The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-09-05
and Dolly would be perfectly happy with
tWo habipa IN cuddle and sew for ~


"a suspect it is only the rosy side Of
her work that tbs letter writer describes;
there must be good many disagreeabe
things about the position of cook or
nursery mad."
"There are many unpleasant things
about our present position, began Mat
tie, 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, hesitating-
iy, ''there would be any impropriety in
my writing to this lady to inquired"
"Not in the least; will forward your
letter with a line to the editor. Why
not write herei" he continued.
And with the promptness of despera-
tion Matte seized the venerable goose
quill with which alone the minister
thought it possible to write his sermons,
and penned upon great square sheet a
brief, ladylike letter. The minister's
endorsement was also brief, to the effect
that the writer was sensible, practical
girl, tolerably well educated, and would,
in his estimation, be a benediction in a
family such as that described in the
communication signed Mrs. Z. L. Howe.
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, half dis
posed to toss it into the waste basket,
but finally put it in his pocket with a
dozen other documents. 1t might have
remained there indefinitely, for the ed
itor was a young man, and had no per-
sonal interest in the domestic problem,
but, dining that day with his sister, his
serene enjoyment was suddenly disturbed
by series of dull thumps apon the
stairs, followed by piercing screams.
"Therep' said Mrs. Lattimer, rushing
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, returning with the baby. 81
never draw an easy. breath except when
the children are asleep.
''Oh, by the way, Florence" replied
her brother, GIVE got hold of a solution
for all your domestic difficulties. Never
say I'm not practical again. Here are
two servants for you made to order-a
cook and a nursery maid--natives, sis
ters capable, educated, warranted by
the minister; what more. could you ask ~
Raymond, what on earth are you
talking about"
''It's all here, you can see for yourself
The fact is, I've been thinking a good
deal about this labor question; and one
evening I.wrote letter for the journal
purporting to have come from Mrs. Z. l..
Howe, setting forth her troubles with
servants, and appealing to the host of
respectable, unemployed women for
help"
"You miserable humbugl read it
with sympathizing heart, and meant to
write to her myself-our cases are SO
much alike-onIy forgot it,"
"Well, here comes letter from rus
tic maiden, who speaks for her sister
and herself, and proposes to undertake
the job. Shes in serious earnest, too,
and I'm quite impressed by her letter.
Just read 1t"
\Mrs. Lattimer read with critical not
to say skeptical air.
I'D sooner have Bridget with all her
peppery temper. Deliver me from supe-
rior, I'm as-good as -you-are, servants.
intend to be mistress in my house, and
want servants and not companions and
friends"
"All right, you have my approval
there; but l thought the trouble was
you were not mistress. They obey just
far enough to enable them to keep their
places and draw the wages, and they
have no conception of any other kind of
service. Now, il l were housekeeper
/ should try these girls; certainly you
couldn't be worse off"
'1f you we're housekeeper you would
do Just as the rest of us do-bear the ills
we know rather than tempt the un.
known"
perhaps so; I'm profoundly thankful
I'm not woman, to go on doing a
thing to all eternity because my grand
mother did it before me, and my neigh
bors would think it so queer of me to
try any new way"
"What are you going to do about the
letter. You really ought to answer it,"
$50 shall. l shall tell the minister
have forwarded the letter to Mrs. L. l..
Howe, who will correspond with him if
she decides to pursue the matter"
If the editors letter, proving that Mrs.
E. L. Howe was no myth, created deep
and profound excitement in the little
circle of three, what can be said of the
effect produced by letter addressed to
Miss Matte Harper, offering to her and
her sister service in the household of the
writer, with wages and conditions very
carefully specifedl To be sure, it was
signed Mrs. Frederic Lattimer, but of
course one would use fictitious name
in paper. The letter was written in
very plain terms; it said servants, and
not ''hired girls, which was supposed in
bingham to be title of greater respect,
and stipulated that the engagement was
only for a month of trial, at the end of
which time, if Mrs. Lattimer be not
pleased, she would pay their expenses
home.
''lt'll come pretty tough on you,
Marthy Harper, being looked down on
as a servant, y said the kind old house,
keeper. "iou won't have any 'soeiation
with the family
II don't care to associate with the
family; we don't associate with the men
we make shirts for, said Matte. 'I
shall have Dolly, and Dolly will have
me, and we shall both have the babies
| don't think we shall care for much
more"
1t was only at Mattie's earnest entreaty
that the minister forbore to accompany
them to their new home.
''It would look as if we expected to be
received as something more than we are, ~
she said to Dolly. "And want her to
understand that all we ask is fair wages