The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-27

| the fOotman closed the door after her. Before
however, driving away, she seemed to have
| remembered something more, for Jones was
| sent back with message relative to the hour
of the morrow's visit; having delivered which,
the man seized the opportunity of adding Just
a word, as if in self-vindication:--
"You see mum, we never likes tellin' on
one another; but when woman like that cook
do forget herself, and come to treat her fellow
servants as if they were all her interiors, why
then, | don't think the likes of her don't de-
serve no consideration, but only to be treated
accOrdin'."
"Quite right, Jones; you need never mind
| telling the real truth in such a case as that"
There was now short pause; Mrs. Prim-
| worthy taking advantage Of the vacant in
| terval to put on her spectacles and cast
her eye through a handful of papers which
she drew from her desk. Thinks 1 to
myself, as l unused over the interview
just concluded, such, dare say, is but a reve-
lation of what takes place frequently in
kitchen, without ever reaching the ear of mas
ter or mistress. Probably many a mysterious
warning, which has sorely perplexed the head
OF an establishment is traceable to some such
cause as that Just divuged. While other
reasons are alleged, the truth is that there is
some cross grained cantankerous spirit below
stairs, who embitters kitchen life to one, if not
more of its occupants till further endurance
of it becomes unbearable.
was about to resume my newspaper, when
| a second lady stepped in 10y appointment, like
myself, to meet a young woman who, tOrtu-
nately for her, was already awaiting her arri-
val in another ''Salle d'Attente, " and had only
to be summoned. One glance at the lady con-
vinced me that, although she might be mistress
of an establishment, she was not blest with a
family. That somewhat antiquated bonnet;
that rather short adhesive skirt, which evil
IDENTIFY gave shelter to no crinOline, and that
quantity pinned shawl, all conspired to be-
speak unmistakably the old maid. She spoke
deliberately, yet somewhat determinedly; her
features seemed to take no interest in the re-
marks that escaped her, appearing incapable
Of evincing pleasure, pain, or animation.
''You see," she began, with slowness bor-
dering ON solemnity, that would almost justify
the following specimen of punctuation, "Mrs.
PrimwOrthy | require, a person, of more
than ordinary, respectability. Situated, as l
am; and there being only females, in my
house it is necessary to avoid, the slightest
cause, for scandal; or even, remark You
know; ] keep, but the two. l require them,
to be as correct as myself, in every way"
"Of course, ma'am; naturally you do"
replied the ever-coinciding Mrs. Primworthy,
probably thinking all the while she did not see
why respectable attendants were more indis-
pensable in the case of this unprotected female
than with anybody else, and adding, "Perhaps
yOu IL dllOW ule 10 call Jne young WOMAN, us
she is waiting, and then you can speak to her
yourself"
The summons resulted in the entree of
good-looking girl of about two-and-twenty;
well, but certainly not gaily dressed, whose
bright eyes and animated look presented a
marked contrast with the unimpassioned
aspect of her possible future mistress.
| Scarcely possible, too, thought |; surely this
cautious maiden lady seeks something far
more demure than this damsel. The girl
| having dropped a propitiatory curtsey, the
lady commenced as follows each word
| weighed with consistent deliberation:--
"You have been in service before, l under
stand %
eyes, ma'am; l was housemaid and parlor-
maid at my last place.
"What sort of a place was it?-a quiet
! place ?"
ooh yes, ma'am; twas very quiet place,
and very little company"
''Did they keep any men servants there 20
A decided stress upon that awful word Of three
letters being perceptible.
'No, ma am, they didn't keep no man SER
wants They had used to keep a footmau
afore l come; but as l could wait at table,
master said as he shouldn't want a man no
more"
"And did you and the cook do all the work
of the house ?''
"Net quite all, we didn't, maam. There
boots and knives, and run of a errand, and
sometimes help wait at table,"
ooh, indeed there was boy, was there p
and pray what age was the boy l''
"Well, ma'am, l think he said as he was
just turned sixteen"
GAS much as that Was he big boy or a
little boy because, you know, some boys at
sixteen are almost men, and quite as objec-
| tionable."
At this the girl could not suppress smile,
nor could l: not in the least Disconnected
however, she replied
"Why, he wasn't very big nor yet very little,
| but never knowed as there was ever anything
| against the boy.''
Despairing, l conclude, of eliciting further
| information touching this interesting youth OF
| sixteen the lady, who, | noticed, had been
| scrutinizing this young womans attire from
| head to foot, next went into the matter of
| dress on which subject she appeared to hold
| decided views.
I'm case ofyour entering my service, must
tell you should require you to dress very
simply"
ooh, yes, ma'am, certainly. Pve always
been 'customed to dress plain"
! eyes, but" resumed the lady, 81 cannot
say l consider your dress to-day at all suited
| to a servant"
AS glanced at the girls clothing, confess
| l could discover nothing with which even a
tastidious mistress could find fault. The bon
net certainly was trimmed with broad green
| ribbon, and the gown, a clean print, appeared
to owe its expansion to one of those contrl-
vances held evidently in virtuous horror py