St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1880-10-16

OUT Ol It's SlI6li, dui iStINO oh ~
maneing. 1ou are a deal better
ut poetry and newspaper sketches
than you are in the kitchen, thaugil
to be sure" with a twinge of COLI
science, goodness knows what ]
should DO without You just at this
particular emergency, you dear old
darling"
The lobster was only half picked
out of its shell. the buttermiik bis
cult was still unmixed, and Mrs.
Meredith, with = poeket-handker-
chief tied around her pretty brown
hair, was busting the little drawing
room, when there came a ring at
the door-bell She put her turban-
ed head out OF the window in a
most uneeremonious manner.
"Who is there ?" she demanded
in a high contralto.
Does Mrs. Meredith live here ?"
retorte4 woman's voice. And at
the same instant the young matron
capght sight of a neat black leather
bag. black alpaca dress and a
shawl Of the plainest Highland
plaid.
"It's the new girl, thank Provi-
dence." said Mrs. Meredith, as she
ran down the stairs, thanking hon
est Charlie i'll her heart for his un-
expected prosGptitude.
Come III, said she, opening the
door wide, Il am glad you are
punctnal, my good girl. From the
Chairs Intelligence Bureau, I sup
pose. No, don't take off your
things up here; the SERVANTS room
is below stairs; you may as well
come directly down to the kitchen"
She led the way down, followed
by the new girl, whose countenance
bore a ratLes bewiidered express
sion.
What is your names" she asked,
patronizingly.
MY name? Oh, its Martha" re-
piled the stanger, in some confu-
sion.
"Martha?" critically repeated Mrs.
Meredith. What an ugly name !
| think ] shall call yon Pattie. Have
, on good references ="
.'I-believe so.
sI think" said Mrs. Meredith,
surveying her from tip to toe, "yoU
are little over-dressed for your
Pattie; but of course you
have some palmer clothes in your
trunk, when it comes?'
The stranger lifted a pair of pale
blue cyes to the tall form, girded
around with towel. who was Wig
orously wrestling with the claws of
l stnpendous lobster at the table
beyond.
DO you keep a man cook" ask
ed the girl.
Mrs. Meredith drew herself up.
Certainly not. This is my brother,
Mr.. Selwyn, who is kindly assisting
ne to make a salad"
But he is not doing it right. He
will never get the meat out of the
she'll in that way. Let me show
ron, Mr. Selwyn."
And with deft fingers she loosen
81 The luscious white fibre from the |
,earlet shell in a manner that made |
Mr.. Selwyn cry Bravo
"And now, Pattie, | will show
Tou where the things are, and leave
,ou to get up rs nice a lunch as
-ou can for 2:30 o'clock; we are ex-
,ecting my husbands cousin from
Philadelphia ] want everything
n perfect order"
Il will finish the salad said
Tom. who had secretly been OBJ
erving the pretty face and trim
:gure of the new domestic, "now
hat [ have commenced it. But
on need not look perturbed,
Patti, if that is your name. l will
'e careful not to get in your way.
md you ask my sister If | am not
handy sort of a fellow around the
.itchen."
Kate shook her head surrepti-
iously at Tom behind the screen,
ut he resolutely affected not to
erceive the warning gesture.
Half an hour afterward he came
p to the dining-rocm, where Mrs.
Ieredith was arranging her best
lac and gold china.
t.Kate, She is a jewel. A gem of
lie first water! Depend upon it,
lie has not always worked IN the
itchen. l quoted Shakespeare. APP
ropos OF something or other, | do