Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-07-03
NEW SERIES, VOL XVII, NO. %.

Come TO pretty pass. when my own
niece wants wages for doing my housc
work
As for Money she vent quietly into
the kitchen, where she prepared the
fowl for roasting, made little bread
sauce for 1t, concocted her nncle's
favorite blueberry pudding, and then
retreated up stairs, where she packed
the little trunk which had once be-
longed TO her mother, whose surface
was decorated with ga. JAN
toinetty Juniper-in brass nails.
stI can't live sol'' said Nanny.
ssMy boots are all patches, and Uncle
Juniper thinks two pair year enough
for anybody. Ny dresses arn't fit to
be seen, and Uncle Juniper is always
saying that my mother calico dresses
lasted year after year. L can't even
put a five cent piece in the contribu-
ton plate at church, without Uncle Ju-
niper's accusing me of extravaganza.
If he won't pay me the wages which I
am sure I earn, will go down to the
Lake View House and help Mrs.
l-Danesbury to make pies and puddings
for her boarders. She told me long
ago, that She would give me ten dol
lars a month, during the busy season,
to assist her,
Doctor Juniper relished his roast
chicken and blueberry pudding as
only an elderly gourmand can relish
the appetizing edibles of this world.
Nanny sat opposite him looking
rather distrait and thoughtful. And
when he had sopped up the last of
his pudding sauce with piece Of
bread, wiped his mouth, and folded
up his napkin, she spoke out:
ttUncie, I'm going away to-mor-
row.
''Be you?" said Doctor Juniper
ITO earn my own fying,' said
Nanny.
'.IIump!'' commented DIR. Juniper.
'FWell, suit yourself suit yoursclf!"
''Mrs. Danesbury is going to pay
me ten dollars a month"; explained
Nanny, t-but I'd rather stay with
you at half the price, IT,
t'Pll see you-fnrtherl' said Doc
tor Juniper. ~ won't pay you a red
cent?
every well, unclc,'' said Nanny.
And so she went away.
'SShe needn't think she's going to
wind me around her little finger,'
said DR.. Juniper, 81 can get plenty
of house keepers for less money than
that; and I wont be imposed upon!''
The doctor got his own breakfast
the next morning. 1t wasn't so easy
as he supposed it would be. The
fire smoked and sulked, the coffee
pot tipped over, the fish was scorched
and the eggs ovcrboiled.
E'Hang it all!'' said the doctor.
Things don't taste right, anyhow.
There must be knack in cooking,
after al!.''
He left The unwashcd dishes on the
table, saddled the roam horse, and set
off Immediately after he had swal-
lowed the last drop of the favcriess
coffee, in search of ''help."
The Widow Kecne was all smiles
when he stopped at her little red cot
tage-
$50 Nanny has gone, has she?'
said the widow. "Wal, there amt no
dependence TO be put in gals. And
you feel the need of helpful COM
panion? I did say when / buried
Kccnc, that nothin' should induce me.
to marry, but
The doctor reined up old Roam SO
suddenly that that meditatiye steed
jumped OFF all four feet at once.
stHold on!" said he, al wasn't
talking on matrimony; amt a mar
ryin' man. All wants hired hclpI''
'tDo you mean to insult me?'' said
Widow Keenc-
And she slammed the door in his
face, and DIR. Juniper rode on, much
marvelling at the narrow escape he
had had.
"I'Il try Miss Mahala Dickcrman, -
he concluded ''Shc amt a widow.
Widows are naturally sly and tricky
Miss NahaIa DicISerman was more
reasonable Yes. she wotlld come,
but she required her Sundays to her
self, every Wednesday afternoon.
the use of a horse and wagon to take
her 10 church, and fourteen dollars
a month.
''But what is to become of me on
Sunday" DIR. Juniper ventured to
inquire.
Miss BTahala didn't know. She had
soul to look after-that was very
certain, and she couldn't reconcile
his Sunday business to oberconscierce.
So DIR. jumper rode away once more
shaking his head.
ttWhat's come to all the womea?''
said the doctor
Betsey Grove was the next person
on whom he called sharp-nosed
gossip, with a high shrill voice, and
specialized eyes.
!'I think kin suit ye, DOCTOR -
said Miss Grove. "I'Ve lived house
keeper to several families. Ny terms
is twelve dollars a month and the
privileges of a home, and a young
gal under me. Her wages viii be
four dollars a month extra"
DIR. Juniper grew a failowy White.
"Do You s'pose Pm made of
money2'' said he.
"Them's my terms" said Mrs.
Grove, land / wouldn't tary from
'em for the President of the United
Statesi"
ssThere's an end of the matter.