The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-31

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Salem Sunbeam.
"You couldn't spare me very little
money, could you father?" Janet
leaned over him as he counted some
bills.
''If it is for something positively nee
essary, my daughter
81 can't say it is exactly that, but
never get cent of pocket money now
father"
He sighed heavily, as he answered:
81 know it, and I'm sorry, but the
pressure seems harder and harder every
year. Wants seem to increase faster
than the means of supplying them.
Hand this to mother, Janet
''Forgive me for worrying you, dear
father, | ought to be making my own
spending money, but there are so few
ways of doing that unless | 60 away
from home"
"We can't let you do that yet
There's enough for all if we are care
full"
''Take it out to Bridget, said her
mother, as Janet gave her the money
from her father.
Twelve dollars; dear mer' said
Janet to herself, rather fretfully, as she
slowly walked toward the kitchen.
Bridget has earned it and 1 don't
grudge it to her but how wish could
earn twelve dollarsr'
'Wirra, wirra!" Bridget sat on the
floor, holding an open letter and rock
ing herself backward and forward with
dismal groans. Pots, pans and kettles
were around in their usual confusion.
'1t's mesilf must be lawn yez the day,
Miss Janet"
Servants were hard to find, and
Janets face wore the accustomed ex-
preston of dismay with which such no.
tees were always received as she asked:
''What's the matter, Bridget"
'1t's me sisther's got the faver, bad,
an it's mesilf must be goin' to her.
An it's six weeks intirely I'll be shtay-
in whin it's so far to be goin'."
AS Janet handed her the money a
sudden thought came to her.
I'm sorry for you, Bridget OF
course, you must go if you must. Per-
haps we can get along without any one
till you are ready to come back"
Mother" she said, returning to her,
"Bridget's going away for a few
weeks" Mothers face grew as dis
mayed as Janet's had, for she was not
strong and there were three boys.
ga phase We, ma'am, it's afther
comm to thry to get the. place | am. "
"What do you mean, JanetP" said
her mother, laughing as the young girl
courtesied low.
81 mean, mother, will you pay me
the same you pay Bridget if L do her
work"
"You can't do it all, Janet"
''What l can't do I'll hire. | want
to do something, and want to get a
little money can feel is my own, and
that have right to spend if | want a
new book, or bit of music, or any
thing else. can't get school; there
are forty applications where there is
one vacancy. l can't get more than
one or two music scholars. L can't
dispose of fancy work or painting, and
if | could might dabble over them for
month and not clear more than
Bridget does in week, there are so
many waiting to do that kind of work.
Kitchen work is the only work there
seems to be plenty of for girls.
''You may try it, but | think you will
grow very tired of it"
Janet spent good deal of her first |
weeks wages in buying bingham
aprons, rubber gloves, paying a stout |
woman to come for half day and scrub |
and scour until the last traces of good
natured slovenly Bridget's presence
were removed. Then, with clean
kitchen, clean utensils, and clean towels, |
Janet took hold of the work with right |
good will.
''We'Il all cooperate" said the faith
er, when he heard of her intention.
"We'll all cooperate" cried the
boys, and they keep their word well in
bringing in wood and water and sweep
ing the walks. And after the first
she found that Tom had made
the fire and ground the coffee before
she came down.
There's a great satisfaction in doing
things thoroughly" said Janet to her
mother, after the first day or two. "Be-
fore when we have been without girl
have always hated it because | tried
to see how little could get along with
doing and how much could shove out
Of the way. Now that l am making
business of it l don't feel that way.
And mother, you would be astonished
to see how little cleaning there is to be
done when nobody makes unnecessary
dirt or how much work can be saved
by using your wits to save it.
''She never told her mother how her
back ached during those first days of
unusual exercise. This wore off as she
became accustomed to it. Every day
she learned more and more to simplify
her work. A few minutes in the kit
chen just before bedtime arranged
things so exactly to her hand there was
40 hurrying or crowding at the busy
lime in the morning. Careful hand
ing of the table linen made the wash
so that the stout woman could
10 two weeks wash in one. Janet
ound there were few days in which she
could not sit down when the dinner
work was over. Other surprising things
came to light.