“Can it be possible dat dis is my little Marie?” she exclaimed.

It did seem almost impossible to realize that this faded woman, with pale cheeks and prematurely whitened hair, was the rosy-cheeked child from whom she had been parted more than thirty years.

“Well,” said Robert, after the first joyous greeting was over, “love is a very good thing, but Marie has had a long journey and needs something that will stick by the ribs.  How about dinner, mother?”

“It’s all ready,” said Mrs. Johnson.

After Marie had gone to her room and changed her dress, she came down and partook of the delicious repast which her mother and Iola had prepared for her.

In a few days Marie was settled in the home, and was well pleased with the change.  The only drawback to her happiness was the absence of her son, and she expected him to come North after the closing of his school.

“Uncle Robert,” said Iola, after her mother had been with them several weeks, “I am tired of being idle.”

“What’s the matter now?” asked Robert.  “You are surely not going East again, and leave your mother?”

“Oh, I hope not,” said Marie, anxiously.  “I have been so long without you.”

“No, mamma, I am not going East.  I can get suitable employment here in the city of P——.”

“But, Iola,” said Robert, “you have tried, and been defeated.  Why subject yourself to the same experience again?”

“Uncle Robert, I think that every woman should have some skill or art which would insure her at least a comfortable support.  I believe there would be less unhappy marriages if labor were more honored among women.”

“Well, Iola,” said her mother, “what is your skill?”

“Nursing.  I was very young when I went into the hospital, but I succeeded so well that the doctor said I must have been a born nurse.  Now, I see by the papers, that a gentleman who has an invalid daughter wants some one who can be a nurse and companion for her, and I mean to apply for the situation.  I do not think, if I do my part well in that position, that the blood in my veins will be any bar to my success.”

A troubled look stole over Marie’s face.  She sighed faintly, but made no remonstrance.  And so it was decided that Iola should apply for the situation.

Iola made application, and was readily accepted.  Her patient was a frail girl of fifteen summers, who was ill with a low fever.  Iola nursed her carefully, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing her restored to health.  During her stay, Mr. Cloten, the father of the invalid, had learned some of the particulars of Iola’s Northern experience as a bread-winner, and he resolved to give her employment in his store when her services were no longer needed in the house.  As soon as a vacancy occurred he gave Iola a place in his store.

The morning she entered on her work he called his employes together, and told them that Miss Iola had colored blood in her veins, but that he was going to employ her and give her a desk.  If any one objected to working with her, he or she could step to the cashier’s desk and receive what was due.  Not a man remonstrated, not a woman demurred; and Iola at last found a place in the great army of bread-winners, which the traditions of her blood could not affect.