Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1876-06-03
MY TEN DOLLAR BILL.
nr hfLrN roRREsr eRAvEs.


II was a glorious October afternoon
when she first came to us-one Of those
afternoons when the air is full of yellow
haze, and the tall piumes of aster and
golden rod along the edge of the woods
scarcely stir in the bTeeZe-when the
scent of ripening grapes floats on the at
mOspherc, and the locusts wind their
tiny silver tuned horns in the grass.
lay in the hammock on the piazza,
feading Carlyle's French RevOlution--a
-nvorite hook of mine-and my aunt
Priscilla was nodding over her worSted
work in the back Psrlor beyond.
III you please, sir, can You give me
little worS?''
ework 2"
reared myself in the hammock, aud
taking the spectacles of my nOse-I'm a
little sighted--looked fun at the ap-
plicant.
She was tall and slender, with large
dark eyes, where a violet light stirred
family. like the scintillations in some of
the very dark amethysts one sometimes
secs on a jewelers. counter, and bronze
brown hair, parted low on her forehead,
and brought to a compact knot at the
back of her head. Pretty and neat, and
understanding, bat for all that l cast no
favorable glance upon her.
"WOrk 20 l repeated, irefully. That's
what yOu all ask for! I've heard the stO-
ry before. You are number three, young
woman. There was a man here this
morning that wanted work. He said he
was starving, but he looked tOlerably
round and plump for that sort of thing.
| proposed to him to go out into the field
where the men were hushing coru, but
he said the hot sun always gave him YER
tigo. l told him the well wanted clean
ing out, but he said he wasn't used to
that sort Of work. Then | told him to go
abont his business. He hadn't been gone
five minutes before there appeared wo-
man who wanted to raise money TO bury
her child. At least that is what she said.
She was willing to do any kind of work,
but she couldn't wash on account of
rheumatism, and she couldn't scrub be-
cause her wrists were weak. I've no sort
of faith in such people. 1t destroys my
confidence in human nature"
The girl stood listening until conclud-
ed my haransue, deepening color on
her cheek.
.srhese people were nipostors, sir"
said she. '',T'ry me. I c:tn wash, and l
am willing tU scrub
put on my spectacles again and eyed
her keculy.
''What are YOUR references % said l.
Il have no references, sir. | worked i'm
Bailey Mills until they closed work on
account of the hard times. Before then,
/ was a nursery gOvcrneSS, and my mis-
treSS Senf me away because she Thought /
took q iasly's pocket handkerchief. At
terwaryl, il was found out that it was ta
ken by tht lady y's-maid; but my mistress
never took the trouble to give me the re-
cnmmendatiOn ! asked for. People don't
generally feel kindly toward those whom
they have treated wrongly and uniustly.'
''You are frank" said /.
There is no use in being anything
else, said she. Can you give me work,
sir? | can read French, play the piano,
lnhroider like a Partisan, and can cook,
iron shirts and make butter"
.iIf YOU have so good an education,
said |. iucredulously, ''why don't you
teach; -
'sFeach:" she repeated with little
quiver of smile breaking out around her
mouth. ''When there are ten applicants
to every vacancy among those who are
well-known and respected, what earthly
chance should l staud:"
THAT is true said l. rather liking the
violet glitter OF the frank bright eyes.
''What is your name?"
''Anuie White, sir
"Aunt Priscilla!' said I, to an old la
dy, who had heard every word Of the
cOllOquy behind the leafy screen of the
green vines.
Yes y said my aunt Priscilla.
''Betsey is gomez"
''Yes,' said aunt Priscilla, "Betsey is
gone"
''Shall we try this girl in her place.
Now my aunt Priscilla is an excellent
judge of character, although she knows
nothing of fphysiOguOmy, aud is profound
/ " ignorant of the doctrines OF SpurZ-
helm. She has that sort of instinct which
I is commonly attributed TO children and
dogs. So when my aunt Priscilla said
Eyes, = knew that the matter was set
I tied.
''Come in said l to Annie White
''Take of your things. There is the
/ kitchen. l want baked potatoes and
chicken pot-pie for dinner
/ The pOt-pie was light and delicate-the
potatoes baked to charm.
Good said l to myself-''she is 4
/ good cook. And she dresses neatly,
steps light as a feather, and has that soft,
/ low voice which the poet assures us is
AN excellent thing in woman Now,
/ then, this is the questions she honest -
/ l am man of expedients, and one
/ night, when Annie had been two weeks
/ with US, placed ten-dollar bill back
of the clock, in a careless sort of way, as