The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-10

with lady of the name OF Mason. Be
fore went to her | was servant to her
mother, and called "parlor-maid;" but
indeed did most of the work, of the
house, for we had never, to say, regular
cook till a few months before Miss EN-
ily's wedding.
/ can not say lever was much attached
to either my mistress or her daughter.
The first, Mrs. Wilkins, was mean,
clever, managing, manouvering woman
she could make sixpenee go farther
than any person l ever saw; and there
was not shift of economy hut she knew
and practiced. The reason We bad nc
regular cook was because there always
Glanced to be so little to cook. Miss
could not have dressed so we'll, and
missus could not have afforded her stiff
black silks, if the larder had been fairly
we'll filled. No one would creditupon what
little money that house was kept. could
tell stories about Che meals there, which
would almost, to those unaecustomed
to saeh m seraping and pinehing, seem in
credible. -
Why did I step, you want to know
Well, l was young, and / never cared
much about eating. As for beer, l could
not bear the sight or smell Of it at that
time. For my age, my wages were good.
| had known at home many time what
it was to 60 hungry. to- bed; and the
money I got was such a help to mother
My clothes did not cost me much, for
Emily gave me many dress she had cast
off. Besides, Mrs. Wilkins taught me
everything knew: how to wait at table;
how to answer the door properly, and an
nounce visitors; how to make good coffee
and salads, and toss up little dishes; for
/ had gone to her from a farmhouse,
where learned no more than nv mother
had instructed me to do at home.
So, although | was not, to say, fond Of
either Mrs. Wilkins or Miss Emily,
should have felt it hard to go to another
situation; and when one morning nay
mistress said she meant to have. a woman
in to do the rough work, | could only
manage to- get out that was very will
ing TO do everything she wanted, and
hoped she had no reason to find faul
with me.
"Ne, no, Briart," she answered (ml
maiden name was Briart, and they nevel
called me Ellen). II am going to try to
do better for you If I can. You art
clever with your needle, and want you
| to take few lessons i'm millinery mC
hair-dressing, so that if some day Mis-
Emily should want a lady's-maid vol
can fill the situation. You have been .
very good girl, and you have seen short
ness with US; and il better times come
it is only fair that you should shar'
them"
| did not know what she meant then
but before many days were over l begal
to suspect she hoped to get Miss Emil.
married. .....
I A. gentleman began to com
often to- the house. For the frs
time I was parlor-maid in real earnest
had also to trim and alter and maxi
Miss Emily's dresses things she had al
ways before done herself.
I Sometimes there, was a person had il
to cook the dinner. and every day ,
charwo,nam was ordered toblacklead ant
scrub and scaur, and do all things tha
had kept my hands rough, and maxi
them sometimes look not so clean as
should have liked.
/ He was a young gentleman who came
and very rich, we soon found out.
should not have cared for him mucl
myself, and / anf sure Miss Emily dit
not: but her mamma was set upon thu
match, and whatever Mrs., Wilkins Gel
her mind upon was bound to be carrieG
out sooner or later. u.
1t was she made all the love, and moi
the yonng gentleman or Miss Emily
Nothing was too good for him. Sht
made him think that every word HI
spoke was wiser and funnier and diferen
from any word ever spoken by anybody
before. Sometimes when / was waiting
at table or taking up tea, l used to tu1
hot all over at the barefaced way shI
flattered him, and the untruths she told
thought he must find her out; tina
no man in any station could be such I
simpleton as not to see what she wanted
TTo BE CONTINUED.