But they were mostly white women who purchased these things; and while Ellie was glad to get their trade, she still had the fixed idea that she must get the squaws in the habit of coming in to do their own shopping.
But they were mostly white women who purchased these things; and while Ellie was glad to get their trade, she still had the fixed idea that she must get the squaws in the habit of coming in to do their own shopping.
The quick sale of the new goods made a deep impression on Job Lansing, and he seemed especially pleased at the sales made to the white women at the mines. One morning he approached his niece with the suggestion that she had better keep her eyes open and find out what the women around the mountains needed. Ellie had been doing this for weeks. She had a big list made out already, but she saw no need of telling her uncle. She looked up, her face beaming.
“That's a capital idea, Uncle. I think we might just as well sell them all their supplies.” Ellie was exultant. She knew her troubles were over, that her plan was working out.
Still, she wasn't quite satisfied. A few of the shy squaws had been induced to come up and look at things from the outside, peering into the shop through the door and windows. But there were probably twenty who had not been in the store. If only she could persuade them to come once, there would be no more trouble.
The final stroke which brought the Indians, both men and women, into the store was a bit of good luck. Ellie called it a miracle.
It was after a very heavy rain-storm in the mountains that Jennings, the stage-driver, shouted to her one evening: “Do you mind if I leave a big box here for young Creighton over at the Scotia mine? The road's all washed out by Camp 3, and I don't dare take this any farther. It's one of those phonygrafts that makes music, you know. And say, Miss Ellie, will you telephone him that it's here?”
“Yes,” answered Ellie in an absent-minded way. “I'll telephone him. She was still half dreaming as she heard young Creighton's voice at the other end of the line, but at once she became eager and alert. “I want to ask a favor of you, Mr. Creighton? Your phonograph is here. They can't take it up on account of the washout. May I open it and play on it. I'll make sure that it is boxed up again carefully.”
“Why, certainly, Miss Ellie! I'll be glad to have youenjoy the music. The records and everything are in the box. Perhaps I'll come over and hear it myself.”
The next evening, about eight o'clock, Will Creighton arrived on horseback, and found such a throng of Indians close about the door that he had to go in by the kitchen. He heard the strains of the phonograph music and had no need to ask the cause of the excitement. All the squaws were inside the store. Occasionally one would extend a hand and touch the case or peer into the dark box, trying to discover where the sound came from.
Creighton approached Ellie, who was changing a needle. She turned her flushed face to him with a smile. “Isn't this great! They're here, every one of them! You're awfully good to let us use the phonograph. I've ordered one like it for ourselves. These blessed squaws do enjoy music so much!”
Job Lansing was standing near the machine, enjoying it as much as any one. A new record had been put on, the needle adjusted, and the music issued forth from that mysterious box. It was one of those college songs, a “laughing” piece. And soon old Job was doubled over, with his enjoyment of it. The squaws drew closer together. At first they scowled, for they thought that the queer creature in the polished case was laughing atthem. Then one began to giggle, and soon another and finally the store was filled with hysterical merriment. Sometimes it would stop for a moment, and then, as the sounds from the phonograph could be heard, it would break forth again.
Ellie stood for hours, playing every record four or five times, and when she finally shut up the box, as a sign that the concert was over, the taciturn Indians filed silently out of the store and went home without a word.
But the girl knew that they would return. She had won!
Another triumph was hers when the springtime came again. One day her uncle approached her and hesitatingly said, “Ellie, we're going to be awfully cramped when our new summer goods arrive. Guess I'd better have Hoan ride over and give me an estimate on an addition to the store.”
Ellie suppressed the desire to cry out, “I told you so!” Instead she said very calmly: “Why, that's a fine idea, Uncle. Businessispicking up, and it would be nice to have more room. I'm glad you thought of it.”
1. Re-Arranging the House11. Our Piazza2. Fixing Up the Office12. The Flower Garden3. Increasing Sales13. Selling Hats4. The New Clerk14. Building Up Trade5. The Old Store Made New15. Father's Desk6. Our Dooryard16. Making Study Easy7. A Back-Yard Garden17. Making a Happy Kitchen8. Making Over the Library18. A Successful Charity Fair9. Father's Stable19. The Window Dresser10. Decorating the School Room20. A Good Advertisement
1. Re-Arranging the House11. Our Piazza2. Fixing Up the Office12. The Flower Garden3. Increasing Sales13. Selling Hats4. The New Clerk14. Building Up Trade5. The Old Store Made New15. Father's Desk6. Our Dooryard16. Making Study Easy7. A Back-Yard Garden17. Making a Happy Kitchen8. Making Over the Library18. A Successful Charity Fair9. Father's Stable19. The Window Dresser10. Decorating the School Room20. A Good Advertisement
Write about a subject with which you are familiar, and with which your readers are familiar. Make your principal character a young person. Make your story concern the contrast of two methods of accomplishment, one of which will represent the old and least successful method; the other, the new and more successful. Write a series of three or four briefly told incidents that will lead to a climax. Make free use of conversation. Notice that the author ofGetting Up to Datehas left out much that might have been said, and has thereby made the story crisp and emphatic. Make your own story condensed and to the point. Pay particular attention to writing a strong ending.