Little Falls transcript., 1886-07-09
DIR. REED'S HOUSEK EEPER,
BY FLORENCE REVERE PENDAR.

prlm looking little body, asshe peered
through her glasses at the door-plate,
and from it to a newspaper clipping
which she held in her hand. As she
awaited the answer to her modest
knock her thoughts ran very much in
this wise:
"What pity! Such a nice garden
as it could be made" her eyes taking
in the mass OF weeds that hourished
on either side of the broad tagged
path leading down to the high stone
wall and iron gate that shut out the
dusty road beyond. Then, as her
glance wandered to an awry blind and
the tarnished door plate, she exclaim.
ed half aloud:
"Poor man! 1t looks as if he needed
somebody to put things to rights. The
advertisement says q nice, quiet, ell
derly person"
Here a. dimple stole into view and
played hide-and-seek about this little
body y's,yes, sweet mouth, for there was
no galnsaying the fact that her lips
possessed dainty curve, revealing, as
she smiled a glimpse ofunusually pref
ty teeth for q lady OF i,er apparent
age. In q moment, however, the dim
pie vanished, and her mouth assumed
It's before demure expression as she
sighed:
ooh! ! do so hope I will suit. have
tried so hard ,and-and know could
make things look SO different, it he
isn't frnmpy and willlet me"
''Did yer knock, ma amp
This from q slip -shod girl, who stood
good -naturedly cycling the ''knock"
from her post on the door-mat. With
start, as If caught doing something
she ought not to be doing, this rather
old-fashioned looking little lady an
swered
eyes, isis Doctor Nathanial Reed
in?'
Eyes, ma am; the master, he's in.
If you're a patient, master says you're
to 60 in the library"
"Oh! no, l. Tell your master
called about the advertisement.
No sooner had the servant, with q
nod OF her untidy head, departed
after bidding the lady "take a chair"
in half-darkened room off the hall,
than that small body, with a quick
look around, darted across the room
to q mirror. After a careful survey of
herself, with a nod OF satisfaction, she
resumed her seat to await the doctors
coming Not a minute too soon, for
just then q voice outside the door re-
marked:
"In the sitting-room, did you say,
Jane?"
Then the handle turned, and a. gen.
tleman OF apparently about thirty en-.
tered the room An exclamation es-
capped the lady as she half arose from
her seat, and in q confused, hurried
sort OF way, murmnred:
II think-you will excuse me. There
Is a mistake. I wished-1 called to
see Doctor Reed"
''No mistake at all, nam, | assure
you. am Dr. Nathaniel Reed. Iun-
derstood the girl to say that YOU call
ed about the advertisement l inserted
in the paper. She is rather stupid, so
perhaps the mistake is on her side"
Seating himself, the doctor awaited
reply, thinking "poor little woman,
a trifie nervous about stating her ca
pabilities, All at once the prim little
figure opposite him seemed to become
more erect, as in clear, sedate tones
its owner answered:
"No;your servant was quite right. It
is concerning the advertisement that
! have called:
swell, am glad Jane was right this
time, for she has decided talent for
making blunders. Still, the girl IS good
hearted and honest, and would like
to give her as fair chance as I can.
Her mother, is widow, with four
other children to provide for. I do
not know exactly where the fault is,
but Of course l can see that things 10
not work as they should do, and : o
it occurred to ME that if I could m ct
with a nice, motherly little body twas
the ''little" an artful compliment on
the doctors parity who would under
take to set everything straight, why
it would be a great relief to me-"
II would try to do my best, l am
sure, sir" was the rather faint re-
sponse.
\ "Not a doubt of it," was the hearty
re]o:ner; then striding across the room
the doctor rather energetically drew
up o blind, remarking: "Ihope you do
not believe in the saving OF carpets,
Mrs"
"Sphinx," after brief pause, sup
piled the lady, slightly edsing away
from the dazzling sunshine as it stream
I'd in upon them.
'Do you know I have become pos
sessed with the idea that all good
housekeepers abhor the sun on ac-
count of its fading propensities? But
I am afraid should be rather obstl-
natoin my requirements oflight and air.
Sunshine is q glorious benefactor. It
has cured many ills, and is oftentimes
more effective than g. doctors pre-
scription." This latter with a genial
smile, as, glancing at his watch, he
added: Well, then, Mrs. Sphinx, if
you think we could agree as to plenty
OF air and 4sun-Oh! by.the-by. I am
forgetting ons< of the most important
items. The rscompense., 1 could, offer
would not. .be arge-perhaps two dol
lars and 9 half, payable monthly-
would not be satisfactory to you?"
&c. sob, yesl" was the somewhat eager,
reply. II should be quite satisfied
with that; but I must tell you that
that / cannot give a reference Yours
would be my first situation, and l am
. stranger (this last a trifie falteringly)
in the city ~.5
References he repeated, with a
comicat look. To tell you the truth,
! never thought OF them" Then
courts0uslY he added ielt sure
that ii your case they are quite nm
necessary. So shall w say this day.
week Ior you to- enter upon your
sdutiese'' 81 s< .ss s. VA
How kind you are!n came impul-