Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-04-05

girl, who asked if she was the lady who
wanted a chambermaio. Any kind of
help was better than non at all, and so
Mrs. Smith asked the young woman to
walk in. In treating with her in regard
to her qualifications for the station she
applied for, she discovered that she
knew almost " nothing at all about any
thing" The stipulation that she wa
to be a observation-disclosures, I'M
til a cook could be obtained, was
readily agreed to, and then she was
| shown to her room in the attic, where
she prepared herself for entering upon
her duties.
evil you please, ma'am, show me
what you want me to do?" asked the
new help, presenting herself before
| Mrs. Smith.
$50 into the kitchen, Ellen, and see
that the fire is made. I'll be down
there, presently"
To be compelled to see after a new
and ignorant servant, and direct her in
every thing, just at so trying a season
of the year, and while her mind was
call out of Sorts" was a severe
trial for poor Mrs. Smith. She
found that Ellen, as she had too
good reason for believing, was totally
unacquainted with kitchen work. She
did not even know how to kindle a coal
fire; nor could she manage the stove
after Mrs. Smith had made the fire for
her. All this did not in any way tend
to make her less unhappy or more pa
tent than before. On retiring for the
night, she had a high fever, which con-
tinued undated until morning, when
her husband found her really i'll; so
much so as to make the attendance of a
doctor necessary.
A change in the air had taken place
during the night, and the temperature
had fallen many degrees. This aided
the efforts of the physician, and enabled
him so to adapt his remedies Is to
speedily break the fever. But the ig-
norance and awkwardness of Ellen, APP
parent in her attempts to arrange her
bed and chamber, so worried her mind
that she was very near relapsing into
her former feverish' and excited state.
The attendance of an elder maiden
sister was just in time. All care
was taken from her thoughts, and
she had a chance of recovering
a more healthy tone of mind and body.
During the next week, she knew
little or nothing of how matters were
progressing out of her wi chamber.
A new cook had been hired, of whom
she was pleased to hear good accounts,
although she had not seen her; and Ell
len, under the mild and judicious in
struction of her sister, had learned to
make up a bed neatly, sweep and dust
in true style, and to perform all the lit
| tie ct ceteras of chamber work greatly
to her satisfaction. She was, likewise
good-tempered, willing and to all ap-
pearances, strictly trustworthy.
One morning, about a week after she
had become too i'll to keep up, she
found herself so far recovered as to be
able to go down stairs to breakfast.
Every thing upon the table she found
arranged in the neatest style. The food
was well cooked, especially some tender
rice cakes, of which she was very fond.
Really, these are ~delicious!" she
said, as the finely favored cakes
almost melted in her mouth.
"And this coffee is just the thing!
How fortunate we have been to obtain
so good a cook! l was afraid
we should V be able TO re-
place Rachel. But even she is equalled,
if not surpassed"
"Still she does not surpass Rachel
Mr.. Smith said, a little gravely. EZRA
chel was q treasure"
"Indeed she was. And | have been
sorry enough | ever let her CO." return.
ed Mrs. Smith. At that moment the
new cook entered, with a plate of warn
cakes.
"Racheli" calculated Mrs. Smith,
letting her knife fall. "How do you
do! | am glad to see you! welcome
home again!"
AS she spoke, quickly and earnestly
she held out her hand and grasped that
of her old domestic warmly. Rachel
could not speak, but as she left the room
she put her apron to her eyes. Hers
were not the only ones dim with rising
moisture.
For at least a year to come, Mrs,
Smith and her excellent cook will have
NO cause to complain of each other
How they will get along during the last
week of next August we can not say.
but hope the lesson they have both re-
ceived, will teach them to bear and
forbear.-Gledson'S Monthly.