Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-07-10
THE NEW GIRL.

! OH Coulun spare me very iIlIie
money, could you, father?" Janet lean
ed over him as he counted some bills.
"If it is for something positively nec-
essary, my daughter"
81 can't say it is exactly that; but |
never get cent Of pocket money now,
father"
lie sis he'd heavily as he answered, 81
know it, and I'm sorry; but the pres
sure seems harder and harder every
year. Wants seem to increase faster
than the means Of supplying them.
Hand this to your mother, Janet"
"Forgive me for worrying you, faith
sr. ought to be making my own spend
ing money, but there are so few ways of
doing that unless | go away from
home"
"We can't let you do that. There's
enough for all, if we are careful"
"Take it out to Bridget" said her
mother, rs Janet gave her the money
| from her fatnef.
"Twelve dollars. Dear me-" said
Janet to herself, rather fretfully, as she
walked slowly to the kitchen. Bridget
has earned it, and | don't grudge it to
her, but how wish | could earn twelve
dollars"
"Wirra, wirra!" Bridget sat on the
floor, holding ali open letter and rock
ing herself backward and forward with
dismal groans. Pots, pans and kottles
were around in their usual confusion.
at. me.elf must be lawn yez the day,
Miss Janet"
Servants were hare to find, and Ja-
nets face wore the accustomed express
sion Of dismay with which such notices
were always received, as she asked :
"What's the matter, Bridget"
"It's me sisters got the fayver, bad,
and it's meself must be going to her.
And it's six weeks entirely l'll be
shtayin, when it's so far to he goin'."
AS Janet handed her the money, a
sudden thought came to her.
"I'm sorry for you, Bridget. or
course you must go if you must. Per-
haps we can get along without any one
till you are ready to come back"
"Mothsr," she said, returning to her,
"Bridget's going away for few weeks" "
Mothers face grew as dismayed as Ja-
nets had, for she was not strong, and
there were four boys.
can plase ye ma'am, it's afther COM
ing to thry to get the place | am."
"What do you mean, Janet?" said her
mother, laughing as the young girl
courtesied low.
81 mean to do Bridget's work"
"You can't do it all, Janet"
"What can't do, III hire. / want to
do something, and want to get little
money l can feel is my own, and that |
have right to spend il l want new
book or a bit of music or anything else.
| can't get a school-there are forty ap-
plications where there is one vacancy
| can't get more than one or two music
scholars. | can't dispose of fancy work
or painting, and if | could, might
dabble over them for a month and not
clear more than Bridget does in week,
| ., tn a hat
kind of work. Kitchen work is the only
work that appears to be plenty Of for
girls"
"You may try it, but l think you will
get tired Of it,"
Janet spsnt good share of her first
weeks wages in buying gingham
aprons, rubber gloves, and paying a
stout woman to come for half day to
scrub and scour until the last traces OF
good-natured, slovenly Bridget's pres
ence were removed. Then, with clean
kitchen, clean utensils and clean towels,
Janet took hold of her work with a
right good will.
"We'n all cooperate" said father,
when he heard of her intention.
"We'll all cooperate" cried the boys
and they kept their word well in bring
ing in wood and water and sweeping
the walks. And after the first morning,
she found that Tom had made the fire
ard ground the coffee before she came
down.
"Therc's great satisfaction in doing
things thoroughly" said Janet to her
mother, after the first day or two. Be-
fore, when we have been without q
girl, l have always hated it because
tried TO SEQ how much | could shove out
of the way. Now that am making 8
business of it, don't feel that way
And, mother, you would be astonished
to see how little cleaning there is to b,
done when nobody makes any unneces
sary dirt, or how much work can b
saved by using your wits to save it."
She never told her mother how he
back ached during those first days o
unusual exercise. This wore of as sh
became accustomed to il. Every daI
she learned more and more to sinplif.
her work. A few minutes in the kitchel
Just before bed time she arranged thing
so exactly to her hand that there was n
hurrying or crowding at the busy tim
in the morning. Careful handling o