Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-11-14

one to call me unladylike or un-
dignified."
"Why, Edith !" exclaimed Anna,
shocked at the thought, for she had
as much dignity, il less pride, than
her Younger sister Edith. But
Edith was as calm as lily pond
in summer, and, as usual carried
her point, and went with her
ginghams.
Her aunt was pleasantly sur
prised to see her, and greeted her
witha warmth that quite overwhelm-
ell her; but she took the first
opportunity to make a contidant of
her aunt, aud tell her the true
state of affairs and her object in
coming there.
"But, child" exclaimed her aunt +,
"You surely didn't mean what
you told him -
~ did when | said it aunt" re-
piled she; "but | did not know by
experience as | do now. | fancied
| would do any thing rather than
work. No, you need not look
Mortified, Aunt Barbara. Ny pride
has taken fall. Now | want Won
to keep my secret for me, and in
trust Inc in all those mysteries of
cooking and housekeeping general
ly, which your neat, tidy house aud
your well spread table tell me that
you so well and thoroughly under
stand. Is it too much to ask of
youw
mo, indeed, Edith rejoice to
have the privilege and opportunity
of instructing you. 1t will seem
like having my younger. days back
again. 1t is long ago since / in
structed my own daughters in the
housekeeping art. Did you ever
see your mother cook I"
mo, Aunt Babara, / never did"
"Well | presume you never did,
but no woman can make better
bread or richer cake and tarts than
your mother. Beatrice-that is
your mother-was the youngest,
and for some reason never did
homework as the rest of us did.
| guess she never would have been
contenteG on a farm. But that is
the only place | wonld like to live"
"Where are your daughters,
Aunt Barbara {" asked Edith.
"My oldest daughter, Belinda,
died six years ago. Ny youngest,
Benedictra, is married and gone to
live in the far West. 1t will seem
like having them back again to in
struct."
The next day after this converse
ton, Edith, duly arrayed in dark
Bingham dress, with one of Aunt
Barbara's clean linen aprons tied
on over, and q neat white collar on.
took her first lesson in the culinary
department. 1t was Aunt Barbara
baking day, and she instructed
Edith in bread making and the
manufacture pies, cakes, tarts and
other eatables, and in an incredibly
short space of time Edith was COM
plete mistress Of housekeeping in
all its details. Aunt Barbara went
a way one day, and she got dinner
for her Uncle all alone, cleared it
away, and had supper nearly ready
when Aunt returned. The secret
of her success was just tits: She
placed her whole mind upon her
work, and learned with zeal that
would have set her teasing brother
Andrew in n fit of laughing that
might have ended in ap,plexy, and
very much shocked her mother and
sister Anna, to say nothing of the
surprise that it would have been
to her father and lover.
One day she came to her aunt
and said, Aunt Barbara, have a
wild project which | am determined
to carry out, and | shall need your
help. 1ou remember the old saving
that one Kindness deserves another
Mr.. Lynn, living in Rushbrook,
near the village of Scarsdale, has
advertised for an efficient help-a
maid of-all-work. Now Rushbrook
is where Allan is, aud | am going
TO answer the advertisement. /
have been staying with you and
you can give Inc recommendation
and shall send you the letters that
l write home for you to mail, so
that our folks will think that | am
here, aud the letters that come
here for me you can send to me at
Scarsdale. Let me see Betsey
Browne how would that do Z
Yes, my name shall be Betsey
Browne. | will find out how Allan
Is getting along, and | will see him,
and then-," here was q sig
nificant pause.
"Well, Edith! you are your
mothers own girl to the life. That
was just like her. Yes, child, III
help you. What do you suppose
your mother and sister would say
If they knew that you was going
out to do general homework in the
country r.
"Oh, they would go into hyster-
zeal Tits, l suppose; but Papa and
Andrew would laugh and say that
it would do me more good than
harm. To tell the truth, they
think me professionally proud"
SO it was settled, and the next
day she was on her way to the
small village of Scarsdale.