Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-04
THE GOVERNESS.
A Romance in New York Nursery

A short time ago well-known mer-
chant Of New York city advertised in a
newspaper for a nursery governess to
take special charge of an infant daugh-
ter, whose nervous condition required
peculiarly intelligent care. Among the
many answers he received was one based
apparently upon wonderful exact ap-
prehension Of his want, and worded in
such combination of business method
and digniied self confidence that it at
once decided him IN his preference. The
address given him by the writer was in
Fifth avenue, where at certain hour of
a certain afternoon ouly she could be seen.
This last specification sounded rather
dictatorial, under the circumstances, but
the father wished no ordinary profession
al attendant for his child. Accordingly
at the appointed time he went to the
house DESIGNATED, and upon the very
stoop thereof was met by lady vailed
and attired for the street, who at once
accosted him as the princina] of the ad-
vert1sement. and introduced herself as
his correspondent. She further explained
that, as he was few minutes behind
time, she had scarcely expected to see
him, and was starting upon an errand Of
business Importance. While speaking
she slowly descended to the street, her
caller mechanically following, and their
conversation was concluded as they
walked side by side along the avenue.
In as few words as possible the lady ex-
| planned that the house they had left was
that of friends with whom she was tenn
porarilv guest; that she greatly need
ed such employment as she had made
application for, and could give the high
est references as to qualification. Famil?
names of great responsibility were cited
this connection, the gentleman notedin
them down and then with bow, went
his own way. These references being
subsequently found answerable to all his
requirements, the merchant informed the
lady by note that lis wife would be glad
to see her. In short, the engagement
was made. Not only did the wife ap-
prove it to the utmost, but the child in
the case exhibited an immediate liking fol-
the new conner. Nevertheless there had
been certain unwontedness about the
manner of bringing the arrangement
about, and this perhaps aroused the
curiosity of the mistress of the mansion
At anv rate it was not long before she
expressed to her husband the convic
ton that there was some mystery abou
the nursery governess, who. she hac
found, spoke and wrote several languages
and had the manners Of "perfect lady
The gentleman thought this SO much tn,
better, and did not trouble himself will
sentimental conjectures. But whe1
somewhat later his better-half confdee
to him that she thought their otherwis'
/ admirable new acquisition acted a littl
, strangely at times, his masculinely pro
sale bent of mind induced him to leav
, bottle of brandy, as by accident, wher
| any trusted familiar of the household
) might find it, and when he himself ex
amimed it some Of the contents wer
, gone. Just before this Development
however, a female hairdresser, of grea
custom on Fifth avenue, had called at III
ouse, ny order, to dress the child's heat
2 for juvenile party while the mother wa
/ out. Upon the return OF the latter tn
? little girls first words were: "Oh, moth
? err (naming the hairdresser) know
Miss -"Cthe governess). at once til
8 mothers curiosity was stimulated afresh
r and she took measures to have the hai1
: dresser 6come again, when the tw
t might meet in her presence. No sooner
however, had the summoned adept i
J. fashionable coifures entered th
mansion on that occasion than tn
: mysterious nursery governess betoo
e herself to her own apartments, and, uT
e on being subsequently sought, was foun
!, to have packed up all her few WARDROBE
) belon gings and departed from the hous
e without word Of adieu. And who Wa
! shea The chattering little hairdresse
e through her own professional famil
. arity with family matters in the avenu
$ did, indeed, know all about her.
, few years ago she conducted one of th
d most fashionable female seminaries q
f Fifth avenue. And had among hi
n scholars the daughters of number I
It the wealthiest households up town. {