The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-06-10

bonnet, ana set out Tor No. }24 North -
street When | arrived there, | hesitated
about ringing the bell. The house, though
not very large. had an air Of style calling
for several servants. The name was on
the door. picked up courage. and gave
the bell-pull timid jerk No one an
swering for a bit, | made up my mind
to go; but just then the door suddenly
opened, and girl, with an ill-titting dress
hanging loosely from her body, and very
ill-humored expression Of countcnance,
stood in the aperture
~ she asked, sharply
SIS Mrs Dartnell at home?''
" s'pose she be-" was the answer
"Come in, and III see. What's the
name ?"
elizabeth Norman"
She at first left me standing in the hall.
but presently returned and showed me
into the parlor
The room was handsomely furnished,
but looked to be little cared for. There
was a large and fine piano in the room,
covered by a crimson cloth duled in color
by the dust There was dust on the chairs
on the mantel ornaments, on the bric-a-
bluc, trash here and there-contuson and
untidiness everywhere. | had merely
time to note this when an old lady, in il
black alpaca gown, so neat in person as
to show Il marked contrast te her sur
rounding, entered.
"What can do toryou, Miss Norman? ?"
she asked
Betty Norman, ityou please, replied
81 have come to see about the place"
The place and a suspicious shadow
L. I
and then took hold Of one of my hands
This does not look as if it We're used to
housework'
at is, for all that" | answered; land
if you try it, you will find it to be u will
ing and experienced hand"
Where have you served? What is
Your reference ?'
Il have served at home | have never
lived out, but | understand all about it.
Try me.' l exclaimed. desperately. for
my chance seemed slipping away.
sit down, child-you look tired There
you have never lived out before You
have a history what is it?'
| hesitated at first but there was some
thing motherly in her iace, and | told her
all-all except my true name. and | even
mentioned that | had dropped a part of
that, but what was left was legitimately
mine.
Il will try YOU" she said. at length :;
''but warn You that | am at times very
disagreeable fractious old woman-very
apt to find fault. You may not like me
as well AS | am disposed to like you"
alt is not my business, Mrs. Dartnell,
to like or dislike. but to serve you. If you
find fault for good reason, | shall endeavor
to amend; if you find fault without occa-
sion, shah try to bear it,"
''What wages do you expect? ?'
"Whateyer is customary. | don't know
what is given usually"
lit is easy to see that you're not accus-
toned to service. gave my last girl
fourteen dollars per month. and allowed
her every Sunday out"
"Ihe wages will do, madame and, as
for the Sunday out, | should like to go to
church once week, if convenient; but |
have no acqnaintances, and, in New York,
shall make none"
Every well; when can you Gomez
"As soon as can haye my trunk brought
here. ma am
Nothing was sad about reference, hut
she evidently credited my story; and, by
afternoon. | was installed as mistress of
the kitchen. where | found all those mod
eln labor saving contrlvances which have
reduced kitchentol to its minimum
found my fellow servant, the chamber
maid who had let me in, preparing to
leave She had given warning to Mrs.
Dartnell that morning. | inquired her
grievance.
"Ain't got none was the reply "Noth-
in much 10 lo--onIy three beds to make,
except when the old woman's nephew
comes here once 4 year; but prefer fac
torywork that Eve been used to; and be
sides, I'll get some society there
SO she went off to her "tactory work"
and her ''societyn next day and we got
another in her stead-one OF four appli-
cants-a tidy, quiet girl, my pick, in fact,
impression.
from the first, and continued to like it.
did not find the old lady to be as disagree
able rs she said, and she never found fault
except in the mildest and most hesitating
way. And so six months passed off. and
my mistress and myself began to approach
familiarity Tired OF her loneliness, she
frequently brought her knitting-she piled
her needles with all the assiduity of Ger
man Frau-to the kitchen, and would sit
there while l was engaged about my du
ties, rarely saying anything, but appar-
emily wrapped in reverie.
At length there was a little change in
my monotonous life One Sunday | was
at the morning service in church, and had
been in a pew in the gallery, taking my
seat, as usual, where / could get it. and
was little tardy in coming out. As |
came to the vestibule, the rector came
down the aisle and passed by me, pausing
at the door Il moment to speak to the OF
ganist
''What was the trouble in the choir, Mr.
Esten ?" lie asked.
''NllsS Patten, our contralto, has been
taken suddenly i'll, and | don't know how
| can supply her place at short notice for
the afternoon service"
That is nconvenient,n - said the rector,
and, after some other remarks passed on.
stepped up to where the organist stood
with knitted brows, and tapped his arm.
lie turned at once
''EXcuse me for having overheard you
without intending it," | said "but per-
haps | can get you out of yo1r difficulty
| have a contralto voice, | am familiar
with the church h-scryice, and | sing at
sight
"Will You come into the choir ~ he
said
l followed him, and he signaled the
other members of the choir, who We're
still there A very short trial satisfied
him, and promised to come in the after
noon.
asked leave Of Mrs Dartnell, of coarse,
telling her the circumstance.
''Will you not fail ?" the old lady in
quired.
! smiled u negative.
''Why, never knew you were musical
You never touched the piano.
ut is not the business of house maids
to play on their mistresses' pianos"
Every good; but you have been some
thing more than a servant here. Will you
let me hear you sing now?"
touch that piano. which was Kept regular
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