The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-15
HIRING CHEAP HELP.
BY INA CLAYTON.

bf INA CLAYTON.
"Husband, it will not answer for us f.
hire such dear help; two dollars week j
altogether too much only think, if W
could hire for half that amount 1 nigh
have little spin money" occasionally; bu,
now every cent we can get goes to pay
hired girl. Shall l find girl who vii
work for dollar week and tellNMarrare
to leave 3"
eff you have a mind to, Lucinda. but
am afraid you will regret it, Margaret is SC
reliable"
Nevertheless Mrs. Durham did dismiss
Margaret, the faithful and trusty servant
and in her stead she procured the services
Of young, inexperienced girl, whose wa.
ges were small, anl whose stock of patience
or application to business of any kind was
ditto. The havoc she made among the
glass ware and crockery was immense; the
house from attic TO cellar was in a state Of
disorder. Mr.. Durham was daily vexed in
consequence Of irregular meals, and poor
at that, SO what was TO he done. Mrs.
Dunham's health was delicate, and to be
burdened with SO much care was unerdu-
rabIe; and after all no money was saved in
the change of affairs, as washerwoman
must be hired every week; this yernr Su.
san could not wash if she did agree to at
first.
After due consideration Mrs. Durham
dismissed Susan. Her successor was an
Irish vixen of some forty years. After the
bargain was closed, and it was agreed that
dollar week should be the recompense
of this rather antique specimen Of Erin's fair
isle, she was aided by Mrs. Durham in the
Kitchen. "Dinah was herself" Mrs. Dun
ham, not supposing herself in peril of life
or limb, commenced giving her orders in
her calm and usual way.
The shrew turned n wild, searching eve
on her mistress, and thus commenced:
And don't you think, norm, that the
likes OF me that has kept house for ME
hoosband nigh on to these twenty years can
wash the dishes and cook the parate with
out your orders? am the great greenh ORR
that wants ye standing over mea Och and
it this is the way, Dora O'Flynn will soon
take new Mistress"
Disheartened, and without maxine re.
ply, Mrs. Durham returned to the sitting-
room, perhaps to reconnoiter in her mind
the propriety Of hiring cheap help.
A week passed, during which time Mrs.
Durham was anything but mistress of her
own household, Dora assuming the utmost
authority. and wholly despising the counsel
OF Mrs. Dunham.-Finally colorcd girl
offered her services. She had the reputa-
lion of being "light fingered" consequent
y found it difficult to procure work but
as she asked but small remuneration for her
services, and was expert in business, Mrs.
Dunham concluded to hire her, determining
% keep all her valuables under lock and
key. aud to watch her with all the vigilance
'he case required. The negress Catharine
pleased Mrs. D. in every respect; she did
The work admirably, waited on company
uPerbly, pulled the wool over Mrs. Dun.
'am's eyes in manner to be wondered at.
md ere many weeks Mrs. Dunham felt no
'eIuctance to trust Catharine with anything
lie house afforded. Ere many months Mrs.
)unham was seized with an illness which
or many long days threatened to terminate
atally. Catharine was constantly by her
ide. At length Mrs. D. came to look upon
'er with feeling kindred to affection, so
ndefat'gable and self sacrificing did she ap-
'ear to her mistress. Mrs. D. was recoy.
ring when one morning Catharine was
missing access was had 10 her room, but
he was not there; suspicion began to a.
'ake in the breast Of Mrs. D. as we'll as
hat of her husband; the drawers, ward.
obes, and in fact the entire house was
earcbed, and an exclamation point may fol.
'w i! some four hundred dollars worth of
'welry, and siIyer-pIate was missing, besides
vast amount of valuable clotbiug.-Iu-
ant measures were taken to find the fupi.
We, but it proved a fruitless search.
Mrs. Durham Immediately despatched
'essage to Margaret, beseeching her to re-
'rn, assu ri6g her she should want for a
ONE no more while she lived according
Margaret, the long tried servant, return.
], and Mrs. Dunbam was not afterwards
card to speak in favor of cbesp help. s
"A MODEST REoUEsT.-When the Duke
Ormonde Was made Lord Lieutenant of
e'and, in Queen Anue's reign, one of his
lends applied to him for some prefermeut +