Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-12-02

would expect privileges which they
might not feel willing to accord. l am
going to be an ordinary servant in one
sense, and Bible one too; diligent in
business, not as an eye servant; and in
serving my employers well 1 will serve
myself and the Lord too, l believe. At
science and lighter heart than if de-
pended on you or married for money or
a home"
Minnie Gray, aged thirteen, reading
the paper, came to the notice inserted
by Ella Vincent. Minnie always read
every line i'll the papers, advertisements
and all, therefore she alIghted upon
what one or two others had missed.
Mother, hasn't this the true ring in
it" she asked; and as her mother listen
ed she raed the first article among the
wants"
"Oh. dear, l don't know" said Mrs.
Gray, in discouraged tone. "She MAY
not know how to cook. after all, and her
ironing may be like the last Bridget's-
not lit to be seen. Somehow these ignO-
rant people seem to think they can do
the very things they know the least
about"
"But perhaps this one is not ignorant"
suggested Oracle. the elder daughter.
at is Likely she is; for American girls
who can teach or do other things are not
very apt to go out to service. Even If
she can read and write well, she is prob
ably gifted with superabundant curiesi-
ty, and will make herself mistress of the
contents of our letters, notes, and bills.
Or she may be such a lover of trashy
literature as to neglect her duties for
the dime novel or the four-dollar-a-year
Wtekly Cancer And discouraged Mrs.
Gray leaned YEARLY back in her chair
and closed her eyes.
"Well, mamma, she could not possibly
be worse than those scooping LatinS as
the last Bridget called herself" return
ed Minnie with energy. "Didn't see
Molly tearing leaves from my Bible and
from the Sunday-school books? And
didn't a crack in the door disclose Nora
unlocking your private desk? And
wouldn't Annie whisk our Witnesses
out of sight and use them for shavings
before we had chance to read them,
she hated the paper SOP"
"Yes, and gOod-natured Gretchen was
untidy; and the English woman drank"
added Oracle. Mamma, you had better
try this American girl; and then if she
will not do, you will have to import a
specially trained Swede, or adopt little
John Chinaman."
"Well, perhaps it will do no harm to
try" sighed Mrs. Gray, as though from
a new girl she expected only new trials.
81 cannot make a drudge of myself. To
take care of your own room and mine is
as much as l can expect of you school
girls at present. l believe l will write
to this American girl"
Minnie ran for pen, ink, and portfolio
for her mother.
Suppose she is only an American by
accident of birth, and Romanist after
ALP said Mrs. Gray.
"a LatiniSt, ma'amT corrected Min
ME, with a flourish and strong Irish
accent.
"Oh, in that case she would call her
self 'Frinch,'" laughed Grace; just as
did that elegant thing you once had who
used to smuggle your best dresses out of
the closet, mother, and wear them to
the evening parties at her cousins"
"She may be too fine for common
servant girl" said the doubling mother,
"she may expect to help entertain our
company, play on the piano, take her
meals with us, and be a sort of chief ad-
wiser in family matters"
"Oh, if she attempts such airs you can
very readily dismiss her." said Grace.
AT any rate you must have somebody
before next Friday, papa says, or you
will be i'll with fretting and working so
hard"
"She says kitchen servant, remarked
Minnie, glancing at the paper.
"Ah yes" reflected Mrs. Gray, taking
the newspaper from her daughter and
reading the notice carefully.
at is not to assist in the hOusework,
or in any place not menial. Yes, l Tath- |
er like sound of it. I'll engage her by |
the week at present; offer two dollars, |
and give her to understand that she is
to use her head as well as her hands,"
So Mrs. Gray was the first to write,
and Ella Vincent, expecting no better
offer and well satisfied with that, accept |
ed it at once.
1t was soon evident to the family that |
their new help was neither ignorant nor
silly. She was quiet, unObtrusive, neat,
tastesul, always interested in her work,
and always gOOd-natured and polite. She
called the young ladies Miss Grace. and
Miss Minnie quite as respectfully as
any inferior sevant would have dOne,un
til. at the request of the two and with
the ready permission of their mother,
the prefix was dropped. But even then
when speaking of them to others she
preferred to seem less familiar.
81 have not yet seen Ella make her
finger into a hook and stick it inside
the sugar bowl when she passes it" said
Grace one day, about month after Ell
las advent among them. Her nails are
almays as clean as lady's, and she is
quite dainty in her ways; like her,.
"And she does not smuggle tea, cof-
fee, butter, fruit and other luxries by |
the pound out of the house to her rela-
tions," said Mr.. Gray. "The grocery |
bill is less this month than it has been
in an age; less than it was four weeks
Bridget and were here alone"
as such the fact ?" inquired surprised
Mrs. GRAY. ut is a great relief to me
to have some one who cares how things |
are done, and who takes pride at see
ing that everything is attended to in the
RIGHT time too. Yes, it is a positive lux
ury to have girl like her around. We
ought to show our appreciation OF her
intelligent services by increasing her
wages. She saves two or three dollars
worth every week, and l believe she is