North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-02-18
Selttt Stprg.
From the San Francisco Golden Era.
A Truthful Story of to-day.


Mrs. Smith of course you know her
Her husband Mr.. Smith, is a wholesale deal
er in Goldfish, gimlets, molasses, cotton goods
and patent medicines. Mr.. and Mrs. Smith
are of the real bon ton, the recherche of socie
ty, beau monde considered Mrs. Smith the
belle of their peculiar element. You meet
Mrs Smith upon the street and politely raise
your hat, or more properly duck your head
in bow, in token of, " | would cut it off if it
would render you any pleasure" Now you
would hardly believe Mrs. Smith, that richly
dressed and fashionable lady, with proud
step and a continuous curl at servant girls
upon her beautiful and naughty lip, was once
serVant-ah, twice-once servant and
factory hand, IN the Yankee land of Lowell.
ried commoRers. and dukes made duchesseS
of peasant girls? She was naughty a few
months ago, but those who thought her all
arrogance now find in her amiablity, and
those who thought her naughty, now love
her for her sympathy and kindness. There
by begins our story.
Mrs. Smith was the most unpleasant mis-
tresS servant girls ever tried to please, and
if by dint of perseverance any one of them
remained in her employ two weeks Mr..
Smiths astonishment was plainly visible.
We'll, Smith puts on airs, as well as Mrs,
Smith.-It was by lucky accident he got
started and followed up his fortunes until he
obtained his present importance. Tell Smith
he worked at common labor few years ago,
or how he learned the art of buying or sell
ing for profit by graduating from boarding
house stewardship, and there learned his
first idea Of trade he will probably reply
&" All, them was old times" Old times, true
enough! Just decade gone since them
old, old times
The man at the intelligence office had sent
five different girls to Mrs. Smiths employ in
two weeks, and on this particular morning
Mrs. Smith wanted a new servant.
Mrs. Smith," said the lady, addressing
her senior partner, in a tone that said palmer
than her words -" have an order for you
this morning" Mr.. Smith, the steamer has
arrived. | see by this mornings paper there
were three hundred women on board, and
should think that you might get me real
good servant woman. | want no more girls
about this house. | believe that if have as
much trouble another six months, with SER
want girls, as I have within the past six,
shall SO distracted, die, or be obliged to do
my own house work"
Well, DEAR" Smith replied, in banter
ing tone of voice. bantering with Mrs.
Smith was like little boys venturing upon
thin ice ;)-" well, dear, if you do the first
act, shall take good care of you-in the asy
lum if the second, will see you decently
entombed if you do your own housework,
will pay you servants wages. There !''
For moment Mrs. Smith held her breath,
then came low murmurings. Smith began
to move. Then the first sharp drops from
between her pearllike teeth and rosy lips
Smith was in the hall. Then, with the thun-
dering majesty of Zantippe Junior she spoke
and Smith was making for the street.
A boy and girl came running towards
the breakfast room while yet the clouds hung
over tie atmosphere Of that cozy place. Mrs
Smith smlles-and the sunshine breaks thro'.
" Not yet dressed, my darlings ?"-and the
full tide of the MONDAY brightness shines re-
splendent all through, mellowed by the tone
of a mothers voice.
IwouTd like a situation said mild face
at the intelligence Office. The face was not
actually what is called pretty, but there was