The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-19
What is the matter with ,f$S q oro9n
l.. l. L-llo OlANs

What is the matter with = o,o9p
She lifted her eyest,SSh as the wild flow.
ers OF her to2Yy6p61ntry yficlds, and saw a
gell1.4ss5sh regarding her with a cool bust.
-hess look
~she is just in from the country and
has never lived out, said the polite tones
of the mistress of the ONCE.
All the better then, said the gentle
man My wife will make good servant
out of her. There is moth ng suits her
better than to break in a raw hand Hey,
girl, can you cook potato?"
His voice was rough but not unkindIy,
and as the girl timidly answered him, he
continued:
send her to the house, Mrs. Spence,
and settle with my wife about the wages
We won't be particular if she turns out to
be quick and willing
Ida smiled thankfully and tried to say
q few grateful words that stuck in her
throat, but it was all the same-the gen
tleman who had hired her, Mr.. Simpson,
had Iurned Tay, and from that moment
forgot her as completely as if she had
never lived.
She was engaged at his house, and soon
learned how TO COOk city diet in way ac-
ceptable to c family. She could wash
and iron, sweep and clean. aud in month
Mrs Sim, n told all her friends what a
The new girl could do other things
sew and embroider. sing very sweetly,
play the melodeon prettily, read and recite
better than either Belle or Maud Simpson,
and had lovely cultivated thoughts about
the people and the relation of one human
being to another But the family never
knew it They did not even appreciate
the fact that she spoke beautiful English
and had refined manners She was the
daughter of Scotch minister, and strong.
plain, gOod-hearted Yankee girl, who
when her young husband became blind
was eyes and ears and feet for him till he
died, leaving a family of younger, help
less and dependent children. The father
had taught Ida. and in dying had
charged her to help her mother maintain
the children But not in this way. Oh,
MOI good man as he was, his pride would
have revolted at Lidas going into service.
But she. brave little woman, had
reasoned it all out Her education was
too erratic TO permit of her teaching
school. Other girls lived out. Why
should not she?
The fronts of houses are very insin-
cere. They fiaunt light and style, and
the appearance of comfort in the face of
the passer-by The skeleton is in back
part of the house-a closet that has no
stained-g glass windows to attract atten-
ton.
Ida lived in the kitchen; she worked
alone all day, feeding upon herself. Mrs.
Simpson did not scold or interfere unless
something went wrong. Then she did
both.
"Alas, how easily things go wrong.
She could excuse them for herself or her
children, but not for the servant within
her gates Ida had letter from her
mother saying that little Benny had
broken his wrist, and cried all one night
for sister Ida Then she cried and the
coffee Drowned too much, and Mrs.
Simpson scolded her severely. She sen
every dollar home and wore her summer
clothes all winter. Then she did very
dishonest thing She wore the ironing
blanket under her thin shawl when she
went out one bitter night to buy the yeast
for the breakfast mullins. Mrs. SimpsOt
came into the kitchen and saw the lining
of poverty.
%Perfectly shameful, she said, swear
ing my things out in that manner
l pay you enough to buy d warm shawl
every month. What do you spend yOuI
money for -"
Lidsdld not say. The next morning
the muffn were light but not her heart
1t was heavier than lead. She sung softly
under her breath:
"Dare to do ryht-dare to be true"
Then she changed it to:
"There's a lana t ,at is fairer than day"
1t seemed to help her, and she forgot
the wearying rub a-dub-dub of the wash
board and sung higher. Mrs. Simpson
looked in:
"Lida, stop singing 1t is enough to set
any one crazy to hear that dismal tune.
never allow my hired girls to sing.
After that she sang only in her heart.
~ on are dear good girl" wrote heI
mother, land / am so glad you like youI
place and that the people are kind to you.
We should have starved this winter but
for you.
When Ida read this letter she laid heI
head down on the kitchen table and cried.
All the inanimate things that were her
only companions seemed to be sorry for
her. The stove shone warm and bright.
the room looked as coZy, but, oh! it was
not home-home where mother and
Benny and the rest loved her. She read a
chapter in the little Bible went to the
small, dark, dreary room that exists in
most houses as a sort of catch all, and is
known as the girls room. and there by
the narrow bed asked of God that "peace
which fioweth as a river.
It came to her sooner than she expected.
Mrs. SimI son sent for her family physi
clan one morning and said
Doctor, l am in such trouble. My
fever. have sent Maud and Belle away,
and want you to tell me Just what to do. 4"
The doctor followed Mrs. Simpson to
the rear apartment where Ida slept. The
room was cold and full of the odor of
cooking.
The girl lifted her weary head from its
scanty pillow and looked at him with
shining eyes.
at IS so beautiful here, she said in a
faint voice; "the sun shines and it is never
cold. Harkl that is father voicel and
they are all so kind here. Oh, Mrs. Simp
son. have oversight myself Let me get
up. win never forget againl"
q Delirious. said the doctor. with bis
finger on her pulse. MUST De sent 10 inc
hospital at once.
Il knew you could advise me, doctor,
said Mrs Simpson gratefully. Such
trouble as had to teach that girl, ana
now when she can do anything and knows
I depend on her. she has to go and get
SICK It's al her own fanlt- too for she