The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-03-12
FARMER HENS0N'S "IIELP."


and thin Her dresses never fit her.
She did not consider herself servant,
nor did the Hensons so consider her.
She was the "Help." She worked
with them, ate with them, sat with them,
and made their friends her friends. She
had none Of her own. At the age of
twenty.three she had never been in love.
She had no thought Of the man who
was to be her partner. IL never occurred
to her that Jason Williams, their next
neighbours eldest son, came to see her
when he came over to Henson farm on
frequent, trivial brands. But 1t Oc-
cured to Jason that that was what he
came for. Lizzie Stone, thin, pale,
short, with scanty light locks pulled
back from prematurely old face and
twisted into hard knot behind, in her
poorly fitting stuff dresses, was to him
dream OF beauty.
He was six feet two inches tall, red
haired, freckled, with immense mouth.
He always walked home with Lizzie
from the village singing school on Sat
Lrday night and it was considered very
kind and neighborly Of him. He asked
her once il he might keep company
with her." and she, because the VIII
liamses were good neighbor5 and 1t was
pleasant to have an escort at all times,
consented.
Lizzie was twenty-three the summer
Mr.. Henson decided TO take boardcrs
from the city. Lizzie looked forward
with joy to the change it would make IN
the household.
Farmer Henson went to the city and
advertised. Mrs. Henson and Lizzie
scrubbed and polished the spare room till
IL shone They put up new and still
starched muslin curtains, and covered
the washstand and high bureau with
clean towels.
Well, u boarder, not boardera, came
fashionable young man named Osborne
Hicks. He was tired Of watering place
gayeties, and was not well, 30 he came
TO this PARKWAY farm house TO rest. He
paid large price for his board upon
condition that Henson would take no
one else. AS no one else applied they
were very ready to. make this bargain.
He was the handsOmcst man Lizzie had
ever seen. When she sat ut the table
WIFI nm BIG CDlllll 'hL llOI llli.
He never stopped from his great height
TO notice her. He saw, to be sure,
queerly dressed but tidy, pale-iaced little
thing, and supposed she reloiced, M well
aB the others, IN the name Of Henson. II
he thought at all OF her, he was glad
that she did not intrude herself upon
him.
lie had not been there week when
the worthy Iicnbons agreed that they
did not like him. He was stiff and "stuck
up" no sat in his room every evening,
and burned M extra light, instead Of
sitting down sOclably with them and
their tow-headed oilsprings. He wanted
clean towel every day. These were It
few of his major sins he had quantities
Of minor ones, which Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
son discussed in season and ont. Lizzie,
who M member Of the family, was
present at all the councils, was griGvod
to hear him spoken Of.
lie sank still lower in the Henson csli-
nation, when Sunday came, 10y refusing
polite invitation to drive TO church in
the Henson carriage with the united
Henson family.
Lizzie was asuBual left nj home to cook
dinner. The mere knowledge that she
was alone with this Apollo sent her to
ssevcnth heaven of delight She didn't
anticipate the happiness of even seeing
anything Of him. But there was II
greater pleasure in store for her than She
imagined.
She was sitting on the kitchen steps
nurinn iLn tpioInpa ptupipn ia larnnlf
when no came around the house. He
stopped idly before her, smiling at the
deep blush which overspread her face.
She certainly was the queercst little
thing he ever saw.
$50 your parents were wicked enough
TO have you stay at home from the
meeting" he said.
He wanted to hear her talk.
"They-they amt my parents" she
faltered, like u child, setting him right
before she answered his remark.
He was not at all interested in the re-
lationship, and did not ask what it was.
'I'm the help" Lizzie advanced tim
idly.
"The what2' he demanded sharply
"The help-the hired help"
"Well, like that, he cried,
"Sir? ?"
81 thought you ate with tho family ?"
81 do. Don't all hclps?"
"Well, / do like this" he said, more
OF himself than to her "This comes of
seeking health in fourth-rate place.
I'll change tomorrow.
He Ined away impatiently. She
knew that she had angercd him in some
way, and, in consequence, he was going
to leave. She put down tho pan of pc
atoes and ran after him.
"Please tell me, Mr.. Hicks" she
cried, "why you are 10 angryp Have |
done anything to make you goP 1 won't
again if you'll toll me-"
81 suppose" he answered. loftily,
"that you are all no ignorant here that
you don't know how I have been insulted
by being forced to cat with the servant"
His petty soul was stirred to its depths.
'Do you mean mep Am l n servantP'
"What else are you ?" he cried.
I'LL nm the help" she returned,
humbly. She scarcely knew what "ser-
want" meant. "lf you are angry with
me, I will go away"
mot ut you. Have you no sense?
But because | must eat at tho table with
you"
"You needn't again." she sobbed.
"Indeed you needn't. And / will go
away if you don't like ser-ser.vant
"You have no sense" he answered
- 81
understand OF course there should be
servant here. | would not stay if
there were not, but | will not eat wits
one. Now, do You understand ?"
Eyes, sir; indeed, indeed I do /
won't do 80 any more" she sobbed
Indeed, I won't I'll wait till you ARE
done. Indeed, l will Only please
don't go away from here"
l. L.. A. A.. Al