The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-03-04
minutes he took me on one side

COOK tnaC 1 got from Boston, at
twenty dollars a week; but she's a
high tempered woman: Last even
ing she quarreled with her assist
ants: this morning the breakfast
was all in confusion, and now she's
packing her trunk'to leave by the
next train In two or three, days ]
can probably get anotherone down
in her place; but, what we're to do
meanwhile, I don't know.
"But Norton," said I, ssisnt there
some one near by or in the house
who can take it?'
81 doubt it," he replied. ye
half a dozen girls from the vicinity
doing upstairs work-one eof them
from your town, the best waiter in
the dinaag.room. But I suppose all
of them would either be afraid Of
the responsibility, or think it be.
meath them to cook; though they
would have plenty of help, and
earn twenty dollars where they now
earn three.s 81 - 81
"Who's here from Greenland?''
/ asked, for I knew. something o1
almost every oneein that'place.
"Mary Lyford.',
"Mary Lyford? A black-eyed,
light-tooted girl, abouttwenty years
old, with two brothers in Colorado,
and her father a farmer over to-
wards Straham ?''lt' y. '..''',.'
eyes; the very same"
"Why, she's the prettiest girl in
Greenland-at leastI thought SO
two years ago, when I danced with
her at the Thanksgiving party in
the village; and l heard last fall
that she took the. prize. at the Man.
chester fair for the best. loaf O.
bread. But why is she here?"
"0h, you know farmers haven
much ready money, and I suppose
she wanted to earn something tol
herself, and to come to the Beach
like the restsof ds. You said she
took the premium for her bread; ]
believe I'll gointorthe dining-room
and propose to give the cooks place
to any one Of the girls who would
like it, and who feels competent tc
take it. I must do something
and looking at his watch he went
out. - '.. :>'"ii1'.'iH
"Ten minuteslater he came back
clasping his hands and exclaimed
"Mary Lyford says she will try
it," a ~. 5,aja
"Hurrah for Greenland" cried
I; "isn't that plucky? BY Joye,
hope she'll succeed, and I believe
she will % -.
"You mustn't expect much to:
day." said Norton. "Things are all
topsy turvy in the kitchen, and it'll
take SOME time to get them straight:
ened out.'' - H.: 49, /,
"Just then new arrival claimed
his attention, and with. a serener
face he turned away. -, ~!
"Dinner was poor that day; sup
per was a little better. And, in
spite of Norton's caution, / began
to be afraid that Greenland was
going down. Butthe next morning,
what a breakfast we had! Juicy
steaks, hot potatoes, delicious rolls
and corn-bread, griddle-cakes that
melted in your mouth, coffee that
lost no aroma in its making.
Thenceforth every meal was o tri-
umph. The guests praised the ta-
BILE, and FASTENED to their seats at
the first sound of the bell. Norton
was radiant with satisfaction, and I
was as pleased as if I had been the
landlord OF cook myself, Several
times I sent my compliments and
congratulations to Mary; but she
was so constantly occupied that !
never had a glimpse of her till the
night before [ was to leave. I was
dancing in the parlor, and had just
led a young lady of the Matilda
Jane stamp to her mamma, when l
saw Mary standing with the dining
room girls on the piazza. I went
out, and shaking her by the hand,
told her how interested I had been
in her success, and how proud I
was to find Greenland girl so ac-
complished. She blushed and
thanked me, and said, in a modest
way, that she was glad if all was
suited, and then Norton came up
and expressed bis entire satisfaction
with what she had done. AS she
stood there in white piquc dress,
with scarlet bow at her throat,
and her dark hair neatly arranged,
she looked every inch a lady.
"Do me the favor, Miss Lyford, -"
said 1, ito dance the next cotillion
with me ?'' = ...i .1..,'."..I
"Ah! Mr.. Foster" she replied,
looking archly at Norton, "that
isn't expected Of the help" =
"The help" I said, Indignantly.
"You are queen of the establish
ment, and 1 invite you to dance,
and so does Mr.. Norton"
"Certainiy, I do,' he'answered.
"Go and show the company that
you are at home in the parlor as
we'll as in the Kitchen" So, smi-
ling and blushing, she took my
oNV