The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-08-29

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think our Jim had an idea of marrying
her once" she said in moment of con-
fidence, "a common servant. It's
shame for her. She might have taken
in sewing, or trimmed hats, or had a
strawberry bed, that's fashionable now,
anything but that, well, she's lost caste
any way and Jim will likely marry
Amelia Blakely, who has a little money,
though she isn't as pretty as Lisbeth
Morton. But then beauty's only skin
deep anyway" which must have been
consolation to her if her glass was faith
full And so in this small village,
where every one did their own house
work, where every farmers wife was
nurse, Seamstress, housemaid, cook,
all in one, our little forlorn girl was an
outcast from society because she chose
TO do whatever her hands found to do
well. Aunt Rachel, in fit of spasmodic
generosity, made for her twelve large
aprons, of the coarsest crash towing,
suitable for scullery maid in her pot
washing moments, and Lisbeth thanked
her for them with a good grace. But
all these petty trials made the parting
from the old home less severe, and it
was almost with sigh of relief that she
babe farewell to her early associations,
and after planting r&se bush on the
graves of her parents, Stepped out into
the world without further regret, than
to be so far from those grassy mounds.
Mrs. Lyster was a widow with two
unmarried daughters who were Just out
in society, and spent all the time they
could spare from that arrogant mistress
in the pursuit of art, with a little music
and embroidery that was also artistic.
Maud was not more than seventeen"
but tall and stately" with a hauteur
of manner that was not so pleasant
as the atfectionate disposition of Mig
non, the younger. They were good
girls, brought up in gay, thoughtlesS
manner, without troubling their heads
over any social problems. In fact, they
considered all women out of place who
asserted their rights, and believed those
socially beneath them to be of differ
ent caste altogether. isn't it curious,
mammal" said Maude, one morning, as
she idly cut the leaves of the latest fash
ion magazine. "Your new housemaid,
Lisbeth, wears gloves, and such pretty
ruffled aprons, and neat dresses. |
wonder if she wants to save her hands.
or what is the reason?"
Mrs. Lyster smiled. "That is no fault,
my dear child, the girl does her work
we'll, and is treasure. She is rather
superior and is ambitious, goes to the
Art evening class, and gets one after
noon in the week rs well. Igot her for
two dollars month less than the last
maid on that account, and she is far
more def and handy"
Maude looked her establishment. "The
Art class! why she's only housemaid,
and it's really too bad. Rene Lindsay
and Tom Davis belong to that very class,
if it is Prof. Pontelles. l shall be very
much surprised if they stay when
they find out servants go there"
Nonsense" answered the mother,
'it is no ones affair WhO goes, so long
as they pay and are admitted. The cir
is Thoughtful, and hopes to become ar
art teacher, by and by, she told me
and am sure it is much nicer to have s
girl with artistic tendencies; she dusts
and arrangeS the parlors with exquisite
taste, every caller notices it, and think!
you girls do it for me; and she handles
the choicest bric-a-brac carefully.
really never had such faithful girl"
So Lisbeth continued to attend the
classes and worked In the early morn
ings in her tic bedroom, as soon al
daylight came in, and if her picture
were "skied, it mattered but little, TO
no one saw them but herself, and tn,
glimpses of the early sunlight, the frs
glow in the east, that she watched il
those working moods, formed pictur
that always remained in her memory a
long as life lasted.
Disbeth won the hearts of her fellow
servants by many little acts of kindness
till Kitty, the parlor maid, told her on
day in confidence that she was trying t
study arithmetic and bookkeeping, s.
as to take situation in a store some da
as saleswoman.
could she make more money and b
as comfortable" Llsbeth ventured t.
ask.
NO" answered Kitty, sturdily, "bu
| shall be treated as human being i
the house where l board, and be indie
pendent. | don't mind the work, that
easy, but it's having Miss Maude loo
at me as if l was post, and talking t
other girls about the servants, as if W
r were not of the same flesh and blood
, She doesn't even wait till our backs ar
turned, but treats us like the dirt unde
, her feet, " and Kitty's democratic littl
head gave toss of scorn as she spoke
Lisbeth often saw the young ladies bus
with their desultory drawing, but the
never seemed to consider her as hi
3 man being, with thoughts and feelings
, or capable, of observing. Her trainin
{ in early life and at the Art School titte
her to be their companion in everythin
, but money. Yet, there was grel
gulf between them socially, because or
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