Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-02-02
"MAID-UF-ALL WORK"

Rachel Ramsey looked very pretty, in
! deed, as she cams dawn the narrow wood
en- staircase of the little brown house that
afternoon, dressed in white muslin dress
strewn all over with white tiny. pink rose
buds. and fresh lace frill around her neck
tied with pink ribbon. while her pretty
feet were buttoued into new pair o.
boots. with high, French heels. and her
hair was curIed in loose, glossy coils OF
shining b:onza.
"Eh!" said Granny Ramsey, look ing up
from her everlasting knitting work, over
which she was half asleep; ''goin' to
churcN, hey?"
ut isn'c Sunday. grandma" exclaimed
the girl. laughing and colorlng. Il an,
going to the Tower to see Miss Calhoun.
She has often invited me there-she and
Miss Bell"
'.Pshaw2" said Granny Ramsey, who
was one of those venerable people priv
legged to speak their minds on all .occa
sons, "what do the ine city ladies at the
| Tower want of a farmers daughter like
your"
'But grandma, they we invited me!"
''It reminds me.' said grandma. wisely
of the old story of the iron pot and the
china pot swimming down stream tOgeth-
er; and they didn't no-wise suit."
| Rachel said no more, but escaped out
| into the shady lane, where the naples
we're beginning to turn pale yellow in the
first September frnsts.
| "Grandma is always criticising every
body" she thought II know The ladies
at the Tower will be glad to see me. Miss
| Alice wants to sketch my head fer
| 'Elaine.' aud Miss Bell asked me to sing
duets with her. She said | had a voice
like lark. And perhaps Mr.. Haroldson
will be there. l know he often visits at
the house,
And Rachel smiled to herself as she
crossed the rustic bridge and went
through the woods to the Tower, fantas.
eic wooden outage with a semi circular
front, which was let for the summer. the
owner thereof preferring to live in square
brick structure in the village.
The little side door vas open and Rach
FL went in. From the left of the passage
way a door opened into the kitchen, where
to her infinite amaz .me mt, she saw Miss
Alice Calhoun herself IN an 8sthetic dres.
Of pale sage-green, and roses in her hair
contemplating pair, of decapitated fowl
which lay on the table.
miss Ahce!'' 81 exclaimed.
| 6 10 tbnt Won pr..L,l11, avolo;y,oE fh
city young lady, bouncing on her as
browning man pounces on the neares
noatlng straw. 20, l never was so gla'
to see anybody ira all my life! These hor
rid hens! Bird get has gone away in
rage because presumed to find fault witt
the coffee this, morning. and we have com
pany to dinner, and haven't an idea hoy
get the feathers IF those creatures
But now that you are here, everythfn
will be right
And she, hook off the big bib-apron. an
stel ped back with sigh of relief.
Rachel sooked perplexed. She had com
here, nat 20 enact the role of kitclle
maid, bsst 10 visit Miss Calhoun; to sit i
her drswing-room and enj " the converse
ion OF her guests, and she did not exac
" relish this summary dismissal to tn
kitchen.
There is some soup stock, went on Mis-
Alice, land salad and delicate piec
of halibut. and with the fowls roasted
AND pie OF pudding. or methirg whic
dare Say You can make. we shall do yer
nicely. L am particularly anxious abOr
timer, because we are to faave compan.
You'll excuse me now, because have t
Dress
And away tripped M iss Alice SELLS
and smiling as ever was QueenC Cleopatra
A self.
Poor Rachely She stood minute il tn
hot kitchen. the tears springng to he
eyes, pang of disappointment at he
: heart. She knew all about it. Harol
Haroldson and Mr.. Dallas we're to din
there that day, and she--she was to b
cook, waitress, maid-of -all- work--wha
sienifHd it What she called herself? Sh
u. remembered what grandma had said, an
he for once In her life gave that venerabl
ID lady credit for discrimination.
s There was no help for it, however. Sh
al tied on the bib apron, tucked the curl
back of her ears and went to work to pre-
pare the chickens for the roasting par
ID now and tn n pausing to brush away tn
round bright tears which rolled down he
cheeks.
q These young ladies evidently intende
y to make her useful. She might hav
known that they did, beforehand. Sh
could hear ttAs soft 8 ,und of Belle Ca
l. houns guitar, the sweet tinkle of Alice
laughter; the Deep. monotonous under
is current of gentleaen's voices, and the
1t she glanced down at her pretty musli
dress and bows of pink ribbon, and be9a
N to think that Miss Calhoun had taken a
unfair advantage of her.
if she could only have heard the rapi
and energetic coltoquy which transpire
r between the two si-ters in their dressin
y room when Alice first came up st airs, sh
q would perhaps have better understood th
drift Of this.