Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-02-18
From Godey's Lady's Book. forFeb., 1853.
Aunt Tabltha,s Flreside.

No, aunt, have not
sShe's an Irish gal, isn't she ?''
81 believe she s.n
+ Well, have heern say that the Irish servant
gals make terrible queer mistakes sometimes; but
the natives of this country amt without their faults
remember, when [ was about your age, | went
away up into the Coos county to see my cousin Han
nah She married man by the name of Price
had been married eight or nine years didn't cal
c'lae to stay more than week, cause you know,
didn't want to wear my welcome out; but it was in
the fall of the year, and Hannah was making up the
winter clothes for Mr.. Price and the children, she
laid siege to me- and finally persuaded me to stay
spell longer to help her along with 'em. You see,
was purity cute hand in them days at cuttin and
contrivin SIGH kind of work could get a suit sof
clothes for one of the boys out of desprate little
piece of cloth to what Hannah could Well, arter
id made up my mind to stay, MIR. Price took it into
his head to build great long string of stone wall
the matter of fifty or sixty rods. That made the
family so large, for Mr. Price obleeged to board
the men he had hired to build it, that Hannah
couldn't get along with the housework without
hired gal. Who on airth to get she couldn't TELL
for gals that pretended to 60 out to work were as
sea &c as goold dust At last somebody told her
that there was that lived tothe side of the
town, BY the name of Judy Short, that was one of
the best critters in the world about house, IT you
could only keep the right side of her. Well, Han
nah says to her husband, 8 guess get along
with her amt very hard to suit So one day.
right dinner Mr. Price took his horse and shay
you see, he darsent take his wagon, for fear
Judy wouldn't be willin' to ride in it, for she was
master high-speried WEI been told-and Oft he went
arter her. He didn't much expect to get her; but
he did, She was dressed out as fine as fiddle and
can tell you, twas sarvan sir, and saryant, mad
am with her. She was terrible genteel. | never
seed the beat oft. Hannah modest bashful
. sort of woman, and seemed to be rally put down.
couldn't act herself. don't blieve she'd ave been
more nonplushed it, instead of Judy Short, it had
been the Presidents lady.
"'Twas towards tea-tme when she arrived and
Hannah didn't expect that she would offer to take
hold to do anything till the next mornin, So as there
was good deal to do, left my SEWN, and helped
get supper.
": What shall we do q says Hannah, lookin as sa-
cred could be. There isn't but jest one kind O
pie in the house. and that is apple pie. | thought
there was pumpkin pie; but, come to look, there
isn't hut jest two pieces. guess Mr. Price eat the
rest for luncheon.n
! "'What if there isn't q says T. Good toast, and
doughnuts, and applesass, and piece OF apple-ple
to top off with, is good enough
I" Butt says Hannah, I'm determined to get the
right side of Judy in the outset and then it IL be ca
sy keepn' there
q amt so sartan,' says l. that you're goin' the
best way to work to get along with her, but we shall
see.'
"WeII, tell you, we'd purity genteel sort of
time of it, ean supper. Judy so as stiff as stat
ute the whole time 1t appeared to me that she
ever had the fortin to set down to. Not that
was put down on account Of Judys gentilit-. but
cause had such hard work to keep from laughn'
- In the mornin there good deal to do, and
Judy says to Hannah
* Now, Miss Price, if you'll see to cookn' the
meat and potaters, and I'll make the coffee and toast
I'll set the table, and SIGH like for, you don't
like to appear before your hired men with an old
calico gownd on SEEM I'm stranger to 'em
'twould make feel cheap dirt and, if go to
cookn the fire with this nice dc laine on, twill
be the runation of it,
} ''Well, you see that Hannah airnest to get
the right side of her. that she darsent open her lips
but went to work, meek as lamb, and got the chief
OF the breakfast herself leee afore twas ready,
, Judy Disappeared We couldn't think what on airth
had become of her; but jest all were ready to
set down TO the table she made her appearance with
sprgged-musln apron on, starched stiff enough to
stand alone, double rufe round her neck, full
stiff the apron, and great bunch Of artificial
flowers stuck on one side Of her head. never was
so tckled in my life 1t was much as could do
: to keep from laughin right out loud.
"' That's what call double and twisted gentlity,
heern one of the hired men say to the next him.
as she come mincin along to the table. She took
her place at HaEnahs left hand, where Id alays sot
so took mine lower down.
swell, things went on purity much the same for
number of days. Judy seemed to have an idea
that she was the same as company. She was jest
> as pleasant as wine, for Hannah never made word
of complaint cause, you see she thought if she
could ony get the ghS side OF her, there would
be no trouble in keepin' there.
cat last Hannah had so much 10 do that she got
all tired out, and Mr.. Price, who how things
were gon on, spoke right out plain to Judy, and told
her that when there much to do she mustn't be
afread of hurtin her clothes, her hands, and that
he didn't see any need when anybody called, of her
daltin out of the room jest like pckrel, if she did
; Mt happen to have on her flowers and her furbe-
lows, and leave everything for his wife to do.
1.-The land O massy, wish you could ave her.
She didn say much. on'y muttered somehn' to
herself bat she flung herself out of the room, lookin
black as thunder cloud.
1t wasn't long before she came back agin, with
gownd on that want fit for nothin but to wash floors
"s Things have got to stand round now says she,
my name amt Judy Short And her eyes spark
led ami she bit her lips hard expected nohn' but
what she'd set 'em to bleedin.
81 guess you never seed so scar critter as Han
! nah was She hardly knew what to do or say; but,
there bakn' to do that forenoon, she thong ht
-; she'd mix little pie-crust
y 8" Il want none of your helpn says Judy, and she
took the dish right out of HannahS hand.
Z" 8 1t appears 10 me, SEEM there's much to do,
that had better do leetle,' says Hannah.
&c WE'LL says Judy, l don't want any of your
; help, as told you before can do than forty
" jest like you, if set out in raal airnest.'
: g Hannah didn't know what TO say, she kind
Il of 'maZed like.
. "'Come, why don't you go along to your sewin'-
Z work p says Judy.
So Hannah, without sayin another word, come
and set down by me. and went to SEWN orderly as
" could be.
Z 1--WE had purity curious time ONT that forenoon.
y Judy slammed the doors and ourished round if she
was possessed. AFTER while we heard somethin 20
smash. Hannah was terrible airnest to know what ii
was, but darsent 90 into the kitchen to see so crept
along and Jest give peep in at the door, and there