Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-16

girl with ingratitude precisely, but
somehow or other mother and Winnifred
never did exactly harmonic. Mother has
a lofty way Of looking at things. It is in
her blood. If circumstances had only
been as they SHOULD have been, and dear
father had not died in most inoppor-
tune way, and grandfather had not lost
a lawsuit, all New York, from Fifty
third street up to Harlem, would have
been ours. Mother never forgets this,
so if you are not her equal in a worldly
sense, you never can be her companion:
of course, spiritually we are all on the
same level. I feel SO every day, and try
and teach it and live up to it.
AS for myself. the last three or four
years, that girl was never much in my
way; our spheres were too wide apart.
NY communication was limited to di-
recting her how my dresses were to be
made, and she was an adept with the
sewing machine; yes, I am always truth
full, and give every one their full guer-
don of praise, and am ready to declare,
that with the least bit of driving at the
sewing machine, could get more work
out of that girl than from any two paid
sewing women.
AS member of the family, that girl
was amenable to all the rules of the
school, and her acquaintance and asso-
GATES were under the strictest surveil-
lance. About eight months ago the
beef and chicken question came to a
crisis, and Miss Wilkins had been prop
erly instructed by my mother to give
attention to its details. It seems our
most promising pupil, the daughter of
a deceased California gold mine owner
Several millions in her own right, and
a hearty eater, had written home to her
guardians about the condition of the
table. The monetary crisis just then
had played sad havoc with the payment
of our tuition bills, and we had to be
very careful. Miss Wilkins took the
matter in hand, and, must state, to
the great improvement. of our table.
We all noticed that prior to this she
was to certain degree Indifferent to the
fault found by mother as to the food;
but now, if word was said by my
respected parent as to the quality of the
meat or chickens, though she would say
nothing, her eyes would fash. In fact,
she was. sensitive about it to q degree.
That girl held the grocer's, and butch
er's, and milkman's, and fish dealers
accounts, paid the bills, simply giving
mother the daily amounts expended,
keeping little set of books, and sitting
up at nights, as was very proper, to
keep them straight, for mother is very
strict business woman. Somehow or
other that girl was rather unwell for a
week or so, and did not venture out.
One morning, just I was going down
stairs, saw a massive, stout looking
young person, who asked to see Miss
Winnifred. ''Miss Wilkins, sir ?" I
said. Eyes, Miss Wilkins" "He had
a small bill to collect. He was in no
hurry for the money. Miss Winnifred
was very punctual; but seeing that she
hadn't been round lately, he was afraid
she might be sick, you know, or that
there might be some complaint, and he
had taken the liberty of calling in per-
son." "And, pray, what is your name2
What is the bill? Miss Wilkins has
not been well-nothing of any conse-
qnence. The young man said, "He
was sorry to hear that
That young mans manner, O certain
diffident empressment, surprised me.
And, pray, what do you sell Miss Will
kins? If it's butter, it's been quite un-
paralleled of late as to badness and
price" said.
"Oh no, Miss, it isn't butter, it's
beef. It's only $22.75. We don't want
the money. Only dropped in as I went
by, you know, rather to see why orders
were stopped"
I had suspicion. I recoilected
rough hobbledehoy rufian of boy,
who used to ride about, yelling in
butchers wagon, some six or eight
years ago, and who always made it
point to dash with a wicked-looking
pony, attached to red cart, right at
poor mother whenever she ventured on
the crossing, and who Intentionally
charged and cut into our string of
young ladies when they went out for
walk. Gould it be the hateful Bladders'
boy? Suspicious were instantly con-
frmed. On that young mans finger
was bright ring, with huge B cut on
it-some faring stone. "Your name 2"
said peremptorily.
''Joel Bladders, Miss.
ssThen, Joel Bladders, go down into
the area, or to the back gate, and
never dare to put your foot in this hall
again. Your bill shall be payed instant
~, and we never more want you to send
meat or geese or strawberries or
turnips or any of your hateful things to
the house." [ wish I had dear mothers
sang froid, but I have not that virtue.
I must say, however, that under the
circumstances, mother was excited,
though her fortitude under distressing
circumstances is magnificent. The
money to a cent was instantly made up,
was given to the cook with instructions
to carry it to the Bladders young man,
and insist on his giving a duplicate
receipt, but when the cook went to the
area and to the back gate, the Bladders'
representative was gone. Naturally
that girl got the scolding she SO fully
merited. Mother is never impetu-
Gus, never loses her self-re-
spect. I may have a tendency
to nag, I regret to state it, for I am
weaker than mother. Mother has, when