Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-02-28
From Boll0a's Pictorial.
THE GOvERNESS.
BY JOHN I. DAsLEY.

We read stories of the ill-treatment gov
ernesses meet with in England, and virtuous
" shudder, and feel proud that zoe are not so
hard-hearted. 1t would be well if, before
censuring our neghbors, we looked little
closer at our own faults.
In a tenement lodging in C Street,
New York, first saw Ellen Bird. She was
watering little rose-bush that was making
Intellectual attempts to grow in the hot at
mosphere of June. | afterwards became ac-
quainted with her and learnt her history
Her father had had an immense fortune, and
lost it all by specuating. Worn out by dis
appointment and anxiety, he died. leaving his
wife and daughter nothing. A rich relation
placed Ellen at boarding-school to educate
her for teacher. 1t was all he could do, he
said. To be sure, he had great house, and
many servants. ana a country-seat, but it was.
at least. all he acOuid do She returned to
her mother, after two years, to support both
by her exertions.
o what life governess leads! A SER
wants is felicity compared to it, Do you
know, my dea: madam, that if you get angry
with your cook and give her good scold-
ing" she will leave you, especially if she is
good cook? But who ever heard of gov
erness giving warning? They are "too happy
to get employment on any terms, for there
are scores of young women who will be glad
to take her place if she gives herself airs
Well, at this time, there was not in all the
neighborhood better girl, more loving,
dutiful daughter than Ellen Bird She would
often nurse her mother the greater part of
the night, and then be up early to take her
long walk to the very other end of the city
One morning, when it had been raining hard
she wet her feet badly in little pool in front
of grocer's shop. The shopkeeper happen
ed to be standing at the door, and invited
her in to dry her shoes. Thus sprang up
little intimacy between them, aud she would
often step into the store for the same purpose,
for, to tell homely truth, her Shoes. well
nigh worn out, were far from waterproof, and
where was poor governess to get new ones2
The grocer was the only acquaintance, be-
side myself, that Ellen had. He always had
kind word for her. Nor did Ellen fail to
ask him after the child that had broken its
arm, or how his wife was, and other little
queries.
A hard life hers" the man would say to
some customer, as Ellen left the store
Not hard at all" answered Mrs. Flana-
gan, the washerwoman Put her over a
wash-tub for five or six hours, and see how
she would bear it."
"You don't know ALL" be replied. And
he was right.
Mrs Henshaw, to whose house Ellen was
going that morning, was little out of spirits,
and ready to take offence at anything Eelen
might do The very dress of the goyerness
displeased her-it was too plain
IL really wish you would dress better"
she began in querulous tone Are you
ready with those quadriles for Lucy to prac-
tice "
Il am very sorry, ma'am, but have been
SO much engaged; have SO little time to
spare"
"Well, Miss Bird, if you have such press
ing engagements. suppose | shall have to
engage new"
20 ma'am," faltered Ellen, Il am too
happy TO be employed by you. IL GER