, 1862-08-02

TOO, you can try the place, and if you stay witt
her one month, will charge you the usual fee; i
not will get you another place"
The woman was satisfied to try, and boy was
sent to show her the ady's residence
Mrs. Smith, soliloquized the woman, as she
walked up town towards the mansion Mrs
Smith" A paleness overspread her face as she
caught glimpse of the features of Mrs. Smith
through the window when she turned into the
basement of the house, but with an effort she
gathered courage, and her cheek grew red with
the returning flush.
Mr.. - sent this woman" said the boy to
Mrs. Smith, as they entered the breakfast room
where the children were making boats out of egg
shells and floating them in ponds of coffee.
"Another woman" cried Ed, running up to
her and catching hold of her gown. "Another
wom'n," lisped little Kate, as she followed her
brothers example.
"Woman, never mind them" said Mrs Smith,
as the womanplaced her hands upon their heads,
"Ed and Kate" she continued, "go and be dressed
go this instant, or I'll whip you"
The children did not heed the mother, and the
woman was hardly conscious of either. She
seemed all attention to other thoughts--perhaps
about her own children, or those she loved and
had left behind. The Office boy the while, was
saying, And Mr., - says he hopes she will
suit you-and since there has been so much said
about girls wages in the papers they all going
off into the country-aAd this one came on the
steamer, yesterday, from the States"
The boys errand done, he left the mistress with
the woman. Mrs Smith seated herself upon the
lounge while the woman stood gazing with appar-
ent astonishment around her.
"What country-woman are you ?" Mrs. Smith
inquired, as she began the formula of her accus-
toned ch0ticsm."
american" the woman articulated in reply
as if half afraid to speak.
"How old are you ?"
@Twenty-two.'
"Maid or widow ?"
"Widow."
"Can you take good care of children. Ed and
Kate are two dear, sweet children and it you are
anyways cross fear you will not suit me-"
81 am very fond of children, Madam, 4" and the
woman firly shuddered as she spake the word
Madam
"Can you wash for the family; there is only
four of us ?"
81 can try
"Can you cook good dinner if our servant
man helps you; for sometimes we have company
at other times we are not particular ?''
81 believe I can. Ny sister used to praise me
for being good cook"
"Your sister Poor soul, perhaps she was not
Judge" The woman bit her lips until the blood
fairly started from their trembling veins. "Wel
will want you to do chamber work besides, and
make yourself generally useful about the house.
Now what wages do you expect?"
"Thrty-fve dollars month, was told was
the usual wages"
"Thrty-fve dollars !" and Mrs Smith raised
her eyes in surprise, why, you must mean twen-
ty-fve dollars that is the highest wages l ever
paid" she exclaimed. And Mrs Smith smiled,
for she had heard the boy say that the woman
had just arrived, and she was one of those ladies
opposed to high wages for servants.
81 suppose it must be twenty-five" said the
woman timidly. l do not know what wages are
paid here for help, only arrived yesterday"
al can assure you, Bridget, that twenty-five
dollars month is good wages, and if that will do
you, why-I'll try you
Bridget, Mrs. Smith had called her-and as
Mrs Smith had called every girl and woman of
tho bo1 D,,1 L..
wash and dress little Ed and Kate, and somehow
or other, the children were made to look unusual
ly neat that morning Bridgets eyes were red, as
if from weeping and Ed and Kate each had
valuable story to tell their mother, an hour after
wards, how "the new woman had kissed them,
and hugged them most to pieces"
When Mr.. Smith returned to dinner that eve
ming, he was agreeaby surprised to find the house
in unusually good order. Mrs. Smith was in
cheerful spirits, for she had found less to do about
the house that day than she had for a long time
before. Bridget seemed to be ahead of her in
everything and to anticipate her wants. The
children minded her by instinct, and Mr.. Smith
declared that if Bridget was as good every day in
producing comfort in the household as she was
on the first of her introduction, he would not part
with her for thrice her wages.
Two months rolled around and Mrs. Smith be-
gan to become uneasy in her new situation, for
she had no occasion to direct 'or superntend the
affairs of her household, and, having less cause to
compa in, she became irritable and nervous. One
boI boo Iof
visitors, and whatever went wrong in the parlor
that raised Mrs. Smiths ire, was visited upon the
head of the unoffendng Bridget.
Husband was Mrs. Smiths ejaculation of
complaint, soon as Smith entered that evening,
" Tomorrow morning when you go down town,
leave a note at the intelligence Office, and tell
them to send me another woman. Bridget was
quite imp1dent and saucy to-day, and will not
put up with servants mpudence."
But, wife," was Smiths remonstrance,
thought that Bridget was the chief par excellence
of housemaids, and think you said"
." Mr.. Smith, 1 know what servant should be, 3"
she exclaimed, " and do not want you to tell
me-"
"Yes, yes, have no doubt you do. and Smith
balanced the soup-plate upon bis finger, as if in
the act of washing it, and Mrs. Smiths face
blushed red as scarlet.
"Mr Smith," she exclaimed-and sank back
unable to articulate more-and Just then Bridget
entered and cut short her accumuating words.
The twilight of evening had come and the sit
ting-room was lighted. Mr.. Smith took out his