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Page 19
I have given the ginger-jar a note of hand for two dollars from the
cigar-box, and it has resumed business at the old stand. Compartment
four, cigar-box, which is perfectly innocent, as it was borrowed out of
house and home by compartment three, also had to give a note to the
sugar-bowl, and I made the ginger-jar give me a note for my two dollars
birthday-money.
Whether all these obligations will be met without lawsuits, I cannot
tell; but I know by the masterly manner in which I have fought my way
through these intricate affairs with the loss of only four dollars in
four weeks, that I possess decided business ability, and this gives me
courage to struggle on.
December 30, 188-.
. . . We are having hard times, dear old Margery, though I do not
regret coming to San Francisco, for mamma could not bear the slightest
noise or confusion, nor lift her hand to any sort of work, in her
present condition. At any rate, we came by Dr. George's orders, so my
conscience is clear. . . .
Mrs. Chadwick has sent us only sixty-five dollars this month, instead
of eighty-five. Some of the boarders are behind in their payments.
The Darlings have gone away, and "she hopes to do better next month."
Mamma cannot bear to press her, she is so kind and well-meaning; so do
not for the world mention the matter to Dr. George. I will write to
him when I must, not before.
Meanwhile I walk to school both ways, saving a dollar and a quarter a
month. Have found a cheaper laundry; one dollar more saved. Cut down
fruit bill; one dollar more. Blacked my white straw sailor with
shoe-blacking, trimmed it with two neckties and an old blackbird badly
molted; result perfectly hideous, but the sugar-bowl, clothing, and
sundry fund are out of debt and doing well. Had my faded gray dress
dyed black, and trimmed the jacket with pieces of my moth-eaten
cock's-feather boa; perfectly elegant, almost too gorgeous for my
humble circumstances. Mamma looks at me sadly when I don these ancient
garments, and almost wishes I had n't such "a wealthy look." I tell
her I expect the girls to say, when I walk into the school-yard on
Monday, "Who is this that cometh with dyed garments from Bozrah?"
Mamma has decided that I may enter a training-school for kindergartners
next year; so I am taking the studies that will give me the best
preparation, and I hope to earn part of my tuition fees, when the time
comes, by teaching as assistant. . . .
I go over to Berkeley once a week to talk Spanish with kind Professor
Salazar and his wife. They insist that it is a pleasure, and will not
allow mamma to pay anything for the lessons. I also go every Tuesday
to tell stories at the Children's Hospital. It is the dearest hour of
the week. When I am distracted about bills and expenses and mamma's
health and Mrs. Chadwick's mismanagements and Yung Lee's mistakes (for
he is beautiful as an angel and stupid as a toad), I put on my hat and
go out to the children, poor little things! They always have a welcome
for me, bless them! and I always come back ready to take up my trials
again. Edgar is waiting to take this to the post-box, so I must say
good-night. He is such a pleasure to us and such a comfort to mamma.
I know for the first time in my life the fun of having a brother.
Ever your affectionate POLLYKINS.
The foregoing extracts from Polly's business letters give you an idea
only of her financial difficulties. She was tempted to pour these into
one sympathizing ear, inasmuch as she kept all annoyances from her
mother as far as possible; though household economies, as devised by
her, lost much of their terror.
Mrs. Oliver was never able to see any great sorrow in a monthly deficit
when Polly seated herself before her cash-boxes and explained her
highly original financial operations. One would be indeed in dire
distress of mind could one refrain from smiling when, having made the
preliminary announcement,--"The great feminine financier of the century
is in her counting-room: let the earth tremble!"--she planted herself
on the bed, oriental fashion, took pencil and account-book in lap,
spread cigar-box, sugar-bowl, and ginger-jar before her on the pillows,
and ruffled her hair for the approaching contest.
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