Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-10-13

The servants are miserable"
mo more than one might expect
interrupted Joscelind, with a depre
catory motion of the hand. ''Serv
ants are mere frauds, nowadays?'
"And nothing goes right about the
place."
Nothing ever does! said Josce
lind.
Uncle Black eyed her queerly
This was quite different from the de
termined cheerfulness and systematic
good spirits OF her three sisters.
At breakfast, the next morning
Uncle Black began to scold, as usual
"Fish again" said he. "This
makes four mornings in the weel
we've had fish,"
II detest fishr' said Joscelind
pushing away her plate with gri-
mace
"And the rolls heavy againp
growled Uncle Black, breaking one
open.
''Please give me the plate, Uncle
Black" said Joscelind; ana she rang
the table-bell sharply.
Betty, the cook, stout, good
humored Irishwoman, made her ap-
pearance.
Betty" said Miss Darkridge, ''be
SO good as to throw these rolls out OF
the window"
Betty stared.
"Do you hear what I tell your
said Miss Darkridge, with emphasis
And Betty flung the rolls among
the rosebushes, where they were
speedily devoured by Cato, the New
foundland dog, and Rob and Roy, the
two settlers.
"But what am / to eat for break.
fastp pewailed Uncle Black.
Crackers, of course" said Josce-
lind. Anything is better than i'm
periling ones digestion with such
stuff as this! And Betty, if you send
up any more fish in a month, you may
consider yourself discharged-do you
heart"
"But, my dear, 1 am rather fond OF
fish," put in the old gentleman.
"One can't eat fish the whole time
said Jos ,elind, imperiously. "Here
Betty, this coffee isn't fit to drink
and the toast is burned; and you
must have put the cooking butter on
the table by mistaken Let these er.
rors be rectified at once"
Betty retired, with an ominouf
rustic Of her stiflly -starched apron.
"My DEAR" said Mr.. Black, rather
apprehensively. 'Betty is very old
servant, and"
Il don't care il she is the age o1
Methuselah," said Joscelind: mo
body can be expected to put up with
such wretched cookery as thisP'
II really think she is not 30 bad
if"
"Oh, pray don't apologize for her
Uncle Black" said Joscelind. They
are all shiftless, lazy creatures, who
must be discharged promptly il they
don't do their duties"
Uncle Black began to look fright
ened. He had kept Betty, Sylvia anG
old John for ten years. Was it pos
sible that he had scolded at them fol
ten years, only to have JoscelinC
Darkridge outscold him now!
II wouldn't be too short with 'em
my dear, if / were your he remon
strated.
"Then lot them do their duty
said Joscelind, with the air OF an EN-
press.
"We are all mortal" pleaded Uncl,
Black
II expect every one around me t.
live up to their conditions" said Jos
celind.
Uncle Black ate the rest of hi
breakfast with but little appetite
Sylvia, the housemaid, was finishing
busting his library as he entered it
mot through yeti" growled Uncle
Black, the fretwork of wrinkles once
more coming into his brow.
Sylvia" said Miss Darkridge
severely, IF this happens again,
shall dispense with your services
Look at that clock!"
my DEAR" said Uncle Black, "Syl
via is generally a very good girl
if"
"Dear Uncle" interrupted Josce
lind, ''pray permit me to be the judge
of these matters. You have ruled
your household with slack and in
dulgent hand altogether too long.
shall now institute reform"
And poor Sylvia had never moved
about so briskly, as she did that day
Old John, the gardener, was not ex
einpt from his share of the genera
turmoil. Miss Darluidge chanced te
overhear her uncle reproaching the
old man for some fancied neglect ir
the flower beds, whose diamonds
ovals and cresents Of brilliant colors
were the pride Of his horticultural
heart, and she came promptly to his
aid.
Gardening, indeedl Do you cal
this gardeningi" she said. "Uncle
Black, I'm astonished that you keeI
such a man as this about the placer
And the torrent of taunts and re-
proaches which she showered upon
the luckless head of poor old John
was enough, as that individual OBJ
served, ':to make ones flesh Creep"
my niece is young lady of spirit
and energy" apologized Mr.. Black
when at last Joscelind had gone back
to the house.
"Verra like you, sir-verra like
your said old John, scratching his
head.
"Liko me!' said Mr.. Black, slowly,
And he stood tor full five minutes
Ouito spoocbloea md v,,ot;oploao etar