The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-07-05
OUR HIRED GIRL.

k91c Ehli'iNN Wy
nifty, and departed ,.--. !.
Wbst was to become of us? Grace was TO
he married in Just three weeks, ana suCh
confusion of silks and muslins, lace ana now
ers. purple and fine linen as there was III the
rooms np stairs, you never saw.
40 much to be done in the way OF sewing
to saw nothing of the baking for the wedding
supper, tor Grace had pretty hne ideas OF
how she wanted things donc) and no one 10
do il all but mother and l.: ..,,,
oWcjJ y said Brother Willie, 81 suppose it'll
ba nv fate to start off in search OF another
Girl ihough where to go I'venot the remotest
ideo This section of country has been pretty
we'll secured, and girl who is not too stuck
nm 70 work out is hard to be found
"if that is the case, what is the use OF try
;nggr said mamma. 81 guess you and can
GET along, Flora"
ono" said |, you will be down sick, and
It's bad enough to have Grace go and leave
US. without having you kill yourSeF"
III am not going to kill myseJ,' SAID Grace,
quickly; you speak as though were. But
why don't you advertise for girl =
Capital" said !, running Tor writing ma,
terials. "Here goesn and hastily prescribed
the following:
WANTED-A girl to do general Homework
in private family in the country; one VINO
mol 100 me 10 bC bOSSct HASANA'NN' 81
oily at the Gazette once.
win and papa had quite laugh when
asked them to take the advertisement to town
and make arrangements to bring the girl
(yho | was sure was in existence some
where, and would answer) out to our house
~ soon as sue called at the office
"You'll have the pleasure of seeing some
thing of your own composition in the paper
r,;p and that is all he
sure" said papa.
But had great faith in the success Of my
venture. This was Monday; the paper was
ISSUED on Friday, and there stood the adycr-
tisement that was to bring US a perfect jewel
Of a girl" =,
The next Monday morning mamma had
4 sick headache, and while was busy over
the washtub in the kitchen, singing put Me
in NY Little Bed" (bcng the most lackadaisl-
cal thing could think of buggy drove to
the door, and neatly dressed young lady
came in and informed me that she had seen
our advertisement in the paper, and would
like the situation, if agreeable to us, Her
auiet dignity quite upset me. was not quite
prepared for this.
A tall, slender girl, with delicate pink,
scs-shell complexion, such masses of golden
blonde hair, and, strange to say large, black
eyes, shaded by dark lasheS and brows There
was the unmistakable air Of a lady about
her, and | wondered if | should ever want or
dare to "bosS" her.
/ concluded her services would be agree
able, so showed her her room, and Will and
the hired man carried up her trunk.
In five or ten minutes she came down, at
tired in a neat, brown calico dress, with n
pretty cambria rutllc in the neck, and an
uOunCed herself ready to commence opera.
tions. wondered if those slender white
hands knew how to do anything, but | was
not very long left in doubt All that day, |
Louise Hale and worked together, now in |
the Kitchen, now hanging out clothes, now in
the diningroOm, and finally, in afternoon
toilets, sewing in the cool north chambers,
with Grace. We talked of nothing but our
work, and though she seemed willing to do
anything that was to be done, she made no
prCtscnlOns to being Over-anXiOuS to make
herself useful. | was astonishcd at the case
and dizziness with which she turned off the
work.
Glow do you suppose she ever could be at
such work ?" said Willie. 81 was never more
taken back than when saw this handsome
creature masking potatoes when came in
to dinner
well" said Grace, "it is quite a mystery
10 ne"
II believe I'd lock my door tonight" said
VIII, toasngly. He was always laughing at
our coWardlce about strangers being in the |
house.
We were standing at the garden gate, I'M.
der the weeping willow, Grace, and Willie
and l. feeling little sad at tho thought of
being 80 soon separated.
/ had been feeling half angry at Leslie
Glare, FOR coming to take away our darling,
nut tonight rs saw her in the pale moon
light looking so sweet and pretty, | should
have been more angry with him if he had not
lIycJ her and waited TO carry her off
turned from her beauty to 90 to the house,
and there on the upper piazza stood the "hircd
g'rb" hcr arm embracing the pillar her side
face turned to us; the sweetest smile curlcd
me lu.l red lips, and she seemed thinking of
something very pleasant and amusing.
NO said softly, to Grace, as we came
up the walk, she Is no poor fOrlorn creature
who has lost her fortune and is heroicallv
facing stern work for a living"
She has never come here from necessity.
ahe has come from choice, and with some
tecp reason said Grace imprcSSiycly.
For two dollars per week, | imagine " |
said Willie, lofdly, as We stepped into the
house.
The wedding preparations went on swim.
m.ngly now. Mamma recovered from her
Headache, Louise took entire charge of
Kitchen and dining room, and invariably
Ee.pGl US with the sewing in the long after
Moons She was an invaluable girl
One afternoon Leslie came over and brought
Inc "Innocents Abroad" then just out, and
read aloud to us as we scwed
After tea was over we returned to our work
.Hd the book, with which we were greatly
ciighted.
The sun went down in splendor. The book
ard work was finally laid aside, and we found !,
a,Eselyes in one of those long talks about
iyoks and authors we always enjoyed so
much
a slight disagreement, arose about the au-
tlor of certain work | was opposed 10
Leslie and Grace who always agreed
In despair | called upon Louise saying
You think as do, don't you, Louise :" not
having the remotest idea that she knew any.
tang about the matter
Yes" she answered quietly, and then went
ca to give proofs Of the correctness of our po.
sion so strong that Grace and Leslie were
nhlTOpI IN 10 ft,r haIiac