American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-08
VOL. XXVI.

rose just as she would if she had bee
requested to bring a glass of water, and eI
tering the room she played and sang tn
old lady's favorite hymn so sweetly this
the guests listened in astonishment, the
rising from her seat with all the grace G
a well-bred lady she returned to he
sewing.
"Who is that young lady?' asked MI
Carter
THAT is our hired GIRL" answere,
Myra, in a tone that was distinctly audi
BILE to Nellie i'm the next room.
"She looks like Mr. Mills, with whom
our firm have had considerable dealing,
very worthy man, and l have understood
that he lives out this way
"She is his daughter" said Grand
mother Harper, and one of the best girl
in the world, so kind and accommodation,
To everybody
1t was notlong before Myra made he
| appearance, and with an air of superiority
that she had never assumed before di.
rected Nellie to prepare the tea.
I'll do my very best" thought Nellie
"but it will be Myra that gets the break
fast.''
Nothing could be more perfect than the
creamy biscuits and delicious tea anG
faultless arrangement of the table, which
Nellie waited upon with her own pecul
lar grace, while Myra took care to convey
her wishes in the form of an order; bu
she was excessively annoyed to observe
that Mr.. Carter's eyes followed Nellie con
| inually as she moved about the room
After tea Myra directed Nellie to cleal
away the dishes.
am through working for you," an
swered Nellie, quietly.
"What do you mean?" asked Myra
sharply.
Just what say" replied Nellie; il
assisting you and your mother in your
household duties has degraded me to a
position beneath you, shall no longer en-
gage in a mental occupation"
-" Well, 60, if you want to-" returned
girl that knows her place and don't try to
put on airs; can get Miranda Babbett. j"
Enough said, )" answered Nellie, tying
on her hat. As she passed out she met
Mr.. Harper.
will it be perfectly convenient for you
to pay me the amount due me tonight ?"
asked she.
Certainly" he replied; "you have
more than earned it, and if sensible girls
like yourself would undertake it you
could fill the demand for household as
sistants with a respectable class of people.
instead of leaving this most important
branch of industry, where intelligence is
actually necessary to success, to q low and
disreputable class of persons whose sole
object seems to be to do the least posi-
BILE amount OF work in the most slovenly
T1anner."
" If employers were all like you,p an
swered Nellie, "there would be no de-
mand for reform in this NATTER" and
placing the money safely in her pocket
she walked homeward.
Mr.. Harper was surprised to be told that
Nellie was not coming back, and said
that he was afraid Myra had not done
right; for he had noticed that her manner
toward Nellie was not exactly what he
wished to see; nevertheless, at the ear
nest request OF the women, he went after
Miranda Babbett, and she came, great,
ealthy-lOOking girl with strength enough,
if intelligently directed, to accomplish
wonders in the household. After giving
the girl what she thought proper instruc-
tions concerning the work Mrs. Harper
left the room, and ON going back, several
hours afterward, she found that the girl
had baked large quantity of sour bread,
burned some pics and half baked cake
Don't you offer to put any of that
bread on the table while we have compa-
n.y." commanded Mrs. Harper MAKE
some biscuits for supper; good ones, too. ("
She found 1t necessary to spread the
table herself, and then, having seen that
the fire was in proper order and the bis
cults duly deposited in the oven, she left
the kitchen
What is the matter with the bis
cuitsf" asked Myra, in a tone of dismay,
as the new girl brought plate piled full
of fat-looking objects to the table.
forgot to put any saleratus in 'em,"
said Miranda, indifferently.
"Take them away and bring some
bread said Myra, family. But the bread
proved but little better. Neither Myra
nor her mother had any relish for their
supper, and, seeing how annoyed they
were, Miss Carter said. pleasantly:
Never mind, we will season them with
the recollection of the excellent ones that
we had last night, for l am sure that those
were good enough for both"
But this kindly remark was not
SO soothing to Myra's feelings, after all.
Not daring to trust the cooking to the girl,
Mrs. Harper found it necessary to attend
to it herself, while Miranda was busted
with things that it seemed impossible to
do wrong.
"What is this?" asked Mr.. Harper.
fishing up dirty looking rag from glass
of buttermilk that he was about to drink.
Miranda took it, examined it, and then
said:
a must have left the dishcloth in the
the cream into it,
Mercy on usr' exclaimed Mr. Harper
with grimace. Il had noticed that the
butter tasted like old cheese, but had no
idea what it was favored with. can't
stand this. Wife, / want you to go right
over to Mr. Mills and get Nellie TO come
back. Give her double wages if you want
to. She'll save it by not burning up dol
lars worth of coffee every week, and shell!
raise the price of butter three cents on
pound.''
Accordingly, Mrs. Harper sought Nellie,
and recounted her various trials and urged
her to come back.
Miranda doesn't object to taking her
meals alone after the rest have eaten, and
never aspires to a higher position than
that of a servant, does she =" asked Nellie. |
She is good about that" said Mrs.
Harper.
II did not suppose that Myra would
mind such trifies as you have mentioned,
in girl that knows her place. and
doesn't try to put on airs" said Nellie;
p" and II person cannot assist in your house
without FORGETTING self Prospect you must
hnd your help among that class of per- |
sons who are content to occupy the place |
OF servants; think you have a fair sam
pie now; and you must excuse me from
going back to work for you"
1t is unnecessary To state how Mr.. Jasen |
Carter contrived to have business in that
part Of the country; how, as travelling
night at Mr.. Mills several times before
either Nellie or her parents suspected that
his business was twofold. But when Myra |
received an invitation to the wedding her
and disappointment we're I'M
bounded She couldn't see how il hap |