Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-05-03

in less time than It takes to tell IL. The !
coal was turned out OF the CRATE, kindling |
lighted and laid In such manner that 1t |
could not help burning If II tried, because |
intelligence was brought to bear upon 1t;
and. though deaf. dumb, and blind 1t felt |
the power. A little fresh coal was added |
Just under the griddle that was needed.
the kettle set on with a little water 10 Il,
and Mrs. Grey took time for another
glance at her future abode.
What are all these unwashed dishes and
pans piled upon this table for, Bridget? and
these scales, aud sugar, and receipt booksT
oh. that Is where the mistress was
maxim of the curraut jelly. | could not
help iaughin' at her. ma'am; an | was sor
ry for her, too. to see her worryin' over
that Ielley. She was up wild the lark this
morning, for she vented to have some
made and cool tor Mr.. wilbers dinner, for
she wanted TO surprise him wild jelley Of
her own maxim, an she said It would be
SO nice to have when sickness coined into
the house an she picked every little stem
off the currents. and she washed them
through ever so many waters, and she
welghed and weighed the sugar, an she
billed and billed the jelley, and she worried
with the same jelley until she took the sick
headache, an she set down an cried jist.
when she found. wnen 1t was done and
cold, that you could nather cut IL wild
knife nor crack Il wild q hammer
'Itwas boiled too much, Bridget said
Mrs. Grey, compassionately. for 1t called
to mind the experiments and failures Of
her early cooking days, and she could
sympathlze with the disappointment.
The little episode also gave her an insight
Into the character OF her employer; and.
without seeing her. she judged her to be
Kind and Sfectionate. anxious to do her
part In life as mistress OF home on
small income, desirous OF practising econ
omy, and disheartened at waste.
By this time the water had boiled. Mrs.
Grey made the tea and crisp slice Of
toast. spread 4 clean napkin on waiter.
dofed her wrapper hung It up behind the
kitcheudoor and professed her readiness
10 20 up stairs and he introduced; bdt %
this proposition Bridget drew back, smil-
ing, but abashed,
'Faix an | niver did that In me life be-
fore. an, it's pretty botch I'd make up o
that same. But will stay here an mind
the toast an tay, an when It's over I'll
bring il TO ye for the callin.'
Mrs. Grey's gentle knock was answered
by a feeble Come in; and. softly opening
the door, she entered. The headache had
abated. but pale and weak, aud with tears
resting on her long lashes, poor little Mrs.
Wilber was bearing her troubles as well as
she could. Although knowing the imper-
fecilons OF Bridget. she was used to her.
and was dreading the time when she must
descend and see q new face Ia her kitchen;
and here the new face had saved her the
trouble by coming to see her; was at her
bedside, pleasant and CHEEKY presence;
han h.ar tpiF Ia nA.r
and the sweet, innocent face of the young
wife grew bright with smiles, as Mrs. Grey,
after giving her name. proceeded TO battle
the face and hands OF the invalid in cool.
fresh water. beat up the pillows and turned
them, and then called according To order
for the refreshments. And little Mrs. Will
ber, rejoicing that the meeting was over.
and with her mind at rest, praised the eX-
cellent tea and succulent toast by eating
every bit Of IL. and got well forthwith.
II Is a difficult thiHg 10 negotiate where
neither party will trust, but no such obsta-
Gle presented Itself in this case. Prclim-
lnaries were settled in "A very short time,
aud, 4 the eud OF the first week Mrs. Will
bur was ready and willing 10 give NJ all
management into the capable hand. OF Mrs..
tgry. But, a, willing as the latter would
have been 10 accept the trust, she felt she
HhAlA w NbIifillb@ IlOIt Ih-llli9 btutHl
upon her youthful employer by putting her
In the way of managing for herself She
considered that, no matter how competent
help was 10 manage, every woman
should be mistress in her own house. She
ielt il not derogatory to her TO 90 to Mrs.
WILDER for orders. She had voluntarily
chosen the position OF hous~iaid; she
would be no nondrscript Her platform
was To fulfill to the letter all that should be
required OF her, and 10 spend the leisure
which she gained by her y stem OF work as
best suited her inclinatons. And the leis-
ure was abundant, for there are few homes
indeed. where intelligent minds cannot ar
range the household duties SO that some
time can be obtained from every dav for
reading AID recreation.
And Mrs. Grey was pleased aud salts
fed with her home her employers were
those she felt she could respect. Al
thosgh not blessed with much OF this
worlds goods, their home was on no sor-
did scale; books. and the latest and best
periodicals, found appreciatise patrons in
them they were refined and companiona-
bic, she asked no more.
But all these happy conclusions were
not arrived at during the first week. mind
you; no, IL took long time. Mr.. WILDER,
with masculine prudence and foresight,
Was doubtful and perpleXed. He wonder
ed that lady OF Mrs. Grey's Che even
queried If her that was her name) appear
ance and manner should 90 out az ser
want. He was a little suspicious that all
was not right; visions Of feminine burg
lars visited his pillow and disturbed his
reposed; but, like the wise man that he
was, he kept his suspicious 10 himself.
lie was silent, but wa;chtul. and his watch
t.,r, l.I -. a &,
wooks the minister's wife, who had long
known and loved Mrs. Grey. called to see
her; and. as Mrs. Grey was out shopping
she entertained the Wilbers with the ex-
cellences of her friend and her acquire
ments. Aud John WILDER was ashamed
OF himself, and he at last arrived at the
conclusion that his wife's delicate instincts
We're worth a CARLOAD of his numbering
rea> onings, and he considered that he had
the most sensible little woman in the world
for a wife : and, rAl, foolish fellow as he
was. hs told her so, for he had an old
fashioned notion that praise from hus-
band nver spoiled wife yet. and she was
made glad and happy by it, and it was
all owing to that good woman Mrs. Grey.
And the kitchen underwent u regenera-
ton, for Mrs. Grey considered that, if her
bedroom could not afford cheerful rest
ing place, the kitchen must do double duty
and though she had always preferred.
when the household duties were over for
the day. to turn her back upon them and
forget all about them. yet she possessed
the happy faculty of making the best OF all
things, and adapting herself to circum-
stances. So in little time. had Bridget
stepped in. she would scarcely have re-
cognized her old quarters. Rugs Of va
rious patterns, made OF scraps taken from
the rag-bag, and dyed in all the colors of
the rainbow, dotted the:.spotless floor;
hanging baskets, made of all sorts of dis
carded implements, were basking In the
sunny windows; her work-basket and
book had possession of an out-of-the-way
table; and Mrs. Grey's kitchen was as in
yiting as any room in the house.
Out of her household goods, she had saw
ed such articles as she priced most highly,
and had rented a room to store them. Now
that she was anchored, why not, If all par
ties were willing. to bring them there?
And while she was celebrating, plump