Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-07-28
THE GIRL THAT PROVIDENCE SENT.

1t was when we were living at the
Virginia Three Forks. and good help
was as scarce as hens teeth. that father
came walking in one day with small.
neat. gray-eyed woman, and a large
bundle in tow.
"Where did you find herr" asked
mother, dropping the ladle with which
ssle was baSting savory goose, and pre-
household work instanter.
Providence sent her." answered
father. with a sigh of relief-he had been
girl-hunting for a month. "She looks
strong and tidy and has an honest ex-
preston"
''Humph," said mother, shortly,
''where her certificate, or don't the
girls from celestial intelligence offices
need any? Have you character" she
asked, turning to the girl.
II had one, ma am" she answered,
respectfully, "but the mice ate it; I'll
soon have another-try ME, ma am, just
try me-"
''What is your name," asked mother,
in catechismal voice, after the girl had
laid aside her shawl and hood
Ellinora," was the answer, with y
pleasant smile.
~Well, we'll call you Nellie for
short. and you can go right to work at
the vegetables for dinner" and mother
proceeded to show her what duties
were expected of her.
She proved to be an excellent Serv-
ant. though little queer and obstinate,
but she never went out; had no assOci-
ates. and though we knew nothing
more about her than if she had dropped
from the skies she seemed faithful and
honest.
She had been with us about a month
when one night we heard loud talking
in her room; it was still early in the
evening, and rs ours was a country
home it was habit we had fallen into
OF retiring soon after supper. if not to
bed to our own rooms. We all heard
the loud talking at the same time, and
met in the hall.
"Its In Nellie's room," said mother,
land We crcpt to the door and listened,
and we heard as plain as if spoken in
our presence these words, in a mans
gruf voice:
"Fl burn ye all in your beds vet as
oOAO 10 yO AhNC SOulS W NC SelVeU.
This was followed by the pleading
tones OF a woman-not Nellie's voice,
however!
"Oh! don't. don't, don't. We are
inn" cer:! indeed, we are!'
The indescribable pathos of the Sob
bling voice terrified rs so that we went
after father. who had remained skep-
tically in his room; he was angry and
thumped vigorously on Nellie's door,
but it was some time before it was
opened. Then we discovered that every
article of furniture in the room was ar
ranged to form a pyramidal barricade
in front Of the entrance. Nellie her.
self. sleepy and rubbing her eyes. thrus,
out q head tied up in an old white
apron.
"What is itp" she asked hastily.
with frightened look: thieves-mur-
deri"
LET us in." said father. applying his
shoulder to the door, which was onl,
opened crack; but Nellie had no idea
Of letting us in. and resisted with such
ferocity that mother undertook to
soothe her. and gained by strategy what
we could not effect by force
There was not soul in the room and |
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