Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-14
5fliseellanu.
A Truthful Story Of the Present
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Her husband Mr.. Smith is wholesale
dealer in Goldfish, gimlets, molasses, cot.
ton goods, and patent medicines. Mr.
and Mrs. Smith are the real bon ton, the
recherche of society, and the beau monde
consider Mrs. Smith the bell of their
particular 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 pleas.
ure." Now, you would hardly believe
that Mrs. Smith, that richly dressed and
fashionable lady, with proud and elias
tic step, and contemptuous curl at ser
want girls upon her beautiful and naughty
lip, was once a servant-ah, twice
servant girl and factory hand in the
Yankee land of Lowell. That's to her
honor have not kings married common
ers, and dukes made dutchesses of peas
ant girls? She was naughty few months
ago, but there had been a change. Those
who once thought her all arrogance now
find in her amiability, and those that
thought her naughty, now love her for
her sympathetic kindness. Thereby
begins our story.
Mrs. Smith at that time was the most
unpleasant mistress a servant girl ever
tried to please and if by dint of per-
severance any of them remained in her
employ two weeks, Mr.. Smiths astonish-
ment was plainly visible.
Well, Smith put on airs as well as
Mrs. Smith, if it was by lucky accident
he got started and followed up his for
tune to his present importance. Tell
Smith how he worked at common labor
few days ago, or how he learned the
art of buying or selling for profit, by
graduating from clearinghouse waiter
to the stewardship, and there learned his
first idea of trade and he viii proba-
bly, reply: "Ah, them was old times p
Old times, true enough! Just decade
gone since " them old times"
The old man at the Intelligence Office
had sent five different girls to Mrs. Smith 5
employ in two weeks, and ON this partic-
ular morning Mrs. Smith wanted a new
servant.
Mr.. Smith" said the lady addressing
her husband in tone that said palmer
than words "I have an order for you this
morning. Mr.. Smith, the steamer has
arrived. 1 see by this mornings paper
that there was three hundred women on
board, and l should think that you
might get me real good servant woman.
want no more girls about the house. /
believe that, if l have as much trouble
another six months with servant girls as
have had within the past six, shall
go distracted, die, or be obliged to do my
own house-work."
"Well, my dear, Smith replied, in a
bantering tone of voice to his wife-(ban-
tering with Mrs. Smith was like little
boys venturing on thin ice)-" well, my
dear, if you do the first act l shall take
good care of you-in the asylum if the
second, shall see you safely entombed
and if you do your own house-work, !
will pay you servants wages regularly.
There /"
For moment Mrs. Smith held her
breath; then came low murmurings
Smith began to move. Then the first
sharp drops from between her pearl like
teeth and rose lips. Smith was in the
hall. Then, with the laundering majesty
of Xantiphe Junior, she spoke and Smith
was making his exit by the street door
| A boy and girl came running into the
dressing-room while yet the clouds hung
over the atmosphere of the cozy place,
Mrs. Smith smiles and the sunshine
breaks through.
"Not yet dressed my darlings?" and
the full tide of MONDAY brightness shines
resplendant all around, mellowed by the
tones of mothers voice.
az should like a situation" said a
sweet face at the intelligence Office. The
face was not what was usually called
pretty but was charm about the whole
iperson that was rather progressing
1 The intelligence officer looked at the
women-as only men in that situation
can-to see if the woman would suit the
place, and the place the woman.
"I have only one place." he replied,
"and she is one of the hardest women to
suit with help in the city. But, if you
are amind to, you can try the place and
4 if you can stay with her one month
will charge you the regular fee; if not
will get you another place"
The woman was satisfied to try, and
/ a boy was sent to show her to the lady's
iresidence.
/ "Mrs. Smith soliloquized the woman
| as she walked up town towards the man,