Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-09-07

uotbOs
IA young girl like you can be useful
If she's grateful and willing, so Ill keer
you. B ulah More.
Twas only fourteen years old, but
knew we'll that 1 should have preferred
service any where else:
But as she spoke q thought darted
nte my head.
Grandfather had certainly spoken Of
hiding the will somewhere.
Ill stayed and rubbed and scrubbed
and busted diligently, 1 should discover
il if it was above ground, and not sto-
len, as Mr.. Curdle believed.
All, how delightful to dlscemfit her
at last.
How well worth the hard fate and
The hard work 1 knew 1 should have to
endure.
Yes, even her unpleasant company
could be borne with this end in view,
So said, taking care not to speak
too eagerly, that 1 would stay, aud L
gave myself year to find the will in.
A year is an eternity at fourteen.
That very Cay old Miss Humphries
began 10 show me my position by turn
ing me out Of my pretty bed room and
sending me into a garet with sleplng
roof.
had pretty carpet, white curtains,
a book case, Turkish chairs aud dainty
bed, all white and pink, and toilet ser.
vice, pink and white also.
L had never done any work except
putting this room in order, for we had
two old servants besides man.
Now scrubbed floors and washed
windows and dishes, and had no time
to read or SOW, or wander in the woods
or enjoy myself in the garden.
Miss Humphries sent all my school
GIRL friends from the door when they
asked tor me and it was after a long,
hard 6ght, thatI obtained my books,
nv sewing basket and my few window
plants, with which to make my garret
more home like.
Nv bloclr suit bpcame shabby.
| talt ashamed to 90 to church, and
| knew not where TO procure other
l was very miserable, but all the
while never forget my object.
Not only did continue my search
all day but at night I often pattered
about the house in my bare feet.
I had found many curious places
where a will might have been hidden.
For instance the posts of grandfalh-
er's bed had hollow place in them,
covered with carved cap, shaped like
a pineapple which came of.
And behind the carved wooden man.
tlepelce in his room-Lhe original house
was a hundred years old, they say and
very curious-there was a receptacle
that might have concealed fifty wills.
The old woman meyer suspected me.
Besides, she was half the time asleep
noddlng in her chair.
She had a delighLin seeing me at
work and set me tasks as hard to me
as those the maleyOlent fairy put upon
poor Graciosa were to her.
Where was sent l went.
VINO knew where the will might be!
Rut now the year L had gwen myself
was nearly over, and the malsvolenl
fairy of my existence had ordered me
TO whitewash the cow.house, and had
agreed to do 1t with feeling upon me
that endurance was almost at an end,
that hope was almost gone, that must
leave the house If 1 starved.
No wonder that L was thin, and had
lost my fne complexion.
The lime was mixed and the brush
was found.
PUTT On thick, Beulah,' said my
task mistress; we don't want any OF
the board to show. Why, where's your
stick 2
Il can't fluid one tc fit, said | discon-
solately. 'Oh, l can reach, | think
You can't, said she, The idea oil
whitewashing with a short brush. Go
and hunt a stick. Why know where
there's Que in your own room. saw
it to-day
THAT'S dear grandpa's cane,' said l.
4 don't care. Get it said she. 1t is
only a stick, cane or not
won't use that in such away said
I; grandfatbcr's cane, that he used tC
walk with every day-that used TO
ride. on when was a baby. Dear old
cane. that seems part Of him. wouldn't
use it for worlds
Sentimental nonsense said the old
woman. The idea! When l am dea(
they can do what they please with ny
umbrella, Pm sure. Get the stick
Il WON'T said l.
Then l will, and you'll use it, sai'
she.
Away she went TO the garret, an'
down She came with the thick heavy
cane. with neither curve nor carrying ol
Iit-A sort Of grey wood polished lik
glass. :,
Here's the stick, said she, and you'l
see my word IS law here
Inever stirred.
tie that stick on the whitcwas
brush and 90 10 work, said she.
Il won't said L,
You won't p
No.
You're = pretty big girl, Beua
NJ k,t II vau donit Ull WhjD you