The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-12
THE DAILY STAR
CLEVER RUSE.

xafCeil W Dc ieie AL vi iplhAi, anu w w
dependent on her own self entirely to
work her way in the world. Her father
had been a man of poor business tact.
While her mother lived he contrived to
exist without being more than trihe
behind each year, but those trides ac-
cumulated until, in many years they
made considerable sum. Jennies
brother had been educated as civil en-
gineer, and had accepted a situation in
Brazil, She had been left alone with
her father, to do all the drudgery of
housekeeping, and as q result, had been
deprived of society Of her own wears.
She had maiden aunt, her fathers sis
ter, who had wealth, but there had been
no intercourse between them, and she
did not even know her residence.
Jennie managed to make her way to
New York, hoping there to secure situ-
alton. The sale of household effects had
given her 500, but the amount was
we'll nigh exhausted in cheap boarding
hou>e, she in vain seeking place for
employment such as she desired and
coveted. She at last seized a leading
daily paper, crowded with advertise
ments Of WANTS." and the following
arrested her attention. =.
"Wanted-In family of one, with a
chambermaid employed, a young woman
for general housework. An American
girl, even il inexperienced, preferred.
Wages ample, and treatment according
to conduct"
Then followed the address. Pushed
into hard corner, she determined to
make application for the place. Attired
plainly, she made her way to 324 West
street. She gave the bell timid
jerk. The door was soon opened, and a
girl, with an ill-ftting dress hanging
loosely from her body and very ILL
humored expression of countenance.
stood in the aperture.
"WellT' she asked, sharply.
as Mrs. Wentworth at home%
81 s'pose she be. Come in and I'll see.
What's the name%
=. = ."Jennie G.,ffett." She had decided to
hold in secret q part of her name, at
least for u time"
q Jennie was soon after shown into the
parlor. 1t was handsomely furnished,
but in an untidy condition. She had
merely time to note this when the old
lady, in black alpaca gown, SO neatin
her person as to show marked contrast
to her surroundings entered.
She was surprised at her coming to
seek "a place" She locked at the young
girl keenly, and taking hold of one Of
her hands remarked that it did not look
as if she was used to housework. The
old lady was rather pleasant in her con-
versa.iion, and SUI ceeded in getting from
her the substance Of her history.
81 will try you,"' she said "but I
warn you that at times | am rather
fractions, very apt to find fault"
Jennie told her it was her business to
try and do her duty. Agreement was
made as to wages, and the next day
'Jenme Gafttt" was installed as mis-
tress of the kitchen. She liked the situ-
alton. and after number of months had
passed, her mistress and herself began TO
approach familiarity. At length there
was little change in her monotonous life.
One Sunday, while at church, as she was
about dep. .rting, the orgsnist came down
the aisle to speak to the rector about
their contralto singer, who had been
suddenly taken Ill. H1e was in trouble
to know how to fill her place. Jennie
had the courage 10 step up to the organ
ist and tender her services. A short trial
satisfied him, and upon obtaining leave
ofMrs. Wentworth, went to the church
and filled the vacancy. 1t was surprise
TO her mistress that she had musical
ability, and drew forth the remark:
"Why, never knew you were musical.
You never touched the piano."
at is not the business of housemaids,"
replied Jennie, "to play on their mis-
tresses' piano."
Mrs. Wentworth answered every
good," but at the same time urged her
to play and sing, and was pleased with
her performance.
1t so happened that Miss Beddon, the
church contralto singer, failed utterly in
health, and Jennie was engaged in her
place at salary of $500 a year. She
would not however, leave Mrs. Went
worth. The old lady, appreciating her
services and manner, engaged another
housemaid, and placed her in charge as
housekeeper.
One evening letter came to Mrs,
Wentworth. 1t was from her nephew
Fred Norman, rich, eccentric and dis
tinglished as naturalist. Next day he
came. Jennie was introduced to him,
and after dinner he gave them an ac-
count of his visit to the Amazon River
and tributaries, and that he had brought
with him boxes Of birds and insects
sufficient to stock museum. He said he
had not written of late, for the reason
that he was away locked up in the for
ests with savage people for months, and
came near staying there entirely.
GLOW was thatw inquired his aunt.
II got into scrape with the natives
and but for the influenced an American
engineer there, engaged by an English
company to survey a grant they had,
should have Jared badly. He is q fine
ELL L