Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-03

MY hand amt good at Charlotte, some-
how; but can make italian creams,
and French creams, and syllybubs, and
soufaes, and Everything you can men
ton. ma'am, but Charlotte; amt good
at Charlotte. What wages do you give,
ma'am?"
"Two dollars and half week" I
replied.
swell, have lived out for two dol
lars and half week; but I mostly
have been getting three dollars, ma'an.
You see, am protessed cook, and can
do Everything"
We need not talk further of it, then,
Margaret. shall not pay more than
two dollars and half week"
"Well, ma'am, as I like you,
wouldn't let fifty cents a week part
friends I'll take two and half, but I
give you my word of homer, ma'am, that
I have an offer at DR.. Howell's, down
the street, at steven dollars month
Mrs. Howell said she never paid more
than ten dollars; but the doctor said he
liked my face, ma'am, so he said he
would give me eleven dollars if I'd go
but still fifty cents sha'n't part us,
ma'am. What's your name ma'amp I
don't think I rightly heard"
Newton" ! answered, much
amused.
"NewtonP Oh, yis; I've heard of it;
it's very respectable name indeed. A
very good family, ma'aml"
"But you have not told me yet, Mar
garet, where you have been living;
am not willing to take cook without
recommendation"
"Oh, here's bit of paper, ma'am,
that I got from Mrs. Wilson, where 1
lived last--a kind of recommend, you
see-for when"
"That will not answer. I never take
a servant from written recommends.
ton; / must see some one with whom
she has lived"
81 intirely approve of il, ma'am, in
tirely; besides, it's not fashionable now
to have written characters, I believe"
was getting desperate.
"Where does Mrs. Wilson live2"
asked.
"Oh, she's moved. She lives on
street, on the right hand side of the
way f; only moderate sized house, hat
you'll find it nately furnished. You
don't think we could strike bargain
now, do your I would come and stay a
week, and you could try me, and in the
meantime you could inquire my char.
acter, and if we didn't suit each other,
why no harm DONE"
Twas breathless with all this volubility:
SO, opening the door, told her to call
the next day, at noon, for her answer.
She had gone half way down the hall,
when she turned and asked
"Hsve you stationary wash-tubs ? !"
emo"
"Not stationary wash-tubs +? That's
strange there is always stationary wash
tubs in the first families. suppose
you've range, and hot and cold water
pipes in the kitchen ?"
eyes"
Well, ma'am, could I see the
kitchen? always like to see the
kitchen before I engage to go to a
place."
cit will be time enough for that when
I make up my mind that you will suit
me,' I answered, walking resolutely to
the front door.
Nothing but the fear of my friends
coming and finding me without a cook
would have induced me even to inquire
into Margaret's character. The mistress
of the "moderate sized house, nately
furnished" gave her a sufficiently good
reputation to make me take her on trial.
She had been installed in the kitchen
but few hours when I was sent for,
and found all the pots and kettles, and,
in fact, every kind OF cooking utensil,
out in the middle of the floor.
I'm very particular, ma'am," she be-
gan, "about the things cook with.
You'll have to get me another sort Of
tin kitchen I can't roast with this up
and down thing at ALL" my last cook
had discarded the old-fashioned tin
kitchen for an upright one to fit the
range.) "And this beei-steak broiler-
why, 1t amt fit to cook with in a gem
tleman's family"
So she went over nearly every kitchen
article before her sometimes condescend-
ing to praise a thing very family, or
saying perhaps she could make il do,
but requiring me to spend twenty dol.
lars for new articles.
OF course waited for the first din
ner with much anxiety, and I hardly
I