The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-06-25


like her, you needn't keep her, you
know"
ooh, I'll be glad to get anybody !"
groaned the sick old lady, tossing rest
lessly.
John came back just then, saying
Lucy Jones was away on a visit, and
could not be hired; so Will, who must
leave at once to catch the up-train,
promised again to do his best to find a
girl.
II reckon I'd orter asked after her, F."
said the sick woman to herself, after he
was gone, and she had not even asked
him to come back. "But 1 couldn't get
the consent of my own mind to do it, no.
how"
John scraped up what he could for
dinner, and about one o'clock he came
up stairs, and said: "There is lady
down stairs to see you, num-"
"A lady? Good gracious! and me in
this FIX Who is it, John?"
II hain't an idea who, num-"
"Well, fetch her up, since it's got to
be; there's no help for it. But I hope
faint no company come to stay, for I
can't keep her if It's"
John departed, presently returning
with tall handsome lady, in stylish
black cashmere.
"Good- said Mother Haw-
kins, seeing she did not know the lady.
"Good morning." SAID the lady pleas
antly, advancing toward the bed. II
suppose you are Mrs. Hawkins?"
eyes, T be-" And the sick woman
wondered what was coming next.
II hear you are in need of a girl, "
said the stranger.
"Lord knows I ami" gfoaned Mother
Hawkins.
swell, your son, Mr.. Hawkins, sent
me out from the city to see if I would
suit YOU"
"You!" Mother Hawkins sat up in
bed, in her surprise at this elegant
woman asking for the place of a servant !!
Look at your hands," she said.
"They are not very black, I know.
But they are used to doing homework,
madam, I assure you. Will you try
me?"
"You came from the city," said
Mother Hawkins, without answering the
question. "Do you live there?"
eyes, madam!"
"Then what do you know about farm
work."
Everything" answered the stranger,
confidently. II was brought up on a
farm, and have only lived in The city
three years"
"But them fine clothes!" sighed
Mother Hawkins.
II have plain calico ones in my satch-
el,n said this odd girl.
"What wages do you want?"
"Whatever you usually pay"
II generally give two dollars and a
half"
VERY we'll, that will suit me-"
"What would you do first, if you
staid?"
"The first thing, would make you a
cup of tea and a bit of toast. Then I
would change my dress, go downstairs,
and get to work"
For PHYS sake, do it, then!" said
Mother Hawkins, as, with a sigh of in
tense relief, she dropped back upon her
pillows.
The stranger left the room. And in
short time she was back with the tea
and toast temptingly arranged on a
waiter, and as nice as hands could make
them.
After they we're disposed of, she
brought fresh water and towels, bathed
Mother Hawkins hot face and hands,
and brushed her hair back neatly under
her cap.
"There, that's better, isn't it? she
asked.
eyes, indeed" sighed the sick woman.
"What's your name, child?"
"Mary Sherman.
"Well, Mary, if you do as we'll for the
rest US you have for me, shall think it
was the Lords MASSEY that sent you
here"
II shall try to he useful, but it Will
take me a few days to learn about things
In the house."
"Mebbe I'll be down by that time!'
sighed Mother Hawkins, as she settled
herself for nap.
But she was not down in day or
two. It was. four weeks before she
could be helped down to the sitting
room. But everything had gone on as
orderly under Mary's hands, as il
Mother Hawkins had been mistress her
self. And no sister or mother ever had
more untiring care than she gave to the
sick woman, who felt that she had in
deed found a treasure, and could not
bear TO think of the time when Mary
must go away.
William had written twice to ask how
his mother was, but he had not been
down again.
The day that Mother Hawkins went
TO the table for the first time since her
sickness, O note came, saying that he
was coming to see her by the evening
train.
Not word about his wife did lie
write. And Mother Hawkins, as she
locked at Mary moving about with
such bright face, though that if Will
had married girl like that, they conld
have been so happy!
But hsr sickness had softened her
bard old heart toward her only son.
And she wanted to see him very much
indeed.
She heard the whistle of the train
which brought him down. Il was only
half mile from the station to the farm
house, aad che waited, listening to every
sound, until see leard his step upon
the porch.
"That's him! that's my boy, Mary,
come to see his old mother!" she said,
eagerly, "Open the door and let him
in"
Mary opened the door-and--what
Mother Hawkins couldn't believe her
eyes! Was Will, married man, kiss
ing and hugging her hired girl, with all
his might, right before her face? The
scaaqaliZed old lady sprang right up
in her chair, CRYING out:
"Why, Will!-William! stop that!
You, a married man! For shame!
That's my Mary!"
eyes. mother" answered William,
brightly, land she Is my Mary, too. "
And he took the new girl to his mother,