Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-25

Lucy's administration, and knew Mrs. Larklns
had none to spare.
Unsuccessful thus far among the arbiters Of our
destiny, | thought would stop at the house of
friend, and make some enquiries which might spare
me further rebuffs. On making my way by the
garden gate to the little library WHARF usually
saw Mrs Stayner was surprised to find it silent
and uninhabed. The windows were closed;
halffnished cap laid on the sofa, and bunch Of
Yesterdays wild flowers upon the table, All spoke
of desolation
The cradle-not exactly an appropriate adjunct
of the library elsewhere, but quite so at the
west-was gone, and the rocking chair was no.
where to be SEEM | went on through tho parlor
and hall, finding no signs of life, save the break
fast table still standing with crumbs undsturbed.
Where bells are not known, ceremony is out Of the
question; SO penetrated to the kitchen, where at
length caugot sight of the fair face of my friend.
She was bending over the bread-tray, and at the
same time telling nursery stories as fast as posi-
Bile, by way of coaxing her little boy OF four years
old 10 rock the cradle which contained his baby
sister,
"What does this mean"
ooh nothing more than usual. My Polly took
herself off yesterday without moments warning,
saying that she thought she had lived out long >
nough and poor Tom, our factotum, has the ague.
Mr.. Stayner has gone TO some place sixteen miles
off, and am sole representative of the family en-
ergies. But you have no idea what capital bread
| can make"
This looked rather discouraging for my quest
but knowing that the main point of the table com.
panionship the source of most of Mrs. Sny.
ders difficulties, still hoped for Mrs. Larkins who
loved the close intimacy with her help" and al
ways took them visiting with her. So passed
for another effort at Mrs Randals, whose three
daughters had sometimes been known TO lay aside
their dignity long enough to obtain some much
coveted articles of dress. Here the mop was IN
full play, and Mrs. Randall, with her gown turned
up, was spashng diluted mud on the walls and
furniture, in the received mode of these regions,
where stained glass windows" are made without
patent. ! did not venture in, but asked from the
door, with my best diplomacy, whether Mrs. RAN
dali kne,c of girl.
"a gal 4? no who wants ga?'
"Mrs. Lnrkins"
"She; why don't she get up and do her own
work ~
"Shes too feeble"
Law sakes too feeble! she'd be able as any
body to thrash round, if her old man didn't Spite
her watin' OH"
We think Mrs. Larkins deserves small blame on
this score.
But, Mrs. Randall, the poor woman is really i'll
and unable to do anything for her poor children
Couldn't you spare Rachel for few days to help
her ?"
This was said in most guarded and deprecatory
tone, and with manner carefully moulded between
Indifference and undue solicitude.
"My gals have got enough to do. They amt
able TO do their own work. Car'line hasn't been
worth the fust cent for hard work ever since she
went to school to A."
"Oh did not expect to get Caroline. understand
she is going to get married"
"What! 10 Bill Green She wouldn't let him
walk where she walked last year p BE-
| Here | saw had made misstep. Resolving to
be more cautious left the selection 10 the old lady
herself and only begged for one of the girls. But
my eloquence was wasted. The Miss Randalls
had been whole quarter al select school, and
will not live out again until their present stock of
fnery is unwearable. Miss Rachel, whose compa
ny had hoped to secure, even then paying
attention to a branch of fine arts.
"Rachel Amandy ~ cried Mrs. Randall at the
foot Of the ladder which gave access to the upper
region" fetch that thing down here It's the pref
test thing you ever see in your life !" turning to
me. And the educated young lady brought down
a doleful-looking compound of card board and
many colored waters, which had, it seems occu
pied her mind and fingers for some days.
"There" said the mother, proudly, "a gal that's
learnt to make SIGH baskets that ant gon' to be
nobody's help, guessr'
thought the boast to be verified as q predic-
ton, and went my way, crestfallen and weary
Girl hunting is certainly among our most formula
Bile "chores. "-Wertern Ciearimgs.
This is girl.hunting at the West now here's a
a specimen from Maine and between them both
may be found pretty fair account of girl-huntiup
in Vermont.
GETTING HELP.
Girls are not scarce by any MEANS and vet YOU
can scarcely find one well qualified for the station
willing to go into the kitchen, and preside over the
nice affairs OF that important place. From some
cause or other, girls do not fancy "house work ;
but prefer to work in the cotton factories, the cloth
ing manufacturing establishments, the millinery
shops, &c. &c. The cause Of this may be attrb
uted to the fact, in many instances, that they arc
not shown that respect Justly their DUE or that the
can earn more at those establishments than in the
Kitchen. AT all events, it is very hard matter tC
find good girl--one well qualifed-who is will
ing TO do house work, even at fair price; and il
is quite as difficult to obtain the services of one O.
but little skill! and little experience. Many who
are very poor-who have scarcely clothes enough
to keep them comfortGble-we are sorry to saw are
possessed of so much false pride, that they will no
condescend to do house work not 90 out Il
work-no, rather than do this, they will remain a
home with their parents, and go half. clothed ant
half led We have case of recent occurrence
I illustrative of this fact A gentleman of this vii
age sent young woman up the river some ten o
fifteen miles, in quest of another one to take her sit
uation in the family She went from one house I,
another, where she was acquainted but the YOUNG
women had left for Lowell. Unwilling to return
without finding the object of her search she still
continued to go from place to place, but it was al
y TO no purpose. She entered at last, small house
Ia log house, we Think in which she found moth
err, six or seven children, and daughter about Is
After passing the usual clvtles, she said address
: ing herself to the young woman:
| MADAM, am in search of some young woman
to do house work would you like to accommodate
me, If we cansgree upon the terms?"
wal, don't know. What du you give
: week 2"
1--WE generally pay one dollar. If girl prove
, faithful and does the best she can, we pay one dol
lar and twenty-five cents which is considered
r good price for dong the work of private family.
" Nothin extra, don't think. DO you low you
t. help III sol at the table with you, and sot in tn
6 parer aud 90 tn meetin all day Sunday?"
d " Sometmes we do We have no objection f
her sitting at the same table and in the parlor, no