CHANGING HER MIND

New Zealand Tablet, 13 November 1913, Page 61

CHANGING HER MIND

‘ I shall never feel at home with those girls, and I can never learn to like them,’ declared Barbara Sheldon, bitterly, as she climbed the steep stairs to the top floor of the rooming house on which her cheerless room was situatedthe one spot in the big, unfriendly city that she could call her own. It seemed to Barbara as though years had passed instead of weeks since she stood in the churchyard of her home town and saw her mother’s silent form lowered to its last resting place. Ever since she had finished her course in the grammar school 'four years ago she had stood shoulder to shoulder with her mother in their struggle to earn a livelihood. Then an attack of pneumonia had laid her mother low, and after a few days’ illness Mrs. Sheldon had closed her tired eyes on the things of this world, leaving Barbara to solve the riddle of life as best she might. After the first shock of her mother’s death had subsided Barbara proceeded to sell their few household effects, and with very little money in her pocket, but a great deal of grim determination in her heart, she had turned her face cityward. Once in the city, however, finding work proved to be a harder proposition than, Barbara dreamed. She met with curt refusals on all sides, and a sickening feeling of terror crept over her as she wondered what she should do if her money gave out, before she obtained a position. At last, when matters looked particularly hopeless, she secured a position as salesgirl in the shirtwaist department of one of the large stores. Barbara entered upon her new duties earnestly resolving to do the best work of which she was capable for the firm that .employed her. There was only one crumpled roseleaf to her good fortune. She did not like her fellow-employees— she did not wish to like them. They were loud, noisy, ill-bred, and ignorant, in her opinion. She could see nothing desirable about their acquaintance, and she repulsed their friendly little overtures with marked coldness. Far from feeling mortally hurt at her frigid manner, the objects of her dislike treated her haughty attitude toward them as a joke, and more than ojice she overheard such expressions as ‘ Look who’s here,’ and Some class to her, kid,’ accompanied by a mocking giggle. So the days dragged on, and in her secret heart Barbara realised that she was very lonely. In spite of her determination to have nothing to say to her work-

a-day companions she could not resist watching them as they laughed and chatted together during their unoccupied moments. The morning following Barbara's passionate declaration against her business associates she went t n her work feeling particularly bitter against the world in general. It was her salary day. She figured the five-dollar bill and the two ones which the paymaster handed her, feeling no satisfaction at receiving her hard-earned money. The moment she returned to her department the aisle manager ordered her to wait on a customer, and, hastily slipping her small pusse into the shallow pocket of her black apron, Barbara hurried forward to obey: It was fully an hour later before she remembered her money. With an apprehensive shiver she thurst her hands-into her apron pocket. Her purse was gone ! ' What shall Ido V she breathed. ' Oh, what can Ido I haven't a cent of luncheon money, and not even car fare. I won't be able to pay my room rent, and : what will my landlady say to me?' Barbara leaned against a table for support. Her knees trembled and she felt a choking lump rise in her throat. Then the tears came hot and fast. She made a brave effort to regain her composure, but without avail. 'Hello, girlie! What's the matter?' There was a note of sympathy in the loud voice. Barbara raised her head to meet the eyes of the very girl she had most disliked in the department. Then she muttered: ' Please go away • it's nothing of any importance to you.' 'Now, see here, kid,' rejoined the girl,, goodhumoredly. 'I know better. People don't cry over nothing.' just received my salary. It was all I had.' , Say L now, that's a shame!' exclaimed the girl. ' Don't think me inquisitive, but how much did you have In it?' 'Seven dollars,' replied Barbara tearfully, 'and I haven't another cent in the world.' ' You certainly are in hard luck,' sympathised the girl. ' I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go round among the girls and tell them to watch out for news of it. I shan't be gone long. You needn't come with me. You just go clown to the lavatory and bathe your face, and when you come back we'll have good news for you.' _ . • With an encouraging nod the girl hurried away, leaving Barbara in a state of mingled hope and fear. Half an hour later, as she stood at the wrapping desk waiting for a package the girl rushed up to her triumphantly waving something in her hand. 'Here's your seven dollars/ she called cheerily. Now put it safely away this time, and don't you dare lose it again Barbara's face brightened, then fell as she looked at the money. ' That isn't mine/ she said slowly. ' I lost a five dollar "Bill..and two ones. Here are seven ones.' 'Now never mind that/ retorted the girl. 'You just take this money. It's yours all right' enough. There isn't a girl in this department that doesn't feel sorry to hear that you Tost your money. You see, we understand just what losing a week's pay means, and so well—we just {Thought we'd better make up that seven dollars among ourselves.' A deep flush rose to Barbara's face. ' I can't take it/ she faltered, 'I don't deserve it. It's perfectly lovely of you girls, but it wouldn't be right. You see I've— been just horrid to all of you. ' • 'Oh, forget it!' was the impatient exclamation. ' You're excused. You didn't understand us, and our rough and ready ways. Now that you've got a little acquainted with us you'll think differently about lots of things. Cheer up now and don't be afraid to hold out your hand for the money.' She forced the bills into Barbara's unwilling hand. 'All you have to do is to keep it and think that you'll pass the same good turn along to some other girl who happens to lose her purse. That's what we're all here for— help one another.'

That night Barbara fairly ran up the steep stairs to her room. There was a happy smile on her lips and a feeling of ' good will toward men ' in her heart that she had not experienced for many weeks. ' They are the dearest girls in the world, 'she said to herself softly, and I like every one of them.'