for authorship, or talent for mobio, paiutiug or sculpture, and thoso gifts i:id beeu fostëred by adnontion, it would )o respectable to convert them into uoney, but it would be degradaties to end ny presentsham lift) in any oth?r way. Dear parenta, let mo prove the falsity of ;his Öieory, let me have my way, and [ prouiisoyou that I will win 'the esteem, hrough my dignified eapestnesï, of all hose whose good opinión is worth having. 3esidcs, I will make money enough to iducate those of your duughtf-rs who are uoregifted than I for such oallinga as ou now deem respectable. Those of ue vho should bo so fortúnate as to marry veil will make ir.uch botter wives for ïot squandering our youth in idle frivplity.' _ " Before long I was happy in the conviction that I had converted my parents. 1 have always found that when prtjudice bliiids truly gcod people, there is httle dimculty in forcing the scalcs to fall from their eyes, if trntha are properly preseuted. Our neighbörs were considerably horrifled when they found that my father's d.iughtor had becomo a ' iwoutan, but I assumed, as a matter of oouree, the dignity of my choico, thus forcing respect. It did my heart good to find how many girls, situated as I had been, profed by my example, and set to work. I derived such wholesome benefit frotn my exertions that I longed to go forth on a crussde against idleness and I was truly happy when I guoceeded' in earning money enough to execute rny plans for the girJs. My sister Eita d-veloped talent fot musió and a glorious voiue, and has long gince repaid me for all that I expended upon hor musical education. Sbe has a salary of 800 a year for singingin a ohurch choir, and derivi sa nioe inoome besides iVcm teaching music. Laura, our little landscape painter, madp the acquaintanco of hor 'Coming Man' through the sale of her first picture. Bha makes a most dainty hoasekeeper, but :ier marriage bas nut [qt Br rit .,V fnr ner uuauauu is proud of Eer talent, and .9 constantly encouraging her to new efforts in her studio. gieter Mollio, a vcritiiblo little achoolmistress, is being tducited at a normal school. Lizi, A.ddie and Helen are too young t ) havo their future mapped out f,r thetn, LutI think the fornier mil be a writer oue oí' theso days. i'ather and mothcr are delighted with the vcsr.lt of niy experiment. "Through a friend who passed soveral weeks here this summer, I became in tur-' c-sted in j-our placo, and upon comiuv.nijating nth Mr. Martin was induoed to Man the establishment which wb hope to biave iu opcration next v.-cek. A lady will be here ïhortly to attend to the Ircssmaking departement, although both ït and the millmery will be under my supeivision. We propose seeking assiateaeo araong tho nnemployed young girls of your town. Tliere is no reasou why it should uot be developed into ono of tho most flourishing towns in this part of the country. Your situation is excellent, your water-powor fino; all that you need is to concéntrate your wealth and your energies at home, oountenance and support the establishment of all industrial branches, ronder it to the advuntage of lirst-class professors of art, soience and literatura to take np their abode hore. in order that the talent existingamongthose whoeannot afibrd togo d tor cuitare may not run to waste. And novv let me crave yotir indulgcnce for haring so long oceupied your timp. Kuowing how thorougbly my heart is in :ny work, you may comprehend why I was liable to fall into the culpable egotism of BUpposing that it was niy iiulividual seli in whom you wevo ail interested. In conclusión, let me hope that I may not prove unworthy of having once been mistaken for Gail Hamilton." As the last words wern uttered, liud applause nmg througli tho hall. Judge Aldea forgot his eye-glage, er, he sprang forward to shuke thirspeaKer by the hand. Others followed his example, and in a ruw minutes piain Ansie Dodge was surrounded by as flattering attentions as had been aooordi d to the suppogpd Gail Hamilton. The demoagtration carao from thehearta of the people, for they were fiüed with respect íor tbe éarnest, anas(aming wonian. One and ni! gave promxsos oí enoouragemeñt and support, and MisgDodge wi-nt bsiok to tbe hotel in a yery different frame of mmd from that in vvliioh sho had gallied forth. Three years havo clapned sinoo tho ocourrence of the avenís just recoivied, and tliose who fornierly káew tho town whero uiy story is ioeated would scarcely recognizeitnow. Miss Dodge'd nterpiise prospered finely. Ladieswho luid afways supplied t.hoir wardrohea froin New York or Boston, after ono trial coased to desiro anything superior to whiit thty could obtainathome. Moreov-, r, they extended to Annie Dodge the band of friendly friendship, and mauy a yourig girl in sti-nitc'ud eircumstance?, encouraed by the sociul standing one working-womttn had ftcquired, determinad to emólate her industry Henoeforth thcrp was a nniversal tendency to seek honorable pioymer.c, a vanety ot industrial establishinents sprang up, uutil business attained a truly prosporoua eonditinn. Schoqls began to improve, now that wealth oentered at home, and oppoTtcmitics tbr thu bighast culturo were afforded, leading to the discovery ot' the existenco of imich talent. To day idleness ia searcoly known witliin the tüwn liruits. Rich and poor aliko iind work, the forraer in plauuing home cnterprise, the latter in eïecuting it, while studentsof both classes are kept bttsy. All this is the result of ono wom.in's efforts. Is it not better thau fruitless grumbling? - To-Jli;. A Norristown lady had her kand burneA reeently by an air valve of her range falling on it. "The awlïwjnl part of the "t," says tho local psipp r, " is that this valve boro Ihe putentee's name, and the letters are deeply burned into hor hand, and she fears they will remain therc when tho wouud heals."