New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-30
rs REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, MARCH 80, 1873

dozen girls from the vicinity doing up-stsir,
work-oneo of them from your own, the bes
waiter In the dining-roOm. But / suppOs'
al of them would either be afraid of tn,
responsibility or think it beneath them 4
turn cook; though they would lave plenty
of help, and earn twenty dollars vhert
they now get three
who's here from Greenland,' asked
for knew something o. almost every on,
in the place.
MARY Lyford'
"'Nary Lyfsrdf A black-eyed, light
footed girl, about twenty years old, with
two brothers in Colorado, and her father
farmer over towards StrathamF'
Yes, the very same
"'Wby, she's the prettiest girl in Green
land-at least, | thought 30 two years ago
when | danced with her at the Thanksgiving:
party at the village aud I heard last fal
that she took the prize at the Manchestel
fair for the best loaf of bread. But why
is she heret'
"'Oh, you know farmers haven't much
ready money and 1 suppose she wanted t.
earn something for herself, and to come t
the beach like the rest of u.s. You say she
took the premium on ner breadf / believe
III go into she dining room and propose tt
give the cooks place 50 any one of the girls
| who would like it n who feels competent
TO take it. ! must do something:' and
looking at his watch he went out.
Ten minutes later he came back. clap
ping his hands, and exclaimed:
"'Mary Lytord says she'll try it,
"'Hurrah for Greenland = cried L. 'Isn't
that pluckyf By JOve, / hope she'll sue
ceed; and believe she will
"'iou mustn't expect much today said
Norton. Things are all topsy turvy in the
kitchen, and it'll take some time to get
them Strengthened out
Just then a new arrival claimed his at
t%ention, and with . serener face he turned
away.
Dinner was poor that day; upper was
little better; and In spite of Eorton's eau
ton, l began to be afraid that Greenland
was going down But the mex morning,
what a breakfast We had-juicy steaks, hot
potatoes, delicious rolls and corn bread
grIddle cakes that melted in your mouth,
and coffee that had lost none of its aroma
in the making. Thenceforth every meal
was a triumph. The guests praised the
table, and fastened to their seats at the
sound of the first bell. Norton was radiant
with satisfaction, and l was as pleased as
if l had been landlord or cook myself.
Several times l sent my compliments and
congratulations to Mary but she was so
constantly occupied that I never had a
glimpse of her till the night before 1 was
to leave. 1 was dancing in the parlor,
and had just led ayoung lady Of the Matilda
Lane stamp to her mamma, when / saw
Mary standing with the diningroom girls
on the piazza. | went Out and. shaking
her cordially by the hand, told her how in
terested ! had been in her success, and how
proud l was to find a Greenland girl SO
accomplished. She blushed and thanked
me, and said, in a modest way, that she was
very glad if We were all suited; and then
Norton came up and expressed his entire
qualification with what she had done. AS
she stood there in . white pique dress, with
a scarlet bow at her throat, and her dark
hair neatly arranged. she looked every inch
q Lady,
"'Do M she favor. Miss Lyford,' said I,
Ito dance the next cotilIion with me p
"'Ah! Mr.. Foster she replied, looking
archly at Norton. that isn't expected Of the
help
"'The heipr I said. Indignantly. 'Tou
are queen OF his establishment, and | in
yite you to dance. and so does Mr.. Norton
"'C~ertainly / do he answered. 60
and show the company that you are at
home In the parior as web as in the
Kitchen So. smiling and blushing. che
took my arm.
Didn't We make . sensation whes we
went in! Perhaps there was no fellow
there with . better social position tyou
know the phrase! than l; and l had been
quite q favOrite with the ladies. You
should have sees them when we took our
places on the hOOrl Some laughed, some
trowned. some whispered to their neigh
bors, but / paid not the slightest attention
20 it all, and Mary looked SO pretty, and
Mary went through the dance with such
grace and dignity that before it was over |
hplipva all rpuarInd ber With odnirat;cn
[ q ld'nt wait for comments, but escorted
her out as II she had been the belle OF
Boston.
"'Good night, Misc Lyford.' I said, when
we reached the hall. Il am going in the
morning but l shall see you again when
you get bach to Greenland"
"'GOod night, Hr. Foster she replied, Il
thank you tor our Kindness Then she
added. laughing Have you any orders for
breakfast"
why, yes. should like 20 remember
you by a plate OF such 1lutfns as We had
yesterday
"'You shall have them, sir she said, a.
she disappeared i'll the doorway. And nave
them l did.
Three weeks later Mary same home to
Gree inland with more than a hundred dol
lars IN her purse ard d fame that was worth
thouse nds. | went - see he. at her fathers
house. / foAnd her every way excellent
and lovsiy; and the end was that at Christ
mas we were married"
"Glo-orsw 1 exclaimed. ''Give me yoar
hand. Toni l was afraid you had been
N by some Matilda Lane"
DO you think I'm a fool =" said he.
Then | told him of my own choice, and /
ssill talking when the train stopped at
the Greenland station.
We so0n arrived at biz hospitable home.
His wife was all he had pictured her--a re-
fined, Intelligent. handsome woman, who
would develop and grow in attractiveness
every year Of he: life. After a merry
in their pleasant parlOr. I vent to
audAdreamed that the millennium had
and that all women were like my
blUe-eyed girl and Mrs. Tom Foster