Ruth Gets Her First Job

 Pieces of a Life tells us that Ruth Meredith, pictured in a flapper outfit, got her first job in 1925.  On Feb. 3 a friend, Margarite Klina, called to tell Ruth "she had gotten me a position in a Tea store on Madison Street.  I'm to go there some morning this week.  Oh Boy!"  Margarite must have been helping Austin High students to find part-time jobs in a work-study program..

Ruth was very excited.  She was to get "broke in" on Feb. 5  She said, "Well, I hope I make good in the Tea store business..."  On the 5th she worked from 8:30-11:00 AM and then went to school.  She worked again Thursday and a longer shift on the following Saturday from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM. when the store was busier.  She said, "I was very nervous in the morning, but this afternoon the crowds didn't bother me half as much." 

She added, "I had dinner and supper there, and then washed the supper dishes.  I was paid $2.50 for today, and $1.13 for the two mornings; totaling $3.63.  The folks came after me about 9:25.  It is now 11:00 o'clock, and my feet and legs ache terribly, so here's where I turn in."

Initially Ruth liked Miss Hogan, the manager who trained her.  More than once Ruth was called in to cover a shift, hopping out of bed and getting to the store quickly.  Then on March 19 there was a sudden change in the picture.  "I feel terrible, but at the same time I feel that everything will turn out satisfactory.  The reason is, Miss Hogan called me up tonight and said she wouldn't need me in her store because the trade is slackening.  She said she would speak to Mr. Miller in the morning about getting me in some place else."

From then on Miss Hogan avoided Ruth, failing to call back, evidently unable to set up a job at another store for her.  On March 21, Ruth's mother talked to Margarite, who said she would speak to Andrew, the Manager of the new National Tea Store opposite Miss Hogan's store.  Ruth did get a part-time job there - and more money than the 23 or 24 cents an hour she had been earning.