The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-04-11

! very we'll, was Mrs. Smiths firm reply as
she turned away and left the kitchen
Here was trouble in good earnest. Often and
often had Mrs Smith said, during the past two
| or three years What should | do without Ra-
chae Z And now she had given notice that she
was going TO leave her, and under circumstances
which made pride forbid request to stay De-
teImlned 10 act her part with iirmness and deer
sion, she dressed herself and went out hot and
! oppressive as ii was, and took her way TO an in
'eIligence office, where she paid the required fee
and directed a cook and chambermaid Ia be sent
ncr. On The next morning, about ten o'clock, an
Irish glr came and offered herself as a cook and
was alter sundry questions aud answers engaged.
Sn soon as this negotiation was settled, Rachael
retired from the kitchen, leaving the new conner
IN full possession. In half an hour she received
her wages and left, in very happy frame of
mind, a home that had been for three wears. until
within few days pleasant one. As for Mrs.
Smith, she was ready 10 go to bed sick but This
was Impracicahle. Nancy, tho new cook, had
expressly stipulated that she was to have no du-
ties unconnected with the Kitchen The conse-
qnence was, that notwithstanding the thermume-
Tor ranged above ninety. and the atmosphere re.
manned as sullry air from heated oven Mrs
Smith was compelled To arrange her chamber and
par"rS By the Time This was done, she was i'm
condition To 90 10 bed, and lie until dinner time
he arrival "f this important period brought new
troubles and veNatOns. Dinner was late by forty
minutes, and then came the table in a mos,
ahominablc condition. A fine surloin was burn
I" crisp. The tomatoes smoked, and the
potatoes were watery. As if this was not enough
10 mar the pleasure of the dinner hour for hun
cry husband, Mrs Smith added thereto a dis
IreSSed countenance and discouraging complaints
Nancy was grnmbled at and sculded every time
sue mad occasion To appear in the room and her
single attempt to excuse herself on of not
understanding the cook stove, was met by
do hush, will youI Pun entirely out of pa
tience!'
With regard to the latter part of the SEN
tence, that was needless waste of words The
condition OF mind she described was fully appa-
rent.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, lust az
Mrs smith had found Temporary relief from
.TonhIed mind and n most in;oerable head ache
n sleep, tap ON the chamber door awake her,
md there Stood Nancy, all equipped for going
nut.
find won't suit you, ma'am,' said Nancy.
and so you must look out for another girl
Having said this, she turned away and took her
departure, leaving Mrs. Smith in state of mind.
rs 1t IS said, more easily imagined than de-
ScTbed'
y dear what shall do!' at length broke
from her lips, as she burst into tears and bury
ing her face in the pillow, sobbcd aloud. Al
ready had she repenIed of her frelfulncss ana
aull hndIng manner, displayed towards Ra-
chaei, and could she have made a truce with
pride, or silenced its whispers, would have sent
or her we'll tried domestic, and endcavured TO
make all tar with her again. But under all the
circumstances, this was now impossible While
vet undetermined how to act the street hell
fung, and she was compelled to attend the door,
is she was now alnne in the house She found
IN opening it. rough. looking country Girl, who
asked if she was tho lady who wanted chamber
maid Any kind of help was better than none at
Ill, and and so Mrs. Smith asked the yuunu wa
nan TO walk in. In treating with her in regard
to her qualifications for The station she apnIicA
Tor, she discovered that she knew almnst no
hing at all abont anything The STIMULATION that
she was TO be a doer Of aIl-work-in general. until
cook could be obtained was readily agreed 10.
ma then she was shown To her room in the attic
where She was told TO prepare herself for entering
upon her duties.
VIII YOU please ma am, show me what Won
"""' 'H I" 90 asked the new help. presenting
herself before Mrs Smith.
Go down into the Kitchen Ellen and see that
The lire Is made HI be down there preseniIv'
10 be compelled To see after new and igno
rant servant and direct her in every thing just at
80 trying season of the year, and while her
mind was all out of SORTS, was a severe trial for
poor Mrs Smith. She found that Ellen. as she
mad too good reason for believing was totally I'M
acquainted with kitchen work She did not even
Kouw how to kindIe coal fire nor could she man
age the stove after Mrs. Smith had made the fire
for her, All this did not in any way tend 10
make her less unhappy or more patient than be-
tore. On retiring Tor the night she had high
lever, which continued undated until morning.
when her husband found her really i'll So much
50 as TO make the attendance of doctor nccessa
~.
change in the air had taken place durnp the
night, and the temperature had fallen many de-
-rees. This aided the efforts Of the physician.
md enabled him so 10 adapt lis remedies as TO
speedily break the fever. But the rnorance and
r"kWafdncss Of Ellen, apparent in her atlenprs
10 arrange her bed and chamber so worried her
mind That she was near relapsiug into her former
ieycTlSh and excited state. The attendance of an
elder maiden sister Just in time. All care
was taken from her thoughts and she had chance
o' recovering a more healthy state of mind and
BODY During the next week, she knew little or
nothing OF how matters wcro progressing ont OF
her own chamber. \ new cook had been hired
o. whom she was pleased to hear good accounts.
although she had not seen her, and Ellen. under
The mild and judclOUs instruction Of her sister.
had learned to make up bed neatly, 70 sweep.
and dust IN true style, and to perform all tho iule
ct coleTaS OF chamber work greatly To her satis,,c