The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-03-10

forgetting half her orders. Every day
when Psalter asked me 'how our retain
er get along I had the best account
imaginable to give him or her and
was very we'll pleased that 1 was able te
do so, for / had, as it were, pledged
myself for her excellence. ~.
had two or three friends to spend
the afternoon with me on the Monday
following that on which she arrived
and flattered myself that, for once,
should be able to speak in praise of my
servant, instead of fuding fault with
her. We had made all the requisite
preparations the table-linen was like
snow itself the silver was polished su
perbly :; the cake was light the jelly
was clear as amber, and the windows
were LIKE diamonds. Edo not think
there was particle of dust or cob.
web in the whole house. AS expect.
ed, one of the first questions Mrs. Bell
asked me was
How do you like your new girl?'
! have often thought since of my ex-
travagant praises of Jane Ann, and won
dered how I ever thought of such a
quantity of superlatives as / uttered in
her commenda,ion. I called her every.
thing but angelic, and l came very near
calling her that.
But for all that, my dear said Mrs.
Bell, when I concluded-'For all that,
don't let yourself be taken in, for they
are just alike, every one of EN-
l felt quite indignant, but did not
say anything. Invent down stairs, af-
ter while, to speak to my treasure
about getting tea ready. I had procur-
ed some brandy, few days before, to
use in making my mince-meat, and it
was on the top shelf of the kitchen
dresser. I was very much surprised,
when ] Ientered the room suddenly, to
see Jane Ann standing on chair near
the dresser, with the flask in one hand
and the cork in the other. l really felt
suspicious for the moment; bit the poor
thing looked full at me, never dreaming
that suspected her, and said:
1 was looking for the vinegar, ma'am,
for to fill up the cruct.'
l felt ashamed of myself for having
been so unjust, and gave her my orders
and went up airs again.
Tea-time came. and we all went down
stairs. The table was set, but the fire
had nearly gone out, and the basement
door stood wie open. How careless
ly! thought; any one might have
come in and stolen everything we have !
but l kept it to myself for had prais-
ed Jane Ann So that | didn't like to ad-
nit even that she was careless. So |
sat down and began to pour cut the tea.
first sending Sarah to call Jane Ann to
replenish the fire. We were all talking
very merrily, when Jane Ann came in ;
aud as l thought she had merely
brought the Goals, I did not look round
until poor Mrs. Bell gave such scream.
There stood Jane Ann. her hair all
down her back, and her face all smear
ed with charcoal. with a kettle of boil
Ing water in one hand. and holding on
to the back of Mrs. Bells chair with
the other, deliberately pouring stream
from the spout oyer that unfortunate
lady's green moire- antique dress Good
gracious how l felt wish you could
have seen Psalter take that woman by
the arm, and walk her out into the back
basement-it would have done you
good.
There is no use in attempting to des-
cribe my chagrin, modification, and an
ger and though Psalter never said a
word, Iknow now such things annoy
him. That beautiful moire- antique was
soaked through, and it is only wonder
poor Mrs. Bell was not scalded by the
tipsy thing.
Jane Ann was too much intoxicated
to understand that We gave her warning
then but next morning Psatler repeat
ed it, the very first thing. She was very
much offended at the accusation, and
packed up her things with such an air
that really felt as though I myself were
the aggressor.
The worst of it is yet to come
Every time this unfortunote woman was
in liquor, she came to our house and sat
on the steps and cried. Whenever any
one asked her what was the matter, she
said that she was my aunt, and that l
wouldn't let her in. The first time she
came Was about week after her depar-
ture. / was sewing by the back parlor
window, and had fancied that l heard a
great deal Of talking. but I didn't pay
much attention to it until the bell rang.
There was a gentleman at the door-a
very pleasant, merry, round-faced gen.
tleman-who sail:
"Here's Aunty cant get in-feels
very bad about i,--rang the bell for her.
Doors open, Aunty. All right! Good
by No trouble at all--none
Twas perfectly bewildered but, look
ing downward at the bottom step--oh,
mercy NE! there sat Jane Ann, very
drunk indeed. and in tears. To think OF
her calling herself my aunt-just 10 think
OF 1t! | tried to get her away. but 60
she wouldn't. About half an hour after
wards the bell rang again. This time it
was very tall. thin gentleman, with a
solemn face and white neckerchief.
aged relative of yours. ma'am.'
he said. slowly. desires to gain admit
tance. and has oeen unable to ring the
bell: l would Suggest that she had bet
ter be admitted Immediately
lenieavored 70 explain !; but the gen.
.leman was gone before | could frame a
sentence, and sill Jane Ann sas upon the
step. and moaned. Next came a colored
boy, who gave his statements Of the facts
as follows:
Say. missus your aunt's drunk. and
can't get in 7
And lhen a crowd of children gather.