The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-13
Written for the N. o. Sunday Crsscenll
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
Dy SUSIE, ONE WHO KNOWS.

WI. ..0.H| H..E.. ..I ..HN.
Please, Mr.. Editor, win you allow me the liberty
of saying few words about the other aide of the
story. It Is about servants, mean. II is al the
fashion for ladies' to complain about servants, how
this one amt sober, and that one amt honest and
the other one amt worth her salt, etc. But while
they are talking about their trials with their serv.
ants do they ever think about our trials with them.
wonder, -... \, -
Whenever two ladies get together, instead OF
talking about books, music or flowers, or some
thing you'd think kinder suitable to them, the first
thing they DO is to pick all the poor servants to
pieces then talk some nice little tale about some
of their friends, and then their dresses. Now I'd
like to know what is the use Of so much money
being spent on adys learning il it don't give her
one idea more sensibleike than her poor neigh
Dor across the street who takes in washing has
I'd just Just Ike TO know if ii amt money thrown
away. -
Now, this morning Mrs. Snooks-thst's my ma
dam. you know-hsd company calling all the NOR
ming, ard as | am house girl answer the bell and
show the company In the parlor, and If you will
believe me, not one word wiser or more sensible
did hear talked by them quality ladies, than they
would have heard il I'd had company In the kit
chen. and they'd listened: My madam that I'm
living with now is a very nice one as they go. but
then I've got my trials with her, too and they amt
always such as IL pleasant. We servants like nice
eating as well ss ladies and gentlemen. but when
we come TO the table all the tenderoin is cut out
the steak, the strong coffee or tea all drunk up.
the nice table butter gone and second rate on IN
its place, and We have TO drink common brown
sugar in cur tea, no matter how delicate our
stomach is some madams never have any dessert
Cor their help, nor preserves nor cheese nor any
nice things at all and then sometimes they get up
wrong foot out of bed. and there is pleasing Of
'em, they'd find fault with saint, much less
poor girl who amt no better than she ought to
Now II you'll LET me tell you little I've seen,
you will that there is two sides to the story,
and that our side amt always the blacklist; IN
tell you about a different madam each week, till
I've gone through all my experience. II as
how you see Dit TO put it in the papers.
III be more'n proud. and maybe III
tell you the experience OF some of my fellow
servants, for you mdst know We talk, too, just
like the ladies do only we pick our madams to
pieces and they pick Us TO pieces. ~
You see, I'm an orphan girl that is to say, my
father is dead and my poor mother Is wider, and
as she had five other little 'uDs to care for, she
coldn't let me go to school long; so, its little
scboolin I've had, which &C counts for my bunders
in writing this. She had TO put me out to help
urn little, when was only twelve years old, or
there abouts. Well she felt might dubious about
putting her little girl away among strangers, but
poor folks amt got no business with feelings, SO
che had to put hers in her pocket, till such time
as che could git money enough to take 'em out
and air EN-.
One Of our neighbors who took 10 wsshin for
Twin. told mother of a place where they wanted
little girl 10 mind the baby, and mother took
heart and fixed me up real nice. and took me
round to show me to the lady. Well, she was q
mighty nice soft-spoken lady, and the baby was
pretty little fat dumping thing, that thought
I'D be sure TO love, and 80 did, for mother and
the lady agreed, and set right in. was to mind
the baby, and do any little thing Mrs. Peters told
me, and that part was the rub; she never could
abide to see me idle minutes time she didn't
think could ever get tired and need resting, but
the minute the baby was asleep must be sweep
ing. busting, rubbing the furniture. or cleaning
the glass or something, and st night must rock
the baby to sleep, and then sit in the room With
light but the fire, alone most of the time, and she
wouldn't even let me have book to look at--she
didn't like reading servants, she didn't and then
she'd sit right before me and eat cake, or candy,
or fruit. and never say Susie, here's piece"
Now, wasn't that mean, before a childi So,
altogether, told mother | wouldn't stand II, aud
she took me away and because ] ddn't stay my
month out Mrs. Peters wouldn't pay me a cent
for what time I'd been with her. SO that was
my first madam. How do you like her
" 0r 80 SUSIE.