St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-29
Try of fr, elom and plei t. is surely hard

Not forgetful of my intention of try
ing servants life at the lake, seized
the first opportunity and went to Min
netonka with lady who was always
amiable, but who had a knack of gettiI
large quota of work out of even
an unambitious servant, like myself.
She liked me to rise quite early in the
morning and chase the flies, milk the
cow. scrub off the porch, dress the
children and prepare breakfast. l heard
the family discussing plans for some
sort OF picnic every day for at least
week, and was promising myself fine
days of leisure while they were away.
But my lady evidently did not pay me
50 week in order to let me cultivate
the vice of idlenesS. l had orders to
prepare and pack the lunch the night
preceding, also to be sure aud do any
stray bit of washing and ironing, SO that
the party would have fresh lawns and
linens to wear. Then they took me
to the picnic with them. How kind and
considerate. 1t was nice to have the
servant along to look after the children
and carry the baskets. l could also
| swing hammock or WELD fan for
other peoples comfort.
After long ramble the party would
sit down to rest and send me with big
tin pail about half mile for drink
OF cool water. l revenged myself for
that by taking good rest as soon as
out of sight, and was deaf to any re-
marks on my return about the long
time was gone. At the first picnic l
made the lemonade, set and waited on
the table. [ had worked hard that
morning and glorious appetite. When
the rest of the people got through there
were some picked olives, a little sugar
at the bottom of the lemonade jar,
chicken bones and a solitary biscuit
left. What appetiteS people always
have at picnic! never let that state
OF affairs happen again, but put up
about twice as much as was likely to be
needed. My mistress demonstrated,
but although [ like to be obliging, l
told her that could hardly starve to
please her.
An elaborate supper was in order
when we came home. Everybody eX-
cept myself was so tired. l don't think
they counted me on that list. My work
wasn't done until late at night, but early
rising was in order just the same. I
think my deceptive faculties developed
largely that week; My mistress didn't
often let me out of her sight. but when
she did l rested before coming back, and
was as noncommittal as clam when
asked what kept me so long. There
were so many duties to be performed
that l couldn't possibly do all. 1t was
a great delight to me to sweep a room
and not dust it. Then my lady would
so sweetly complain to her friends of
the trials she endured from incompetent
servants, always forgetting to say that
she didn't give one time to do anything
well. She would callm in and give me
lesson in dusting. L hope sthe record
ing angel will
BLOT OUT SOME OF THE LIES
which [ told that lady. 1t became a
chronic habit with me. / wonder if all
the untruthful servants receive the same
kind of training from some one that l
did in that case.
The weather was so pleasant that I
looked up another employer who proved
to be quite a model. Beyond a little
mild fuSsiness ahd wanting me to do
things just her way and no other. she
made life more enjoyable to me than any
mistress whom l have met. Nearly
every afternoon was at my disposal. 1
was at liberty then to go out and culti-
vate muscle by outdoor exercise. Sun
burn and freckles seem the natural ac-
compartments of lake life.
1t is said that in the East school
ma'ams live as walters in hotels at sum-
mer resorts. Thinking that, perhaps,
the custom had extended to this section
of the country, went to the hotels and
got acquainted with the girls. There
were no school teachers to be found in
their ranks. They were bodied and
intelligent girls. But none of them wore
glasses or walked as if their backbone
was all in one piece, nor were they as
elderly as the devOtees of Minerva who
teach the young idea for large part of
the year. l would like to see school
teacher wait on table. 1t would be
amusing, l am sure. But the star of
the colOred waiter seems to be in the
ascendancy and there are large num-
Der OF bona fde workers to fill the other
places in hotels and restaurants.
EVA GAY,