Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-01-13
MISS HATTIE.


IT was thirty years ago, and Miss Hattie,
mite of baby, when engaged to be house
keeper to Mrs. Wells, she pretending to be
real delicate, and no more fit 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, / shall look to you for
having Miss Louise and Miss Augusta get
their breakfast regular, time enough for
SCHOOL," 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 m0Tning of their lives while they was
singlel 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
roofW That was an idea, Mrs. Tomkins,
that puzzled me, that notion OF tacklng on
the Child's last name to the front, like train
engine with cars at 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 a queer world, Mrs. TOmkins, my
dear and if | were you, wouldn't take
much comfort out Of that gay bonnet of
yours, for the Bible says ''all is vanity'' and
''pride goes before a fall" You don't think
so, my dear, but | feel it my duty
to speak against pride when 1 see it..
This silk dress that Pm sitting in this
minute would not be on my back if l hadn't
known that you were coming to have
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 we'll enough what she
meant to say. "And if you give an eye to
Mr.. Wells's dinner, and see to the mending,
and help with the children, and take charge
of the store-rOom, and get me few things
now and then," says she, ''Why I'll attend to
Baby myself; and nobody could ask any
thing more reasonable, Pm sure!" 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
Welses! There was Miss FlOrrie Warbur-
ton, that remember just as if 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
little, Just like other folks, but the 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't5 believe it, and
it don't surprise mel and take a
chair as agreeable as possible, and look about
I,or yrritb oOOonrn UnnaT Mrs GAR
ter" she would say, 'you might have things
made much more comfortable for you, Pm
sure; it's a 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 needed nothing. Then
she'd say "G0Od-by" as sweetly as If she
were a saint, and the next day 'larly Mrs.
Wells would send for me. "Why, how is
this, Mrs. CarterW she would ask, in her
weakest tones, ''you have been complaining
again, and what about l 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 know
you'd never get so good a place anywhere
else, I'd send YOU off tomorrow. Some
people never know when they're well treat
ed. Now go, for Tve dreadful headache"
The first time this happened, / insisted, re-
spectfully of course, on hearing what Miss
Warburton had said. "She told me-" said
Mrs. Wells, "howyou begged and prayed
of her to take you into her service, COM
planning that you were shamefully neglect
ed hereW At this I suppose my face fright
ened her, for she mOtioned me out OF the
room with, "If this occurs again, off you
will goV 1t did happen again, many
time, Mrs. TOmkins, my dears but bless
you, she couldn't spare me. Twas her very
right hand, though says 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, get to thinking about those
old times good deal. Well, goa never saw
such limb as that young Onel Her mis-
chief and spitefulness-she had liked to have
torn my heart out The twins didn't dare
to leave their ribbons or a handsome book
within her reach, for she'd tie the first
round the cat IS neck till she nearly strangled,
and tear up the other page by page. Miss
Louise never went out without the Key of
the piano in her pocket, for often aud often
/ saw her steal into the parl0r and shut it
down on the sly. Mrs. Wells used to make
q great fuss over it and tell Miss Lulu to
bring the key to her, but some way her
daughter was ike herselI, WlCn u OAu luem-
Ory. 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 herl She hadn't the beauty
to please me, Mrs. TOmkins, my dear, but l
must say people called her raving handsome,
with her large black eyes, and cheeks the
color of peach. Such a complexion to go
with such badness, never did see. l used
to feel sorry for Miss Sanderson, l
can tell you. She was Mr.. Wells's
ward, and a sorry time of It she
had with Miss Harriet, my dear. She didn't
live with her guardian, for she was with a
favorite aunt, to take care Of her, but when
ever Mrs. Wells wanted some extra help OF
light kind without paying for it, she would
send for Miss Sanderson TO spe1d the day.
1t was put so innocent and polite q know,
for Mrs. Wells often got me to write the
nCteg) that the young lady most generally