Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-11-07
Gales ami gketsBea.
WHAT IN THE REASON


Mrs. King, 1 am perfectly desperate,
said Mrs. Rodman, as she burst into the
quiet sitting room of her nearest neighbor,
and seated herself ia comfortable rocking
chair. 1t is abomniablu There ought
TO be law provided
Mrs. King raised her eyes from her sew
ing, at this out6urst from the excited little
lady, and saw that she was most thorough
ly veXcd, and her face was crmsoned with
anger.
What now, Mrs. Rodman ? Are you
going to call an extra session of the legis-
lature to redress wrongs p
Il wish l could just think of it Those
people all coming from New York next
week, to spend a month, and that imperti-
nent jade just told me l must look for other
help-that she should leave Saturday =
1T must be annoying; she has not been
with You but a short time, if remember
right
Only just three weeks come Saturday
just think; she makes four hired girls
have since January =
Indeed DO you like to change your
help 80 often p
My feelings have nothing to de with it.
! cannot help myself. Under the present
customs of society, your help is just as in
dependent as her mistress-if anything,
ather more So
She is right there, Mrs. Rodmau she is
independent. She earns her own living,
and clothes herself by honest labor
But she is nothing more or less than 4
servant, you know
You are aware that the standing she
has in your family depends upon yourself !;
but really think if any one is independent,
it is the person who works for living.
Il know, Mrs. King, you believe in that,
but it you had such help us | have, you
would not like to see her put on airs. If l
could get girl as your Alice, now
1 could not spare Alice. l am expect
ing friends soon, TO spend the season with
me-
oh, knew you would not let her 60
she has lived with you so long that you
claim her just as much as if you owned her
as slave she would not dare to leave
you
Il 90 not think she would be afraid to
leave, if she choose, but she is satisfied and
so am |. She is faithful lrusty and kind,
the children are attached to her; she is
quite treasure
she has lived with you great while
Yes, ever since she was seventeen, and
she is now twenty-fOur.'
Isn't she cross about your having 50
much company p
No, think she looks forward to the
visit with pleasure
We'll, wonder at it That was what
made the fuss with Jane she said she
must have more pay
If Alice has to work harder on account
of extra numbers in the family, | always
make it up to her.
But, Mrs, King, is not three dollars n
week all a girl earns? p | agreed to give
Jane that, aud now she wants more ?
You pay her that for doing the work for
your family, suppose. Did she know you
we're going to have boarders, when she
came y
4 presume, hIrs. Rodman, you and
think different of that matter. So we will
not discuss on 1t now
Everybody says that you spoil your hir-
cd girls, Mrs. King
'Ay; yet every one thinks Alice is splen-
did help, and no one realizes il more than
do. really do not know her equal
she is first rate but could not get an
American girl, and these foreigners are SO
unbearable, so dirty, SD impudent, there is
no standing it. l have no patience with
them
The enlrence of Alice, neatly dressed,
put stop TO Mrs. ltodman's inyectiyes !;
and as she saw Mrs Kings help sit down
by the work table and take her sewing, she
opened her eyes with astonishment.
Il have these seems all basted, said Mrs.
King, as she handed her the waist of a
pretty chintz dress and if you are not too
tired you can run them up on the machine
while tit the sleeves
~ new dress for yourself, Mrs. King ?
1t is quite pretty
1t is Alice's dress, Mrs. Rodman.'
DO you help her make her dresses l
wonder you can find time
Mrs. King has fitted all my dresses
since have lived with her. said Alice,
with a smiling face, as she seated herself at
the sewing machine.
do you have time to make your clothes
when you work out? Girls generally hire
their sewing DONE
Mrs, King helps me do mine. l have
never put any out to be done; it would
cost a great deal.
'And Alice helps me do mine; so it is
an even exchange. lam hardly able to run
the machine, and she stitches beau tiful.'
Il should think SO never had girl
sew stitch for me yet, and am sure |
give them pay enough. You do not know,
Alice, where / could find good girl 10 help
me this suinIner | suppose p said Mrs.