Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-11-16

him to sympathize with other
people, and few households held any
secrets from him. The old house
keeper, knitting on the porch, vel
coined Matte kindly. The minis.
ter was away; "gone to South
Adams to tend a funeral" but she
was looking for him every minute.
Matte went to the study, and
turned YEARLY from the rows of
solemn old books to find refresh
ment IN the papers upon the table
that seemed so much more modern
and human. There was story
that looked tempting with its spicy
bits of conversation, but this was
Chapter Xxx.
Then there was a sermon, letters
from a traveller, answers to mis-
cellaneous queries, household hints
and economies, at which Matte
smiled grimly, with the feeling that
she could open some depths Of eX-
perience in that line herself, and at
last letter from a woman address
ed to the editor, complaining that
the world was out of JOINT and in
need of regulating.
$50 it 49," thought Matte, nod
ding assent as heartily as If the
writer had been sitting there in the
leather covered chair opposite her.
AS she read her dark face flushed,
and her breath came more rapidly.
Why, here ls a woman IN desperate
need of help, and here was she,
asking only the chance to help her,
and they were but twenty miles
apart.
But then, perhaps, the letter was
Just made up and put in the paper;
perhaps there was no Mrs. e. L.
Howe, and at the thought Matte
threw down the paper and went to
meet the minister who was coming
in at the gate. He smiled at her i'm
patience and seated himself very
aimably to read the letter, which
would never have attracted his
notice. He smiled again when he
looked up at her and quite agreed
with her that the writer was prob
ably a fiction of somebody's brain,
created to make forcible the un-
doubted truth that there were
scores OF women with beautiful
homes whose wealth brought them
nothing but bondage, because of the
impossibility of obtaining the help
of intelligent, dependable care
taking sevants, while there was a
great multitude of women 10 need
Of homes and driven to all manner
of makeshifts for a mere livelihood
who might, if they would, supply
Just this service, with mutual salts
faction and benefit. The problem
was to bring them together.
"But if the letter were genuine,
my child" asked the minister,
"what then 7"
"Then," said Matte, promptly,
81 would write to the woman and
ask her to let me try. l should
like nothing better than to be her
housekeeper. 1 delight in house
keeping; Pm a born cook, and
Dolly would be perfectly happy
with two babies to cuddle and sew
tor.0
The minister looked at her
doubtfully.
81 suspect it is only the rosy side
of her work that the letter writer
describes; there must be good
many disagreeable things about
the position of cook or nursery
maid.'
"There are many unpleasant
things about our present pOsitlon,D
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 hest.
tatingIy, "there would be any i'm.
propriety in my writing to this lady
to inquire 2"
''Not In the least ; will forward
your letter with line to the edi-
tor. Why not write here Z" he con-
tinued.
And with the promptness of des-
peration Matte seized the venera.
BILE goose quill with which alone
the minister thought it possible to
write his sermons, and penned
upon a great square sheet brief,
Iadylike letter. The minister's en-
dOrsement was also brief to the
effect that the writer was a sensible,
practical girl, tolerably well edu-
Gated, and would, in bis estimation,
be a benediction in a family such
as that described in the communi-
cation signed Mrs. e. L. Howe.
The joint letter found its way in
due time to the sanctum Of puz-
zled and amused editor, who frown'
ed and laughed alternately oyer its
contents, half disposed to toss It
into the waste basket, but finally
put it in his pocket with a dozen
other documents. 1t might have
remained thore indefinitely, for the
editor was young man, ana had
no personal interest in the domestic
problem, but, dining that day with
his sister, his serene enjoyment was
suddenly dIsturbed bv a series Ot