One of the most important of these was the pure-food department suggested by Felicia.  It was not a month after Clayton turned the saloon property over to the Settlement that Felicia found herself installed in the very room where souls had been lost, as head of the department not only of cooking but of a course of housekeeping for girls who wished to go out to service.  She was now a resident of the Settlement, and found a home with Mrs. Bruce and the other young women from the city who were residents.  Martha, the violinist, remained at the place where the Bishop had first discovered the two girls, and came over to the Settlement certain evenings to give lessons in music.

“Felicia, tell us your plan in full now,” said the Bishop one evening when, in a rare interval of rest from the great pressure of work, he was with Dr. Bruce, and Felicia had come in from the other building.

“Well, I have long thought of the hired girl problem,” said Felicia with an air of wisdom that made Mrs. Bruce smile as she looked at the enthusiastic, vital beauty of this young girl, transformed into a new creature by the promise she had made to live the Christ-like life.  “And I have reached certain conclusions in regard to it that you men are not yet able to fathom, but Mrs. Bruce will understand me.”

“We acknowledge our infancy, Felicia.  Go on,” said the Bishop humbly.

“Then this is what I propose to do.  The old saloon building is large enough to arrange into a suite of rooms that will represent an ordinary house.  My plan is to have it so arranged, and then teach housekeeping and cooking to girls who will afterwards go out to service.  The course will be six months’ long; in that time I will teach plain cooking, neatness, quickness, and a love of good work.”

“Hold on, Felicia!” the Bishop interrupted, “this is not an age of miracles!”

“Then we will make it one,” replied Felicia.  “I know this seems like an impossibility, but I want to try it.  I know a score of girls already who will take the course, and if we can once establish something like an esprit de corps among the girls themselves, I am sure it will be of great value to them.  I know already that the pure food is working a revolution in many families.”

“Felicia, if you can accomplish half what you propose it will bless this community,” said Mrs. Bruce.  “I don’t see how you can do it, but I say, God bless you, as you try.”

“So say we all!” cried Dr. Bruce and the Bishop, and Felicia plunged into the working out of her plan with the enthusiasm of her discipleship which every day grew more and more practical and serviceable.

It must be said here that Felicia’s plan succeeded beyond all expectations.  She developed wonderful powers of persuasion, and taught her girls with astonishing rapidity to do all sorts of housework.  In time, the graduates of Felicia’s cooking school came to be prized by housekeepers all over the city.  But that is anticipating our story.  The history of the Settlement has never yet been written.  When it is Felicia’s part will be found of very great importance.