Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-13

NASa "ohNh ph bVhfus hhu tuuulu ttfNh Alh
you might get me real good servant woman
| want no more girls about this house. l be-
lieVe thatif have as much trouble another sii
months with servant girls, as have had With,
the past six, shall go distracted, die, or b.
obliged to do my own house work"
"Well, my DEAR" Smith replied, in a banter
ing tone Of voice to his wife-bantering witt
Mrs Smith was like little boys yenturng on thin
ice" Well my dear, IL you do the first act,
shall take good care Of you-in the Asylum il
the second, | will see you decently entombed
and If you do your own houswork, will pay
you servants wages regularly. There -
For moment Mrs. Smith held her breath
then came low mutterings. Smith began to
move. Then the first sharp drops from between
her pear-like teeth and rosy lips. Smith was
in the hall. Then, with the thunderiDg majesty
Of zantippe Junior, she spoke-and Smith was
making his exit by the street door.
boy and girl came running into the break
fast-room while yet the clouds hung over the
atmosphere of that cosy place. Mrs. Smith
smiles-and the sunshine breaks through. "Not
yet dressed, my darlings ?"-and the full tide of
MONDAY brightness shines resplendent all around
mellowed by the tones Of a mothers voice.
al would like situation" said mild, sweet
face at the intelligence Office The face is not
what is usually called pretty, but there was
"'SNh ahS NhOlo HoipVu tuht NAo lukHtI
prepossessiug. The intelligence officer looked
at the women-as only men in that situation can
Ito see If the women would suit the place. and
the place suit the women.
al have one place only"-he replied" Mrs.
Smiths, and she is one Of the hardest women to
suit with help in this city. But if you are n
mind to, you can try the place, and If you stay
with her one month, viii charge you the usual
Zee; II not, will get you another place."
ThA tua aoff al To frv nd n hn
sent to show her the lady's residence.
i" Mrs Smith" soliloquized the woman, as
she walked up town towards the mansion "hIrs.
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 p' cried Ed, running up to
her and catching hold of her gown. a. Another
wom'n !" lisped little Kate, as she followed her
brothers example.
woman. never mind them, said Mrs. Smith,
as the woman placed her hands upon their heads.
" Ed and Kate" she continued, ego and be
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 aud
had left behind. The office boy, the while, was
saying, "And Mr.. - says he HOPES she will
suit you-and since there has been much said
about girls wages in the papers they are all 60
lug of into tho country-and this one came on
the steamer, yesterday, from the States"
Vhe hOVis errand dnnp ha left fhp rniafraga
with the woman. Mrs Smith seated herself
upon the lounge while the women stood gazing |
with apparent astonishment around her.
What oounlry-woman are you ?" Mrs. Smith |
inquired, as ehe began the formula Of her ao-
customed ehdticism."
"American," the woman articulated in reply, |
as if half afraid to speak.
" How old are you?"
Twenty-Five"
"Maid or widow ?"
Widow"
Can you take good care of children? Ed
and Kate are two dear, sweet children, and if
you are any ways cross l fear you will not suit
me-"
" l am very fond of children, madam" and
the woman fairly shuddered as she spoke the
word, " Madam"
"oan you wash for the family; there is only
four of us?"
" can try"
"Can you cook good dinner if our servant
man helps you for sometimes we have company,
It other times we are not particular 2"
believe can. My sister used to praise
ne for being good cook"
" Your sister! Poor soul, perhaps she was
lot judge" The woman bit her lips until the
blood fairly started from their trembling veins.
. Well, will want you to do chamber work be-
ides, and make yourself generally useful about
ne house. Now, what wages do you expect ?"
" Thirty five dollars a month l was told was
he usual wages "
"Thirty-ive dollars !" and Mrs. Smith raised
Ter eyes in surprise: "why you must mean
wenty five dollars; that is the highest wages l
yer paid" she exclaimed. And Mrs. Smith
miled, for she had heard the boy say that the
woman had Just arrived, and she was one of
hose ladies opposed to high wages for servants
81 suppose it must be Twenty-Five" said the
Toman timidly. do not know what wages are
aid here for help, only arrived yesterday"
"I can assure you, Bridget, that twenty-five
ollars month is good wages, and if that will
10 you, wby-I'l try you" {
"Bridget, Mrs. Smith had called her-and as {
irs. Smith had called every girl and woman of
he fifty she had Bridget's first duty was to l
rash and dress little Ed and Kate, aud somehow l
r other, the children were made to look un- l
sually neat that morning and Ed and Kate l
ach had voluble story to tell their mother, an |
our afterwards, how ''the new woman had
Used them, and huggad them most to pieces"
When Mr.. Smith returned to dinner that even
lg, he was agreeably surprised 10 find the house
a unusual good order Mrs. Smith was in
heerful spirits, for she had found less to do ,
bout the house that day than she had for long j.,
ime before. Bridget seemed to be ahead Of her
D everything and to anticipate her wants. The
hildren minded her by instinct, and Mr. Smith
eclared that II Bridget was as good every day
4 producing comfort in the household as she was
n the first Of her introduction, he would not '
art with her for thrice her wages .
Two months rolled around aud Mrs. Smith 5
egan to become uneasy in her new situation, for c
be had no occasion to direct or superintend the
fairs Of her household, and, having less cause .
D complain, she became irritable and nervous. s
lac day, there had been quite au unusual num-
er of visitors, and whatever went wrong in the
arl0r that raised Mrs. Smiths ire, was visited ,
pom the head Of the unoffending Bridget.
"Husbsnd," was Mrs. Smiths ejaculation Of
Omplaint, as soon as Smith entered that evening
TO morrow morning, wheu you 60 down town, b
ave note at the intelligence office, and tell q
rem to send me another woman. Bridget was a
ute impudent aud saucy to-day, and / will not
ut up with a servants impudenoe."
"But, wife," was Smiths remonstrance, IL
lought that Bridget was the chief par excellence
housemaids, and think you said" = /,
''Mr. Smith, / know what a servant should be- l
he exclaimed, 'and do not want you TO tell
e !"
"Yes, yes, l have no doubt you do /" and i
mith balanced the soup-plate upon his finger, :
) if in the act of washing il, and Mrs. Smiths
ICE blushed red Us scarlet
"Mr. Smith p she excaimed-and sank back a
nable to articulate more-aud just then Bridget
ntared and ont ghnrf hpr non n, ali ft,r,