Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-18
THE HALF GROWN GIRL.
Mr.. links is 0yertalen by the Horrors
of House Cleaning.
ny JONATHAN JlNKS.

By JONATHAN JlNKS.
sMr. links, am going to clean house
this week" said my wife, the other day.
Great Heavens, don't tell me that.
exclaimed, throwing up my hands in
unfeigued alarm, which every well-reg-
ulated man feels on hearing of house
cleaning.
1T can't be helped said Mrs. Jinks.
at must be done. The house is awful
ly dirty.-The worst is, | suppose, |
must do all the work myself"
"Why, Mrs. Jinks, where Is your ser
yant?"
Il have no servant" said Mrs. Jinks.
MARY Jane got above her business,
and | discharged her this morning"
"Then YOU must hire somebody
else"
"Never!" exclaimed Mrs. Jinks. II
will not have another hired girl about
the house. They insist on having
everything their own way, and really
make me their servant. No, would
rather do all the work myself than be
bothered with any seryants-either
Irish, Dutch, or colored people,
"But, Mrs. Jinks, cannot permit You
to clean house without any assistance.
1t will make you sick, and then | shall
have a doctors bill or my hands.
You had better hire somebody to do
the work. It will be far cheaper in the
end"
"Cheapel? Yes-that is the way you
always talk. But when the time comes
for me to get my new spring suit, you
will throw it into my face about the ex-
pense Of housekeeping. On, ! know
you."
Mrs. Jinks, you never yet heard me
growl about giving you money. While
| have cent, | am willing to spend it,
and | want you to do likewise"
"Well, don't.csre said Mrs. Jinks.
Il am not going to hire anybody to do
the housekeeping.
"But surely, madam, you don't seri-
ously intend to attempt to clean this
house of thirteen rooms without any
assistance"
Il certainly do said she stubbornly.
"You can't do it. Why it takes all
your time now to mind the baby. What
will the precious infant do while you
are al work? He will scream himself to
DEATH"
Mrs. Jinks reluctantly admitted there
was some truth in this suggestion.
"But then" said she, Il can easily
hire a half-grown girl to mind the baby
while am at work. Jinks, when you
go into town you might put an adver-
tisement in the papers for Il hall grown
girl"
In all domestic matters generally
let Mrs. Jinks have her own way, and
| concluded | had better do SO IN this
case.
Well, put the advertisement in the
papers, and, in day or two, the half
grown girl arrived. She was a pert,
impudent young mink, Of about seven
teen. and would have been rather good
looking but for an extremely long nose,
which completely spoiled her physl-
ognomy. When first saw her she was
living on the lounge III the dining-room,
and must say that, in all my observa-
ton OF her, when she WAS not in bed, or
entertaining her beaux in the parlor,
she was either lying on that lounge, or
spraying around the floor, being alb
solutely too lazy to stand on her feet.
"Ahln said |, on coming in upon her
suddenly, chow do you dor
"How do you do2' she responded,
without taking the trouble 70 raise her
self from her recumbent position.
"Where Is Mrs. Jinks?' ! inquired.
up stairs, scrubbing away like
darned fool replied the young lady,
IF had as much money as she has,
wouldn't be so stingy. but would hire
somebody to do my house-eleaning. !.
You have an independent way q
speaking | remarked.
My tongue is my own, and ! can
say what | please" she replied, sharp
II.
Il suppose you are the young lady
that Mrs. Jinks has engaged 70 mind the
children
You nit the nail on the head that
time was her courteous answer.
Well, ! suppose you know who |
am.
No, don't, and don't care said
she, sancily.