St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-11-23


girl who is a good plain cook" bu
Molly resolved to be critical, ant
waited. In the mean time, seeing tina
n way was open, she dressed herself il
her best, and went shopping Saturday
afternoon. She chose to patroniz'
Rush & Crush, where her high anl
mighty airs gave unbounded satisfac
ton to the clerks, with whom she wa,
a favOrite. She sailed up to the prin
counter with great dignity, turned the
goods over, pulled the corners cross
wise, after the fashion of women shop
pers, depreciating the patterns, etc.
but finally bought print for three
dresses, gingham for aprons, etc, to
the amount of SO, and counted on
with great majesty the three trad,
dollars.
"Oh, Molly, yOu know we can't tax,
thenI," said the clerk. Molly turned
to Mr.. Rush, who sauntering along witt
his eyes on the other side of the store
was taking in the whole proceeding
"Mr. Rush." she said, 81 took these
here day before yesterday, and now
the clerk refuses them.n Mr.. Rush wa,
grimly amused at her audacity, but
instead of answering her, turned to the
grinning cash-boy in waiting, and
snapped: "Cash, what are you waiting
for? take the goods and money this
instant ~ The youthful Mercury dis
appeared like spirit, and Molly felt
somewhat as her great grandfather did
ut Concord.
Monday morning brought a letter
which seemed promising, and which
read as follows:
"WHEATFIELDs, n. H., June ..
"Miss NJ. P.-We need a domestic,
and prefer one of our own nation. The
family consists of myself and wife and
hired man. MY wife is feeble, and
of everything. We would pay 50 IA
week to the right person. If you feel
capable for the place and can bring Il
recommendation, we should like to
have you come as soon as possible"
Then followed some directions about
trains, and the whole was signed, in
plain, homely fashion, "Yours, Be
thuel Harlow"
"Wife feeble" mused Molly; "well,
she won't be poking around the kitchen
all the time" (anOther flash of the
Concord spirit. domestic" not
''servant" or ''hired girl" That
suited.
The result was that few days later
Molly, armed with a letter from her
minister, was set down, the only pas
senger, at Wheatfields station.
Squire Harlow, waiting for the eX
pected 'good plain cook" was smit-
ten with great misgivings at the sight
of the stylish young lady, for to his
eyes, accustomed to the dress of
Wheatfields daughters, the simple gray
suit with its graceful drapery seemed
the hight of elegance, and he was not
re-assured by the question of the sta
ton agent, "GOt company from the
city, amt ye ?" But it was too late to
retreat, and soon old Danl was pulling
them steadily toward home. The
Squire said little, but glanced at the
girl occasionally from under his shaggy
eyebrows. 1t was fair, honest face,
which freshened with every mile in
the sweet evening air, and the gray
eyes took in everything, from the chip
munk on the wall to the locust-trees
with their fragrant, dropping clusters.
"Want piece ?" said the squire, as
they drove under one. Her face was
answer enough; and stopping old
Dan'l, the good man cut Il cluster and
dropped it in her lap. She thriftily
took off her new lisle-thread gloves to
take it, showing hands so white that
the squire groaned internally. Those
hands wash his dishes and scrub his
fioors7 Was this young lady, who
was prettier and better dressed than
any girl in Wheatiields, his domestic 7
He shook his head slightly, chewing a
bit of locust.
Molly ventured few questions
about the family, and heard the story
of what was uppermost in the squire's
mind-the story of the lost Mary, one
of the victims of New England's
scourge, who had faded away three
years before, since when "Mis' Harlow
had sOrter pined." 1t was pathetic
little story, told in the lacOnic New
England way, but the brown, knOtty
hands worked unsteadily on the reins,
and the squire's eyes had Il far-away
look, as though toward the country
which held his Mary.
Presently they drove up to com
| Portable house, with an air of plenty
about the large barn and wide porch,
over which grew white lilac. Molly
found her mistress little wOmOn with
faded, gentle eyes, and soft, slow voice.
She looked at the girl kindly, and held
out her hand. After giving her few
directions, and telling her where to
| find things, she added to her husband,
"Tell John to carry her trunk to the
east chamber" This apparently was
something unusual, for the squire open
ed his mouth as though to say some
thing, but being a man of few words,
shut it again, and went out.
Molly followed her trunk, found her
self in a small room, with bright rag
carpet on the floor, white curtains
looped away at the window, home
made linen towels with knotted fringe
on the little table, an fashioned
chest of drawers, and a low, posted
four posted bed with valance and
patchwork cOunterpane. The room
was neat, but had an unused look, and
Molly wondered if the tribe of girls OF
which the squire had made mention
had marched through it !; but, too tired
to think long, she unpacked her small
wardrobe, said her prayers, and knew
no more till morning, when Il thrilling
of birds, and ray of sunshine on heI
face, woke her to her first days ser
vice as a domestic While making
her simple toilet, she gave many quick
glances at the billows of apple bios
SONS under her window, and something
born of the light and fragrance and
music was reflected in her face as sh,
took her way to the kitchen. The
wood and kindlings were near at hand
the fire started off briskly with {
cheerful air of encouragement, anC
then Molly considered her bill of fare
There was salt mackerel, eggs, stal,
bread, the inevitable salt pork, dough,
nuts and pie, and a pan of cream Whose
VelIow wrink led snrface bore testimon,