Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-18

there, L heRitated about ringing the bell.
The house, though not very large, had an air
Of style calling for several servants. The
name was on the door. picked up courage,
aud gave the bell pull timid Jerk. No one
answering for bit, made up my mind to
go but Just then the door suddenly opened,
and girl, with an ill-ftting dress hanging
loosely from her body and very ill-humored
expression Of countenance, stood in the aper-
ture.
"Well ?" she asked sharply.
"Is Mrs Darinell at homer
81 B'pose she be-" was the answer. "Come
in, and I'll see-What's the name 2"
Elizabeth Norman"
She at first left me standing in the hall, but
presently returned and showed me into the
parlor.
The room was handsomely furnished, but
looked to be little cared for. There was
large and fine piano in the room, covered by
a crimson cloth dulled in color by the dust.
There was dust on the chairs, on the mantel-
ornaments, on the brio .brdc trash here and
there-confusion and untidiness everywhere.
/ had merely time to note this when an old
lady, in a black alpaca gown, so neat in her
person as to show marked contrast to her
surroundings, entered.
"What can do for you, Miss Norman p
she asked.
"Betty Norman, II you please" replied.
81 have come to see about the place"
The place and a suspicious shadow
crossed her face. She looked at me keenly,
and then took hold Of one OF my hands. "This
does not look as if it were used to house
work"
ut is. for all that" answered land if
you try it, you will find it to be a willing and
experienced hand.
''where have you served2 What is your
reference?"
81 have served at home. I have never lived
out, but understand all about it. Try me !"
1 exclaimed, desperately, for my chance SEEM
ed slipping away.
"Sit down, child-you look tired. There
you have never lived out before. You have a
history what is it?'
hesitated at first but there was some
thing motherly in her face, and 1 told her all
all except my true name, and 1 even men
toned that had dropped part of that, but
what was left was legitimately mine.
II UW try you" she said at length but
warn you that am at times very disagree
ably fractions old woman-very apt TO find
fault. You may not like me as well as l am
disposed to like you"
at is not my business, Mrs. Dartnell, to
like or dislike, but to serve you. II you find
fault for good reason, l shall endeavor to
amend if you find fault without occasion,
shall try to bear it."
"What wages do you expect ?"
Whatever is customary. l don't know
what is given usually"
at is easy to see that you're not accustom-
ed to service. l gave my last girl fourteen
dollars per month, and allowed her every 9TH
er Sunday out"
The wages will do, madame and as for
the Sunday out, should like to go to church
once a week, if convenient but have no
acquaintance, and, in New York, shall make
none"
VERY we'll when can you come ?"
''As soon ns l can have my trunk brought
here, ma'am."
Nothing was said about reference, but she
evidently credited my story and, by after
noon, 1 was installed as mistress of the kitch-
en-, where found all those modern labor-sav-
ing contrivances which have reduced kitchen
toll to its minimum. found my fellow ser
want the chambermaid who had let me in,
preparing to leave She had given warning
TO Mrs Dartnell that morning inquired her
grievance.
"Aint got none" was the reply. "Nothin'
much to do-only three beds to make, except
when the old womans nephew comes here
once year but prefer factory-work that
I've been used to and, besides, I'll get some
society there"
So she went of to her ''factory-work'
and her society" next day, aud We got an
other in her stead-oue out of four applicants
"a tidy, quiet girl my pick, in fact, for Mrs.
Dartnell took her at my favorable impress
sion.
liked the mistress, and like the place
from the first, and continued to like it. did
not find the old lady to be as disagreeable as
she said, and she never found fault except in
the midest and most hesitating way. And so
six months passed off, and my mistress and
myself began to approach familiarity. Tired
of her loneliness, she frequently brought her
knitting-she piled her needles with all the
assduity Of a German F'rdu-to the kitchen,
and would sit there while was engaged about
my duties, rarely saying anything, but Appar-
emily wrapped in reverie.
At length there was little change in my
monotonOus life. One Sunday ! was at the
morning service in church, and had been in g
pew in the gallery, taking my seat, as usual,
| where l could get it, and was little tardy il
coming out. As came to the vestibule, the
rector came down the aisle and passed by me
pausing at the door a moment to speak to the
organist.
"What was the trouble in the choir, Mr.
Esten ?" he asked.
miss Patten our contralto, has been tax
en- suddenly i'll, and don't know how l car
| supply her place at short notice for the after
| noon service
"That is inconvenient," said the rector, aud
after some other remarks, passed on.
| l stepped up to where the organist stooC
with knitted brows and tapped his arm. He
turned at once.
Excuse me for having overheard you with
out intending it," l said but perhaps l car
get you out of your difficulty. l have con
tralto voice, am familiar with the church
service, and ] sing ct sight
"Will you come into the ohoir?" he said.
I followed him, and he sigualed the othe
members of the choir, who were still there
A very short trial satisfied him, and prom
ised to come in the afternoon.
asked leave of Mrs. Dartnell, Of course
telling her the circumstances.
"Will you not fail ?" the old lady inquired
smiled a negative.
"Why, Inever knew you were musical. No
never touched the piano"
'It is not the business of housemaids Il
play on their mstresses' pianos"
'iVery good; but you have been something
more than a servant here. Will you let m
hear you sing now 2
NV fingers had long been itching to toucl
that piano, which was kept regularly in tune
though never used, aud sat down TO it will
| lngly. L Mhh Ouh VI PANShAS~t eNe@ ~
were stiff; but excitement more than made u
for it, 1 suppose, for had never played bet
ter, and my voice was in excellent order.
II foresee you will get the place Perma
nently."
"Oh, no. Miss Patten will be well direct
ly."
mo, no see this is your turning g-point
and shall lose you"
''You shall not lose me, Mrs. Dartnel,"
said for the old lady betrayed in her voc
that she would be really sorry if went.
My singing that afternoon was a success
Mrs. Dartnell was right about Miss Palten
she never returned TO the choir. She ha
ruptured blood-vessel, was sent to Florid'
remained there some months, and came bae
10 die. was engaged in her place at sail
ry of five hundred dollars a year-a little 10
tune TO me but did not lose my place l
the house, which liked, and did not mud on
occunation TO interfere with the other. L