Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-02-05
CATHERINE.

'
about were pink and white girl, with
sweet eyes and fine hair, and tall, hand
some fellow saying soft things to her, you
are greatly mistaken.
We had been at summer hotels, at the
seaside, and among the mountains, where
pert Irish girls, and sometimes perter Yankee
ones, Haunted around the table in parti-col-
ored costumes, and with hair frizzled and
pulled over their eyes, la poodle.
We were tired of people, and wanted to
rest; so we induced farmers wife to count
us among her family, and let us share their
fresh butter and sweet cream. These and
the strawberries, and the chickens, were all
very nice, but the most refreshing sight
there was real genuine servant.
She was a middle-aged woman, with
horny hands, hair touched with gray, and
a patient, sad exp: ession in her eyes. Her
voice was lew and pleasant, and her smile
very winning, although she was uncommon
ly plain. and bore marks of an encounter
with that destroyer of beauty the small
pox.
Catherine-she answered to no such pet
name as Katy, or ''Kitty"-always wore
a clean, well-starched print, with a frill of
the same at the neck; checked apron, tied
with tape around her waist, and her hair
was always combed smoothly over her fore
head. She was one of those rare women
who can get up dinner, and then, as if by
magic, put herself in perfect order to serve
at table
Catherine was doing double duty at this
time. The boy, whose duty it was to milk
seven COWS and feed two hundred hens,
had gone home, i'll, and rs the men were all
busy in the harvest-helds, his work came on
her. The farmer had gone down to New
York to get another man, and was expected
home the next day.
That evening, we went out to see Cath
crime milk, and as we stood beside her and
the delicate buff -colored Jersey cow she was
milking, we fell into conversation with
her.
She told us she was well acquainted with
her work, having been a farm in
''Hengland." She thought work lighter
and wages better here than there, and re-
marked:
IF servants were willing to be like ser
wants here, and not be always struggling to
look like ladies, they might lay by good
bit for sick day, or for old age"
said that it was cheering to meet one
who was contented with her lot; upon
which she heaved deep sigh, and | saw
that it was the same old story-''an aching
void, if no deeper sorrow.
She did not look up, nor court sympathy,
but | could not help saying:
i suppose you left your parents behind,
and your brothers and sistersT"
''No; my parents died when were bit
of child. Ny brother died ten years
ago."
"Well, one sighs for the very green earth
of his native land, said.
"Oh, well, l don't know about that,
ma am; | never think of that. It's just as
green and sweet here Gods earth is about
the same all over and again there was a
deep, deep sigh.
We followed Catherine as she bore the
shining pals into the dairy, and there we
met the lady of the farm.
I Yes, we mean just that, for she was a
lady as well as farmers wife. She met
Catherine with smile, and said:
"Be patient one more milking. Catherine.
The masters coming tomorrow with a man
who will be twice the help to you Joe was?"
Catherine smiled and replied: 'I'm not
a-weary, and neither am | impatient,
ma am"
We left the brick-d0ored dairy, and as
we passed into the sitting room, | said to
the lady, THAT woman has some great sor-
row."
''Oh, no; only perhaps little "omesick
for bold Hengland; :" was the reply. "She
has has been with me two years, and has
never spoken of any trouble.
81 have had my suspicious, however, y
she added, 'that she might have husband
somewhere, although she passes for an old
maid. The worthy man in our cottage,
who has a nice home and some money,
wanted to marry her. last winter, to secure
a good mother for his boys. But she said,
| No. that she 'ad no cart for marrying
When the open wagon came up from the
depot, about sunset next day, we all went
to the kitchen door to welcome ''the mas
ter" and to take peep at the new man.
Catherine stood in the doorway, the pic
ture of neatness. She was dressed in one
of her ''Henglish gowns" in which good
sized cowslips reposed on ground of re-
freshing lilac color.
| complimented her dress, and her high
topped comb, and her broad muslin collar
when she smiled and replied:
"These all were given me at tair al
'ome, years agone, and | have worn then
out twice. Some way, / just felt like dress
ing up this afternoon. Perhaps it was tC
please you, who have spoke so kind to me-
''Thank you, Catherine. Here comes
the wagon. See what great muscular
fellow the master has brought"
The master gave the reins to one Of the
lawmakers who was just coming in to tea
bade another to take Timothy's ''box" into
the barn-chamber, and then he walked into
the kitchen with his new giant, saying:
''Come in and get your supper, 80 as t.