New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-12-10
CATHERINE.

CATHERINE.
II you think the lovers I am going to
te!i about were pink and white girl,
with sweet eyes and fine hair, and q
TALL handsome fellow saying soft things
70 ner, you are greatly mistaken.
We had been at summer hotels. at
the seaside, and among the mountains,
where pert Irish girls, and sometimes
porter Yankee ones, Haunted round tho
table in parti-colored costumes, and
with hair frizzled and pulled over their
eyes, q Ia poodle.
We were tired of people, and wanted
to rest; SO we induced farmers wife
70 count US among her family, and let
us share their fresh butter and sweet
cream. These and the Strawberries,
and the chickens, were all very nice,
but the most refreshing sight there was
q real genuine servant.
She was middle-aged woman, with
horny hands, hair touched with gray,
and patient, sad expression in her
eyes: Her voice was low and pleasant,
and her smile very winning, although
she was uncommonly plain, and bore
marks of an encounter with that de-
stroyer OF beauty-the smallpox.
Charlottesville answered to no such
pet name as "Katy," or "Kitty''-
always wore q clean, well-starched
print, with frill IS the same at the
neck; a checked apron, tied with tape
around her waist. and her hair was al
ways combed smoothly over her fore
head. She was one of those rare
women who can get up a dinner, and
then, as if by magic, put herself in per-
feet order to serve at table.
Catherine was doing double duty at
this time. The boy, whose duty it was
to milk seven COWS and feed two nun
dred hens, had gone home, ill, and as
the men were all busy in the harvest
fields, his work came on her. The
farmer had gone down to New York to
get another man, and was expected
home the next day.
That evening, We went out to geo
Catherine milk, and, as wo stood be-
side her and the delicate buff-colored
Jersey COW she was milking, we fell
into conversation with her.
She told us she was we'll acquainted
with her work, having been q farm
servant in Hengland." She thought
work lighter and wages better here
than there, and remarked:
If servants were willing to be like
servants here, and not b. always
struggling to look like ladies, they
might lay by good bit for sick day.
or for old age"
said that it was cheering to meet
one who was contented with her lot;
upon which she heaved q deep sigh,
and saw that it was the same old
story an aching void" if no deeper
sorrow.
She did not look up. nor court SYM
pathy, but could not help saying:
II suppose you left your parents
behind, and your brothers and SIS
ters?''
"No; my parents died when were
bit Of a child. My brother died ten
years ago."
"Well, one signs for the very green
earth Of his native land" said.
"Oh, we'll, I don't know about that,
ma'am; never think of that. It's
just as green and sweet here. Gods
earth is about the same all over;" and
again there was deep, deep sigh.
We followed Catherine as she bore
the shining pals into the dairy, and
there we met the lady of the farm.
Yes, we mean just that, for she was
q lady as well as a farmers wife.
She met Catherine with smile, and
said:
BE patient one more milking,
Catherine. The masters coming to-
morrow with a man who will be
twice the help to you Joe was"
Catherine smiled and replied: "1'm
not a-weary, and neither am I i'm
patient, ma'am."
We left the brick-loored dairy, and
as we passed into the sitting-room, I
said to the lady, "That woman has
some great sorrow"
''omesick for hold Hengland;' was
the reply. "She has been with me
two years, and has never spoken of any
trouble.
shave had my suspicious, howev-
er," she added, "that she might have a
husband somewhere. although she
passes for an old maid.s The worthy
man in our cottage, who has nice
home and some money, wanted to
marry her, last winter, to secure 4
good mother for his boys. But sho
said, No, that she 'ad no 'eart for mar
rying.'"
When the open wagon came up from
the depot, about sunset next day, we
all wentto the kitchen door to welcome
1.-The MASTER" and to take peep at the
new man.
Catherine stood In the doorway, the
picture of neatness. She was dressed
in one of her 8" Henglish gowns" in
which good-sized cowslips reposed on
ground of refreshing lilac color.
I complimented her dress, and her
high-topped comb, and her broad mus
lin collar, when she smiled and replied:
these all were given me at a fair
at 'ome, years agone, and I have worn
them but twice. Some way, just felt
like dressing up this afternoon. Per-
haps it was to please you, who have
spoke 80 kind to me-"
"Thank you, Catherine. Here comes
the wagon. See what a great muscular
fellow the master has broughtv'
The master gave the reins to one Of