Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-09-12
MARTHA'S CARPET.
Illustrating tho Fact That "We
Are All of One Family"

martha, do sit down and rest your
tired self" said, as the black, shining
face of my washcrwoman appeared at
my sitting-room door. you are done
at least half hour earlier than usual
to-day, and have earned q rest"
"Thank'y' Mrs. Whclan, but haint
q minute to set terday. Ise got
obleeged to go home. Ise- maxim me
a carpet, and Isc pow'ful busy dis week
or two n colorin' md fixin' Mandy
Snow's jest got her new carpet home
from de weaver's, md she's braggin'
dat hit beats cherry thing oh de kind in
our part ob town. I'll show her!"
This with a toss of her turbaned head
that BODIED no good for Mandy Shows
peace of mind.
"Well, do let me offer you bit OF
lunch, anyway. / said. for Martha
had served me long and faithfully, the
clothes always coming from her hands
irreproachably clean and white, and
she deserved every consideration.
Forthwith, l proceeded to set out
portion of cold roast fowl, some jelly,
bread, butter, etc. This was too great
temptation for one so fond of eating
as Martha to withstand, and with a
deprecating "Well. yoh do beat all,
Mis- Whelan,' she sat down.
Else been wukkirpat dem rags off an
on foh two weeks" she went on after
the sharpcst of her hunger had been
appeased, and she could stop long
enough between bites to talk. "Mr.
M'gom'ry he's done got misery in
his back nd KANT saw wood berry
much, so l sot him to SEWN rags.
He's mighty handy at sich tings is
Mr.. M'gom'ry But, In, wild dc chick
ems and chillens nd one ting md an
nuddcr, he doan' get much done when
l amt dcre. Oats wat makes me in
SIGH hurry to-day"
"You are making you rag carpet,
then, Martha, | said.
LA, yes, Mis- Whelan, wild twist
cd stripe nd red nd yalloh md green
on bof sides oh hit. Mandy Snow she
lowed hers couldn't be beat, but Ise
boun' she'll change her chunc by mex
quahte'ly mcctin' day cf Ise spared to
get mimi done md put down"
All, Martha, Martha it seems that
the same spirit of rivalry exists among
the lowly as elsewhere. What mat
tiers IL whether the fabric be velvet,
brussels or made of rags, the heart of
the owner beats uneasily at being out
doncp For only the week before Mrs
Saylss, one of our leading society la
dies, had told me that she had not
intended TO get new carpet for her
parlor until she heard Mrs. Jones, an
other leader of society, say that she
had sent TO the city for one of an en-
tirely new pattern. ''And of course
didn't want to be entirely out of the
fashion," the lady remarked, "and
though Mr.. Sayles thought we could
not afford il, | sent off and got one,
too. OF course. this necesstated
other new furnishings. but I'll save
the money out of the household cx-
penscs."
And ], who have known Mrs. Saylos
nearly all her married life, knew how
accustomed delicacics would disappear
from their table, how the fires would
be scantily fed and other home COM
forts abbreviated that the parlor
might boast of the handsomest carpet
in town. And now, Martha! Well, Is
not human nature the same the world
overp
"You amt got any ole close, Mis-
Whelan, w'ah yoh amt goin' to use
any noah, dat nd make nice stripeP"
said Martha, her hand on the latch. as
she started home. Il calkalatcd on
gittin' Jim Dunlcy's, dc culled gcmple-
man wat carries dc papers, ole red
flanncns wen he was done wearin'
'cm. ] washed fur i'm nd seed dey
was gittin' pow'ful thin. But dat
Mandy Snow-he goes wild one of her
gals-shc had dc impcrdencc to ask
i'm fob 'em TO put in her cahpet. l
told Mr.. M'gom'ry I'd go without a
cahpct befoh I'd do dc like-'n mo
dom his washin' tool l tolc i'm he
might take his washin' to Mandy
Snow, too. after dat"
"Oh. Martha, you can not afford to
lose sucl good customer as Jim