Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-15
JACK AND THE KITCHEN-MAID.

Jack Brundage had attended party
the night before, and therefore it was
by no means strange that the entire
family should be aroused before morn
ing by groans from his apartment.
In spite of mammals oit-repeated adj
vice that he should partake sparingly
of the refreshments, he ate six sand
wiches. as many slices of cold turkey,
four pickles, two large dishes of ice
cream and so many pieces of cake that
| am really ashamed to tell the number,
and his mort fication at the entire Cir
cumstance is already extreme.
Now, one would suppose that, under
such circumstances, Jack would have
declined oranges. lemonade, nuts, can
dies. and the other knick-knacks that
followed; but he did no such thing. On
the contrary, he partook of each and
every kind as if he had eaten nothing
at all before. a .rr
After the supper was over. he felt
quite unlike himself, and heartily
wished he were at home; he lost all
en- ;oyment OF the festivities. and had no
heart to tell Jessie Blackburn that her
curls were the prettiest yellow ones he
had ever seen, which he had thought
of doing earlier in the evening. He
wandered around and seemed at such ii
loss to express himself that his little
hostess sought him and told him she
hoped he was enjoying her party. TO
which he replied that it was most de-
lightful; but as he said it his sensations
grew most oppressive.
Would the carriage ne'er come for
him? Finally, and it seemed an unend-
inc time, the carriage was announced,
and Jack babe the little lady good
night. and was driven home, thinking
if he could only get to bed.
His rest was uneasy. He slept, awoke;
and slept, only to awaken again. At
one time he felt tremendous pa in his
stomach, and such a dreadful sickness
that he almost lost his senses for a min
a most melancholy little old woman--a
servant. he thought-wringing her
hands and crying bitterly. -
'.And who are you, my good woman"
said Jack.
II am the kitchen-maid,' said the
woman.
You seem to be in great Distress
said Jack: ..what ails you?' s..
80, sir! my master is tyrant- he
keeps me a: work from morning till
night, and oftentimes | am not done till
davbreak, only to begin again at seven
O clock My health is rapidly failing
under the tasks he imposes upon me.
How old do look ?''
Glow old?' repeated Jack; Il should
say fiftv-and decrepit at that"
.'Wel. Pm only ten years old and
should be young and spry, but it's hard
work that's done it. If my master kills
me, he'll soon die himself, for I'm born
to the work, sir, and no one can supply
my place.
'.What kind of work do you do?' said
Jack.
.'Do? It's my business to work up
everything my master sends down into
his stomach to a soft, PUPPY mass. and.
if l do my work properly, his whole
body is strengthened: but it is hardly
twenty minutes after his breakfast is
eaten before he sends me apples, pop
corn, nuts, candies, cakes-in fact, any
thing and everything he can Law his
hands upon. I never get the breakfast
away before dinner comes down Ike an
avalanche. At dinner he eats soups.
meats, vegetables, gravies, pies, pud-
dings, fruits; and at supper he eats cold
meats, bread and b tier, cakes, pre-
serves, fruit, and gives me deluge of
iced tea. Why, sir, having some of his
breakfast. most of his dinner. and all of
his supper on hand, l have sometimes
tainted from sheer exhaustion"
How terriblei' said Jack, feebly,