Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-07-09


81 would write to the woman, and
' ask her tn let me try. / should like
nothing better than to be her house
, keeper. delight in housekeeping
Pm born cook, and Dolly would be
: perfectly happy with two babies to
, cuddle and sew for"
The minister looked at her doubt
, fully
81 suspect it is only the rosy side
, of her work that this letter-writer de-
scribes; there must be good many
disagreeable things about the position
: of cook or nursery-maid.
"There are many disagreeable
things about our present position" !"
began Matte, but stopped abruptly.
Not even to the minister would she
have owned that they were actually
pinched sometimes for suitable food.
''Do you Think" she asked hesi-
tatingly, 'would there be any impro-
priety in my writing to this lady to
inquire?"
"Not in the least / will forward
your letter with a line to the editor.
Why not write here?" he continued.
And with the promptness of despe-
ration Matte seized the venerable
goosequill, with which alone the min
lister thought it possible to write his
sermons, and penned upon a great,
square sheet brief, ladylike letter.
The minister's endorsement was also
brief, to the effect that the writer was
a sensible, practical, Christian girl,
tolerably well educated, and would,
in his estimation, be benediction in
a family such as that described in
the communication signed Mrs. +. l..
Howe. While he thought it more
! than probable that the case was fic-
titious one, he felt sure that there
were multitudes of women similarly
situated, and the editor would be do
ing good Christian work if he would |
put this young woman in communi-
cation with some one of them.
The joint letter found its way in
due time to the sanctum of a puzzled |
and amused editor, who frowned and
laughed alternately over its contents,
alf-disposed to toss it into the waste
basket, but finally put it into his
pocket with a dozen other documents.
1t might have remained there indef-
nitely, for the editor was young
man, and had no personal interest in
the domestic problem, but, dining
that day with his sister, his serene
enjoyment was suddenly disturbed by
series of dull thumps upon the
stairs, followed by piercing screams
''There I'' said Mrs. Lattimer, rush
ing away. "She's let the baby fall
down stairs. / always said she'd kill
it ! / shall dismiss her the minute
Fred gets back :" she painted, return
ing with the baby. ~ never draw I
an easy breath except when the chill {
dren are asleep" (
"Oh, by the way, Florence" re- {
piled her brother, "I've got hold of [
a solution for all your domestic diff {
culties. Never say I'm not practical, {
again. Here are two servants for $
you made 20 order,-a cook and /
natives, sisters, ca |
pable, educated, warranted by the {
minister; what more could you ask 2" e
raymond, what on earth are you c
talking about?' G
"It's all here, you can see for your
self. The fact is, I've been thinking c
4 good deal about this labor question p
md one evening / wrote a letter TO a
-he Journal, purporting to have come a
rom Mrs. f l.. Howe, setting n
orth her troubles with servants, and h
to the host of respectable, I
unemployed women for help j
"fou miserable humbug | read ii
with sympathizing heart and L
meant to write to her myself-our
ases are so much alike-only l for tc
,ot it." g
"Well, here comes letter from a az
ustic maiden, who speaks for her sis
er and herself, and proposes TO un- as
ertake the job. She's in serious
arnest, too, and I'm quite impressed ID
y her letter. just read it. bf
Mrs. Lattimer read with a critical, m
OF to say skeptical air. tn
'FI'd sooner have Bridget with all ed
er peppery temper. Deliver me W;
rom superior, Pm-as-good-as-you- 70
re servants. i intend to be mistress an
/ my house, and | want servants and he
OF companions and friends. i'm
"All right; you have my approval I'M
lere; but l thought the trouble was m;
OH were not mistress. They obey 90
lst far enough to enable them to at
eep their places and draw their if
ages, and they have no conception otl
any other kind of service. Now, ON
/ were housekeeper, should try th,
Iese girls; certainly you couldn't
; worse off" sar
"If you were housekeeper, you pee
ould do just as the rest of us do yon
EAR the ills we know, rather than try
mpt the unknown"
"Perhaps so; Pm profoundly nm
ankful I'm not a woman, to 90 on q,
,ing thing TO all eternity because mi
y grandmother did it before ne, III,
I'd my neighhors would think it $50 e,n
,eer' OF me TO try new way" oe,
sWhat are you going to do about an,