The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-11-25
Wishing to be a Lady.

to-day TO take care oil the dInlng-room
Your sister Greta is attending to th,
work above stairs, and Bridget is read!
for her orders by this time"
Nannie's face, as she looked up from
the book she was reading, did not expires
her usual energetic good humor. Yes
terday she had taken tea with compan
ion of her own age--a young miss o
fourteen, who knew quite well, as sht
supposed, what was proper for lady, ant
had filled Nannio's head with ideas thai
had been working there ever since
"Why, mamma" said she, as she re
luctantly took up the cloth to wash the
breakfast china, al don't see how it i,
that Greta and | must do so much house
work | am sure papa is able to hire an
other servant. And just look at my
hands all red aud ugly and Bertha
Speare says they will grow uglior and
uglier if / am kept at drudgery all the
time. Her hands are beautiful-and she
wears the prettiest rings She nerer has
to wear calico morning dress, either"
"Yes, Mamie, understand all about
it. Bertha Speare is a remarkably well
informed lady. Drudgery will never dc
for such as you and she, L see it is only
fit for mothers and servants, Go up
stairs now and put on your best meriDo
dress and kid boots and take down your
curlpapers, and mako yourself look as
fine as possible"
Mamie looked at her mother, 1t was
quiet, placid face she saw, but she
knew by its expression that she was in
earnest. Mrs, Lanes children we're never
mistaken on that point. Such thing as
disobedience was never thought of when
she wore that look of decision
So Mamie dropped her mop and went
up to her room, wondering in her heart
what her mamma could mean. She had
only thought of having little argument
with her mother; Mamie was fond of ar
gumeDt; and she had been forestaled so
completely that she was puzzled. But
on one thing she was clear; she must
obey.
After she was dressed-and it took her
much longer than usual to array herself,
for she was rather nervous over it-she
shyly and reluctantly descended to the
dining room. There stood mamma, hav-
ing had the cradle brought in with the
baby in it asleep. She was washing the
china and talking to Bridget-the one
servant-who had been summoned to the
kitchen.
"You see, Bridget" she was saying,
"the marketing has just come in, and
there's the beef to roast, and the cauli
flower to prepare, and as for the pudding,
l have had watchful night with Mally.
and shall Fave to give that up"
"Yes, 20 do look tired, mum. But, by
yer lave, master was spakin' about the
puddin', and Miss Mamie said she could
make it,"
Don't you see Miss Mamie is all
dressed p said mamma, turning around
We'll have to do without her, too, Bird.
get."
Bridget gave queer, puzzled look at
Mamie, who had just entered, attired in
best afternoon trim at nine O'Clock in the
morning. "Oh, | ask pardon" said she,
with her best Irish manners, 81 didn't
know ye were going out. lifts going to
town ye are"-
"Miss Mamie is not going anywhere,
said mamma, quietly going on with her
work. THAT will do, Bridget"
Bridget knew when she was dismissed
but she was by no means satisfied. "It's
quare, though" she said to herself, as she
retreated to the kitchen; "Mistress
Lanes up to something. Yell never see
that look on her when she isn't"
Mrs. Lane was ministers wife-s
country minister, who, having a small
private property of his own, besides hit
wifes still smaller portion, devoted hil
surplus money to the poor Of his flock
The minister's wife was a wise little
woman, and had concluded that in train
ing her daughters to take a share il
household cares. she was doing service
both to the household generally and t.
them in particular, Besides" she said
81 have the baby, and can leave him /,
no other hands; it is time you began t
relieve me of such cares as take my tim,
from him" AS general thing, boil
girls had been inclined to concur cheer
fully, and took no small pride in doinI
well the part assigned them, and in papa
praise of their thrift,
But this morning Mamie had rebelled
and Mrs. Lane always met rebellion
promptly. She now turned to Mamie
with her sweetest smile, and said "Yol
look very smart and ladylike, daughter
Now 90 into the parlor this is no plac
for you, dressed rs you are. Go 10 an
amuss yourself as you like hest"
But mamma" said Mamie, blushin
deep with modification, II didn't mean
"Oh, my dear, | couldn't suppose yol
would say what you did not mean. Yo
shall not spoil your hands, my love, an
you shall not wear calico wrappers if 20
do net wish to. You are quite as worth
to be a lady, hope. rs Bertha Spear,
Sit down and make yourself comfortable.
Greta was busting the parlor. an
/. mamma waylaid her. "Rup, Greta, f" sh
said, and "fetch your sister that footstoo
and turn on little more heat. Ths
will do. Are you quite comfortabl
now 2"
7 What could poor Mamie do but sa
! "yes," in the most feeble way, though i
+ one sense she had never felt SO uncon
b Portable in her life. She took up q bool
A. l. ~ .