The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-04-19
KISSING THE SERVANT-GIRL.
MRS. TOM WILKINS STORY.

!
confess was very angry. Well, may
as well begin at the beginning and tell you
the whole story. When l married Tom
wilkins, all my friends said had made a
fool of yself-really thrown myself away,
with my advantages 10. ! should have
done so much better, and much more to the
same purpose. Well to be sure, Tom is a
big, stupid fellow, neither rich nor hand
some, but loved HIM, and what other ex.
cuse does a woman need for an act Of folly ?
But Tom had one fault that troubled me
greatly-he was most inveterate kisser.
Before we were married he used to kiss al
the girls who visited his sisters, and after
wards he kissed all my old school friends
who came to the house, and even kissed
mother, and you must concede that a man
is great kisser who would kiss his mother
in-law. Well, all this bore in silence, if
not with patience, "till one morning, COM
ing out Of my room, what should see but
Tom at the head of the stairs actually kiss
ing Sara Ann, the hired girl. That was a
little more than human nature, or at least,
woman nature, could bear. sat down till
hud recovered myself little, anl allowed
Tom time to reach the dining room. When
at last went down, he advanced with his
usual smile to kiss me, but drew back an
grily.
Why, Jessie, what's the matter ?" he
said, looking surprised, cam not to have a
kiss this morning2"
GAS you have already had the pleasure of
kissing Sara Ann, l think that will do Tor
one morning. | should not fancy the flavor
Of your kiss after that"
Tom actually blushcd. "oh, you saw
that did you, Jessie?' Well, where's the
great harm in that? It's my motto to imbibe
sweetness wherever find it,"
"Well, fancy you did not imbibe great
deal from that source, and the harm is that
it lowers your dignity as head of the family,
besides giving the servants exaggerated op-
inions of their own Importance"
"What nonsense. don't suppose Sara
Ann will ever think of it again, any more
than should if you had not taken me to
task about it,"
"You seem to forget, Tom, that persons in
her position are not so intelligent as those in
ours. They Judge almost wholly by actions,
and l am quite sure Sara Ann thinks you
are in love with her."
"Dont make mountain out of mole
hill, my dear"
"Well, Tom, how would you like to SEQ
me kissing old Eben?"
"Well really, you should ever have the
least desire to kiss old Eben, don't think
could find it in my heart 10 object" laugh
ed Tom, as he closed the door and went
away.
Old Eben had come from my own neigh
borhood, and was our man Of all work, and
the ugliest mortal that ever set eyes on.
So could not but acknowledge there might
be a difference between kissing him and
Sara Ann, who was really good looking.
Well, l felt so bad that could not help
sitting down and having a good cry. In
the midst Of it | saw some one coming up
the walk, who was smiling and beckoning to
me, as though well assured of a welcome. 1t
proved to be my brother John, who had
been from home for years. We were ex-
pecting him, but not so soon. After the
greetings were over, and we were little
quieted, he questioned me about my tears
and at length drew from me the whole
story.
$50 they were not SO far wrong in saying
you made fool of yourself by marrying
him, ell, Jessie Well, why don't you make
him put himself in your placer"
"Oh, John, you don't mean for me to"
"Kiss old Eben ?-hardly," said John, dri-
ly, "but you can put me in Eben's place for
a few days"
"oh, John, that is just the thing. He
was to have gone home last week for few
days, but his nephew, who was coming to
take his place was taken i'll, and he was
obliged to give up going.
"Well, tell him you have got some one to
take his place, and get him off this afternoon,
and now, before any one sees me, I'll 60 back
tc the hotel where l left my baggage, and
disguise myself little"
Well, I sent Eben Off and soon John came
back changed beyond recognition, with a
blue shirt and overalls and his hair combed
back behind his ears and plastered smooth
ly down to his head. He looked very fun.
ny, but he went about his work in such
stoical, Indifferent way that one would have
thought it the life he had always led.
When Tom came home casually remark
ed that Eben's nephew, Teddy o'Brien, had
come to take his place, and he had at last
gone home to pay visit and was so pleas
ant and chatty that Tom thought had quite
forgotten the occurrence of the morning, and
he was very amiable and sweet in conse-
quence.
In the morning I was up betimes. Tom
likes his morning nap, and while apparent
ly solicitous that he should not be disturbed,
az tuS Sdiio NliuS Aooh ctilo 70 iudhc noise
enough to keep him wide awake though he
lay with his eyes closed, pretending to
sleep.
At last I heard step. in the hall, and
opening the door cautiously, called Sara
Ann, but it was Teddy who answered.
"The top of the mornin to you, Missusi
its as fresh and swate as rose you're look
in an what can do for you, Mum ?"
"Ah, Teddy, is you I'd like some hot
water, if you'll tell Sara Ann to bring il.
"I'll bring it myself in jiffY," SAID Ted
dy, disappearing down the stairway. In an
incredibly short time he reappcared with it.
"Why, Teddy, how quick you arc"
"shure, Mum, and who wouldn't bestir
himself for so swate a Teddy as youg'
"Ah, Teddy, like all your eonntrymen
you have kissed the blarney stone"
"Niver a stone, Mum, but mind well