The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-01-14
MISS HATTIE.

MISS HATTIE.
IT was thirty years ago. and Miss Hattie,
q mite of baby, when engaged to be house,
keeper to Mrs. Wells, she pretending to be
real delicate, and no more tit to take the
charge of her great high house with the six
rOmping children in it than this dear old
tabby cat at my feet would be; And said
she, "Mrs. Carter, I shall look to you for
having Miss Louise and Miss Augusta get
their breakfast reg lar, time enough for
schools" they were the twins, my dear, and
don't you think, they were married to BROTH
ers on the same identical day when they was
old enough. though they fought together
every morning Of their lives while they was
single! But twas all made up on the we'd
ding day, and must say was glad, for to
see one sister against the other, and they the
elders, it was what no one could abide, and
least of all! ''And you must keep Wells
Francis" says she, ''from getting out on the
roofv' That was an idea, Mrs. TOmkins,
that puzzled me, that notion OF lacking on
the child's last name to the front, like train
engine with cars ut both ends. They do say
that the cars help to pull the line along. and
maybe she thought the boy would get
through life better if things were fixed sothat
there was no mistake about the surname.
Oh, it's queer world, Mrs. TOmkins, my
dear, and If 1 were you, l wouldn't take
much comfort out Of that gay bonnet of
yours, for the Bible says ''all is vanity' and
''pride goes before fall" You don't think
SO, my dear, but l feel it my duty
to speak against pride when 1 see it.
This silk dress that Pm sitting in this
known that you were coming to have
q cup Of tea with me the night, Mrs. Tom
kins, my dear. "Then," says Mrs. Wells,
you will look after Tommy and Jenny, the
little loves, and have the nursery always
comfortable and warm for Them" for that
girl Susan is very keen after her own out
ings. She didn't tell me that, bless you, my
dear, but l knew well enough what ste
meant to say. Sand il you give an eye to
Mr.. Wels's dinner. and see to the mending,
and help with the children, and take charge
of the store-room, and get me few things
Baby myself; and nobody could ask any
thing more reasonable, Pm snre!'' They
did have lots of company, to be sure; people
will flock to the money, Mrs. TOmkins, as
long as this wicked world lasts; but before
I'd be SO eaten up with grandeur as those
Wellses! There was Miss Florrie Warbur-
ton, that remember just as il It were my
own sister, past thirty she was, but the gay
est of the gay, and not exactly pretty either;
sort of bright and dashing, and trying to
carry everything before her where the men
were concerned. She sang little and played
n just like OtucF lOlkS, DuG tQe people
that listened made out that there never had
been such music since the time the world
started. She dressed well and was as free
with her tongue as you please. She would
come into my room Il did have a room to
myself, Mrs. Tomkins, though you
look as if you. could't believe it, and
chair as agreeable as possible, and look about
her with concern. "Dear me, Mrs. Car
ter" she would say, 'you might have things
made much more comfortable for you, Pm
sure; it's positive shame Mrs. Wells
doesn't know your value BETTER" and she'd
run on in that style till I'd be real confused,
and I'D declare 1 needed nothing. Then
she'd say "GOod-by" as sweetly as if she
were saint, and the next day regularly Mrs.
Wells would send for me. "Why, how is
this, Mrs. Carter?" she would ask, in her
weakest tones, ''you have been complaining
again, and what about I can't imagine. II
you're not satisfied why don't you tell me,
instead of troubling that sweet, good-heart-
ed Miss WarburtOn with your fancies?
No, no, don't speak," she would cry, when
I'd try to explain; ''if it wasn't that l know
you'd never get so good a place anywhere
else, Pd send you of tomorrow. Some
ed. Now 20, for Pve dreadful headache"
The first time this happened, insisted, re-
specially of course, on hearing what Miss
Warburton had said. ''She told me,' said
Mrs. Wells, show you begged and prayed
OF her to take you into her service, COM
planning that you were shamefully neglect
ed here!" At this l suppose my face fright
ened her, for she mOtioned me out of the
room with, 'If this occurs again, off you
will gop 1t did happen again, many a
time, Mrs. TOmkins, my dear, but bless
you, she couldn't spare me. Twas her very
right hand, though l saws it that shouldn't!
And you think Pm never going to tell you
what Miss Hattie has done: That shows
how much people can be mistaken in this
world, my dear, for Pm certainly getting to
it fast.
Since dear Wilson died and I've been left
so much alone, 1 get to thinking about those
old times good deal. Well, you never saw
such limb as that young one! Her mis-
chief and spiteflllness-she had liked to have
torn my heart out. The twins didn't dare
to leave their ribbons or q handsome book
within her reach, for she'd tie the first
round the cat s neck till she nearly strangied,
and tear up the other page by page. Miss
Louise never went out without the key OF
the piano in her pocket, for often and often
I saw her steal into the parlOr and shut it
down on the sly. Mrs. Wells used to make
q great fuss over it and tell Miss Luluto
bring the key. to her, but some way her
daughter was like herself, with bad MEM
DRY, and Miss Hattie never got to play on
these keys till she was fifteen if she was
day. used to be glad the cross little thing
was kept from breaking every string. for
she'd have stopped at nothing. And pretty
was no word for her! She hadn't the beauty
to please me, Mrs. TOmkiEs, my dear, but 1
must say people called her raving handsome,
with her large black eyes, and cheeks the
color of peach. Such q complexion to go
with such badness, never did see. used
to feel sorry for Miss Sanderson,
can tell You. She was Mr.. Wells's
ward, and q sorry time Of it she
had with Miss Harriet, my dear. She didn't
live with her guardian, for she was with q
fayorite aunt, to take care of her, but when
ever Mrs. Wells wanted some extra help OF
. light kind without paying for it, she would
sen(i for Miss Sanders0n to spend the day.
It was put so innocent and polite Il know,
for Mrs. Wells often got me to write the
notes) that the Young lady most generally