Mary, little Mary, not far beyond twelve years of age, demanded money to replenish her own wardrobe.
"Mary," said her father, "we're poor; we can't afford fancy fixin's.
This ain't very cold weather.

You've good enough clothes on you to keep you warm: what d'you want o' somethin' else ?" "What do I want o' somethin' else ?" echoed the child, going to the door and tossing an imitation doll into the ash-heap, "why, I want better clothes, so't the fellers about town'll pay some 'tention to me, like they do to sister Jane." The slight, bent form of the father straightened up, as he asked, quickly,-- "Does the fellers around town pay attention to your sister Jane ?" "Why, of course they do," said little Mary, entirely unable to translate the gaze which her father bent upon her.

"Jane never gets through her work at the hotel before there's a lot o' fellers hangin' round the door an' wantin' to see her, an' takin' her out to get ice-cream or sody-water, or to go to the circus if there's one in town, or to go to the dramatic representation,--that's what they call it on the bills,--if there happens to be one in the village that night." "Wife," said Sam, turning to his helpmate, "what wages does Jane get ?" "Six dollars a month," said the wife.
"Does she bring any of it home?
Does the family get the good of any of it ?" "Not one cent," said Mrs.Kimper, with a pitiful whine.

"She says she has to wear decent clothes at the hotel or they won't keep her there any more." Sam Kimper stayed awake all that night, although his manners to his family next morning were those of a staid and respectable citizen who had nothing upon his mind but the ordinary duties of the day.
Nevertheless, he was out and about soon after breakfast, and he wandered through every street of the village in which any business was being done.

Again and again he asked for work, and as often the offer was refused or declined or relegated into the uncertain future for a decision.