Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-04-05
md murmuring, "I can't live at this

and ~murmuring, "I can't live at this
rate"
At the same time Rachel set down in
the kitchen the large waiter upon which
she had ranged the dishes from the
breakfast-table, and then sinking into a
chair, pressed one hand upon her fore
head, and sat for more than a minute
in troubled silence. 1t had been three
days since she had received from Mrs.
Smith a pleasant word, and the last re-
mark made to her a short time before,
had been the unkindest of all. At an
other time, even this would not
have moved her-she could have
perceived that Mrs. Smith was
not in a right state of mind
that lassitude of body had produced a
temporary iHfirmity of mind. But be-
ing herself affected by the oppressive
season almost as much as her mistress,
she could not make these allowances.
| While still seated, the chamber bell was
rung with a quick, startling jerk.
"Wha next" grievously calculated
Rachel, and hen proceeded to obey the
summons.
"How could you leave my chamber
in such a condition as this?" was the
salutation that met her ear, as she en-
tered the presence of Mrs. Smith, who,
half raised upon the bed, and leaning
upon her hand, looked the very per-
sonification of languor, p~eevishness and
ill-humor.
"You had plenty of time while we
were eating breakfast to have put things
a little to rights"
To this Rachel made no reply, but
turned and went back into the kitchen.
She had scarcely reached the spot, be-
fore the bell rang again, louder and
quicker than before; but she did not
answer it. In about three minutes it
was jerked with al energy that snapped
the wire, but Rachel was immovable.
Five minutes elapsed, and then Mrs.
Smith, fully aroused from the lethargy
that had stolen over her, came down
with a quick, firm step.
"What's the reason you didn't answer
my bell? say?" she asked in a loud, an
CRY voice.
Rachel did not reply.
EDO you hear me!"
Rachel had never been so treated be-
fore; she had lived with Mrs. Smith
three years, and had rarely been found
fault with. She had been too strict in
regard to the performance of her duty
to leave much room for even q more ex-
acting mistress to find fault; but, now,
to be overtaken and sick, and to be
chidden, rebuked and angrily assailed,
was more than she could well bear.
She did not suffer herself to speak for
some moments, and then her voice
f~on,h1n and tho fnorS naS1n ont YInn1
her cheeks.
81 wish you to get another in my
place. l find l don't suit you. My
time will be up day after tomorrow"
every well!" was the firm reply, as
she turned away and left the kitchen.
Here was trouble in good earnest.
Often and often had Mrs. Smith said,
during the past two or three years
what should I do without Rachel?n
And now she had given notice that she
was going to leave her, and under cir
cumstances which made pride forbid q
request to stay. Determined to act out
| her part with firmness and decision,
she dressed herself and went out, hot
and oppressive as it was, and took her
way to ar intelligence office where she
paid the required fee, and directed a
cook and chambermaid to be sent to
her. On the next morning, about 10
O'Clock, an Irish girl came and offered
herself as a cook, and was, after sun
dry questions and answers, engaged.
Rachel retired from the kitchen, leav-
ing the new conner in full possession.
In half an hour she received her wages,
and left in no very happy frame of
mind, a home that had been for three
years, until within a few days, a pleas
ant one. AS for Mrs. Smith, she was
ready to 90 to bed sick; but this was
impracticable. Nancy, the new cook,
had expressly stipulated that she was
to have no duties unconnected with the
kitchen. The consequence was that,
Notwithstanding the thermometer rang
ed above 80, and the atmosphere re-
manned as sultry AZ air from a heated
oven, Mrs. Smith was compelled to ar
range her chamber and parlors. By
the time this was done, she was in a
condition to 60 to bed, and lie until
dinner-time. The arrival of this i'm
portant period brought new troubles
and vexations. Dinner was late by 40
minutes, and then came on the table in
a most abominable condition. A fine
sirloin was burned to a crisp. The to-
matoes were smoked, and the potatoes
watery. AS if this was not enough to
mar the pleasure of the dinner-hour for
a hungry husband, Mrs. Smith added
thereto a distressed countenance and
discouraging complaints. Nancy was
%grumbled at and scolded every time she
had occasion to appear in the room,
and her single attempt to excuse her
self on account of not understanding
the cook-stove was met by
"Do hush, will you? I'm out of all
patience!"
AS to the latter part of the sentence,
that was a needless waste of words.
The condition of mind she described
was fully apparent.
About 8 o'clock in the afternoon, just
as Mrs. Smith had found a temporary
relief from a troubled mind and a most
| ntn1nYoIlo L1oIa4la - -Jaa~