Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-11-09
A "GRAND LADY,"

The town clock had struck two.
School was over for the day. After
stopping for few moments in the
shawl-room, to put on hats and
cloaks, the girls ran out of the house,
down thes streets leading to their
homes.
Maria Rogart, Susie Roberts and two
or three other girls went together,
along Main street. AS usual, they had
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 grand lady," said Susie.
''She knows all about French, and
German, and Italian, and she has just
the whitest little hands that ever sawi
do not suppose that she knows how
to do a bit of housework. got up
early this morning. so that 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 roomp"
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"
Il would not care" cried Ella Red
man. 'My mother says that beautiful
hands are the hands that obey the Bible
verse: Whatsoever thy hand findeth to
do, do it with thy might The King who
said that was very rich and very great. I"
Susie tossed her head, and assumed
what she considered grand air.
II 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
1essly that two cups fell and broke into
ever so many pieces. They were the
first of the set to be broken. 1t was a
sc AI.A Ho, @Io-
very much, because it had come to her
from her grandmother.
81 am horrid, careless girlr' 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 a lady, and yet dare
say that she took care of her china, and
polished her furpiture!'
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 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
a 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. / shall forget my
skill if / do not get to housekeeping
soon."
Susie was so much surprised by this
remark that she stood for a moment in
silence, looking at her cousin.
You see," continued that bright
little lady, {" it is quite two years since I
made a cup of coffee or loaf of bread
just think of it! l dare say. Susie,
that you know good deal about house.
workP When / was little girl 1 was
delighted to help my mother" be-
gan 20 rub the old-fashioned side-board
so vigorously. that Susie was sure it
would outshine the table, have q
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 a coin; they
represented her as sitting at her spin
ning-wheel''
Susie could scarcely believe her ears.
Il have heard of persons who are
ashamed of work, but / consider them
very silly-don't you, SusieP think
that they forget that nice chapter in
Proverbs about the industrious woman.
There is very pretty verse in that
chapter-l went hunting through it
once for a birthday verse-and / was
ever SO much pleased to find this: She
looketh well to the ways of her house.
hold and: She is not afraid of the
snow for her household, for all her
household are clothed with scarlet -
~ Y Observer.