Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-11-08
SUSIE,S MISTAKE.

-Georoe Cooper. in Golden Days.
.;4f SUSIE'S MISTAKE. III:
The town clock had struck two.
School was over for the day. After
stopping for a. few moments in the
shawl-room, to put on . hats and
cloaks, the girls ran out of the house,
down the streets leading to their
| homes.
Maria Rogart, Susie Roberts and two
Or three other girls went together,
along Main street. AS usual, they had
a great deal to say to one another.
| Susie Roberts was telling about her
cousin, lately arrived from Europe!-
how the steamer had just escaped strik-
ing against an iceberg;-how her cousin
had brought several trunks, full of
beautiful things, and what time she
had getting them through the Custom
| House!
''She is a grand lady," said Susie.
''She knows all about French, and
| German, and Italian, and she has just
the whitest little hands that | ever saw!
do not suppose that she knows how
| to do a bit of housework. l got up
| early this morning. so that I could get
my room in order, and do my dust
| ing before she came down to break
| FAST @.
.:Why, Susie, are you ashamed to
| have her know that you dust the par
lors. and take care of your own room?"
| asked Maria Rogart, laughing.
,':Oh, would not have her know it,
on any account" said Susie. Gas it is,
dare say she will think my hands very
brown
II would not care,'' cried Ella Red
man. 'sMy mother says that beautiful
hands are the hands that obey the Bible
verse: Whatsoever thy hand tindeth to
do. do it with thy might The King who
said that was very rich and very great
Susie tossed her head, and assumed
what she considered grand air.
Il think the servants should do all
| the housework,' said she.
Little Mary Jamison wondered if it
really were not respectable to sweep
and dust room and wash the break
fast china. She took peep at her
brown hands, and drew on her gloves
as quickly as possible. The girls were
quiet for the remainder of the walk.
Susie's words had set them all to think
ing.
That evening, when Edith Grey's
mother reminded her that, as Ellen the
housemaid was out, it was time for her
to set the tea-table, instead of running
to do so with her usual willingness, she
pouted and muttered something about
doing a servants work.
She handled the pretty china so care
lessly that two cups fell and broke into
ever SO many pieces. They were the
first of the set to be broken. 1t was
set of china, too, that her mother priced
very much, because it had come to her
from her grandmother.
81 am horrid, careless girl!' Edith
said, bursting into tears, and ready to
put the blame on some one else it all
comes from listening to that foolish
Susie Roberts ridiculous notions. My
grandmother was lady, and yet L dare
say that she took care of her china, and
polished her furDituren'
Meanwhile Susie was having what she
thought very hard time. She was in
the sitting-room, with her mother and
cousin, when Mrs. Roberts said:
''By the way, Susie, before I forget
it, after you have done your busting,
tomorrow, if you have time before
school, would like you to polish the
dining-table. You have neglected this
great deal lately. do not know what
your grandmother would say if she
could see her old furniture!''
Susie's cheeks flushed. She did not
dare to look at her cousin, she could
only trust that she had not heard.
Next morning Susie was up very
early, determined to get all done before
breakfast. With dust-cap and apron
on, she was working away very indus
triously, when, to her dismay, she saw
her cousin pass the door, on the way to
the library
"Good-morning, SUSIE she said,
''let me help you. I shall forget my
skill if I do not get to housekeeping
soon."
Susie was so much surprised by this
remark that she stood for moment in
silence, looking at her cousin.
"You see,'' continued that bright |
little lady, g it is quite two years since |
made a cup of coffee or a loaf OF bread |
Just think of it! | dare say, SUSIE
that YOU know good deal about house
workp When was little girl 1 was
delighted to help my mother"-she be-
pan TO rub the old-fashioned side-board |
SO vigorously that Susie was sure it
would outshine the tablet have a
great fancy for women who are good
housekeepers, continued the lady,
talking and laughing, and using the
wax and the brush-all at the same
time. ..My favorite heroine is that
Queen Bertha who lived in Burgundy
about nine hundred years ago. She
kept house SO beautifully that they
stamped her likeness on coin; they
represented her as sitting at her spin
pingwheel.
Susie could scarcely believe her ears.
..I have heard of persons who are
ashamed of work, bat consider them