The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-01-17
A Chamhermold's christmas.
WHAT -DELILAs INAGtNArioS TOLD HBR
SHE WOULD GETASD WHAT THE
B0ARDERs REALLY GAVE HER.

servant girl in Chicago boarding
house, who discharges the arduous duties of
chambermaid's position, when she was
dressing herself on Christmas morning, en-
tiers into a brief mental calculation Of the
presents she would be likely to receive from
| the varions boarders of the establishment.
Mrs. A., in the big front room on the sec.
ond hoor,' said this female Aamshar, will
probably give me that black silk dress she
used to have for second-best dress, now
that she has got new one and Mrs. B
| in the back room, asked me if had new
shawl the other day, and when / said had.
MT said that perhaps Santa Claus would
bring me one, so guess that's all right
aud up on the third floor Mrs. G. wanted to
know what my pame was, and 30 suppose
| she's going to give me box Of handker.
chiefs with my monogram on them Mrs.
ID. told me not to waste money buying par.
asol, for one of the boarders would be sure to
give me one at Christina. time and that
widow Mrs. r with the spinal complained
child, ought TO give me something il its only
pair IT cuffs and q dollar, which is about
the meanest that a person in a boarding.
house can afford to be- Having settled these
matters to her satisfaction, went down to
breakfast and told the other girls what the
other boarders had promised to ii We her
then when that meal was concluded, took
her duster and went out to levy her contribu-
tio1s. Arrived at Mrs. A. . room shs wish
ed that lady the compliments of the season
with much warmth and respect, and Mrs. A.
said, Della, here is little Christmas pres.
cut for you,' and gave her small pasteboard
box The ehambermsids face was elonga-
ted till it reached down to her brooch, and
she closed the door with some warmth,
| muttering to herself, The old painted hag
[ wish | could make her eat her collar and
cuff with those fsl-e piano hey teeth Of hers
that she hssn't paid for yet. Taking reef
in her face, however, she tripped smilingly
into Mrs. BIS room. and Mr.. B. said, 'Ah,
Della, merry Christmas to you here's .
collar and = pair Of cuff The mean,
skimpng thing said the chsmbermaid, 40
soon a. she was in the hall once more next
| time her husband tries to hug me on the
stairs see if cry out or scratch his face,
that's all. See if don't get square with her
for this Proceeding up to the next fight,
Della called at Mrs. C.'s room, and when
Mrs. G. said archly, 'Ah, Della, can You
guess what I'm going to give you for q
Christmas boz the poor girls heart sank
clean down into her clippers, and she an
swered, "A collar and pair OF cuff.,' and
when she had received her gilt didn't say,
Thank you,' but slammed the door so vs.
hemsntly that Mrs. C.'s pet china vase was
Knocked off the mantlepiece and smashed,
which was some consolation, anyhow. Mrs.
d. gave the girl beaming smile and pair
of cuffs and collar, and the graceful rscipi-
ent Of her bounty said to herself. If ever
that wall-eyed camel wants to get the sheets
changed on Thursday again, perhaps I'll do
it ! Oh, yes of course ! and with bitter
laugh she strobe into Mrs. Els room, and
when the widow said, Della, you've been =
very good girl since came here to board,
and you open the drawer of the bureau
over there you'll find little pasteboard box.
This was the last hair that broke the cham
bermaid's heart, and with a yell of disgust
she exclaimed, Keep your old measly col
lars and cuffs. If | couldn't give cham
berlady anything better than collar and
cuffs, I'd 20 and board at the poor house.
And her overtsxed nature found relief in
tears. Della, said Mrs. E., with icy sever.
ity. Il often feared that you drank, but now
| sm certain of it. was about to say that in
that drawer you would find a small paste
board box containing pair of earrings and
two five dollar gold pieces, but after your
impertinent conduct shall certainly not be.
stow anything on you, you undeserving
MINK