Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-10-11
Our HIRED GIRL. !"

\ tender mist lay over bill and valley,
@oltening the gold and purple of an Oc-
tober sunset, rs, leaning over the garden
fence, and looking dreamily toward the
western Sky, | sought inspiration from
the clouds, and way out of one Of
those domestic entanglements, in which
the "bcst of housekeepers,' of the
best regulated families often find
themselves. II did seem to me that !
could not stand il any longer. Four
weeks had been without Il Girl; eight
and twenty mornings | had risen nj 5
(as my husband had to be away bright
and early at his work), to make the
fires and get breakfast; three times
after the meals, had washed the dishes
three times twenty-cight times. Baby
had the whooping cough, Flora the
measles, my husband lost three Of the
fingers of his right hand by an acCi-
dent, and now, last of all, as if to prove
beyond doubt that misfortune never
comes s.nslv," Johnny, my oldest boy,
had broken his leg Not Il soul could |
get, for love or money, to do a days
work, or oven wash for me. My hus.
band. III spite of his disabled hand,
though knowing the PAIN and difficulty
with which he used it, | would not allow
him to DO anything for me about the
house, was busy from morning till
night with the farm work, husking
corn, and ali that follows the busy sea-
son. Poor John He needed rest
himself, and yet | was betrayed into
saying, that very day" wish | had
never been born, married or come out
West :" Arriving at this doleful climax,
with a sob that startled him into q look
Of such distress that rcpented Mt once
my hasty speech, and used all my
Womau's tact to make my faithful, kind
husband and friend forget the, il lis
honest simplicity, taking all impulsive
words rs truth. What was |, to COM
plain when he, for years, had not utter
ed one murmur against the hardships
Of u life rs new ana distastetul to him MS
to me. And now thar we were begin
ming u prosper little, should |, at this
late hour, on account Of a little draw
back, that might happen to anyone,
give way, while | still had strength and
comparative youth, just because my
feet ached, my hands were tough, and
| could not find the leisure to recall any
Of my past accomplishments and graces?
had prepared our early tea, and had
done all could for Johnny's comfort
Little Flora and the baby were asleep
and while ! was waiting for my elder
john ID come in from the fields, stole
ont to catch breath Of the fresh
autumn air. The soft October sunset
shed a soothing influence over my
rutted spirit, and seemed tosay. "Peace,
he still, y and, quieted by the gentle
spell, ! WAS Just turning TO 60 in when
the rumble of wheels arrested my at
tention, and looking around, | saw the
old fashioned stage-coach that connect
cd Us with the outer world approaching
our door.
What visitor Is coming now | thought,
~ inyoiuntarlly smoothed the wrinkles
out q! thy apron and put touch to my
har
4 dainty little creature, in neat
travelling dress, stepped from the coach,
timidly approached the gate and in
quired if Mrs. Hathaway lived within.
/ answered i'll the affirmative, adding
that | Was Mrs. Hathaway, and in-
wardly wondering who was the pretty
questioner, with sky blue eyes, was
not long kept in doubt, for the young
girl informed me that having heard
through An acquaintance Of mine in
neighboring town, and from whom She
had hroughta a letter, that was il search
of a girl sae rad come from a 10