South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-02-22
THE BOUND GIRL.

l'll have to do everything alone !
Little Janet Rae stood with arms
akimbo, and looked about the great
Mason kitchen. She was nearly
twenty, but .sizfd. She had
but one beauty-her pretty curly
b, ad. She was Nrs. Titus Mason's
bound Outbound 10 work for that
lady until sue was one-and-twenty.
Such were the terms of the contract
when Janet had been taken from the
Orphan asylum, a tiny creature of
ten, nine years before; ami it was
the hard work and scant fare which
had prevented her growing.
There she stood. looking about her
at tie array Of cooking utensils, the
rows Of milk pans, the pile Of wash
tubs, the shelf of fat-irons. the ca.
pacious wood-boxes.
That morning Mrs. Titus, the en-
crgeiic, the autho.iia i've, had fallen
down the cellar stairs and broken her
leg. The doc or had been called, and
set it, Mrs. Titus had bad nap, and
then lifted up her voice ard proved
herself equal to the situation:
I'm laid up for month, Janet
that's plain to be seen. I've done
everything for yon-noy you must
take right hold and 60 on without me.
There'li be the cookIn' to do and the
butter to make, more tLan you have
done, extra. But you can do it if
you try. You'll have 10, any way.
Hay; ms over. and Mr.. Deut'll be go
in home soon, go that'll be one less
to provide for
Janet heard in silence. She gave
Mrs. Titus her valerian, and then
went away, and stood looking around
tic kitchen.
I'll have to do every thing alone +
There was such a large family, and
so much work TO be done, no wonder
poor little Janet sLrank: but she
never thought OF Sinking. With
break fss, at FIVE o'clock, and supper
dishes to be washed a, eight, sue had
always had enough TO do but to un-
deftak0 oil the active duties which
Mrs. Titus bad been accustomed 10
perform, was almos, appalling.
Janet stood thinking how il was 10
be done. She Yves such q little thing.
1t took so many of her armfuls 10
I'LL the wood-boxes wi b hard and
soft wood. She must needs stand on
a box to work at the tubs on the
wash. benoh and her arms grew 30
tired at the churning. She had been
trained TO great capability but she
was not strong enough.
But there was no tine for refec
ton. There was supper to get for
the four m'bands, Mrs. Titus CRU
ell t. make and carry up, the milk to
strain, the dishes to wssh, the wood .
boxes TO Gil, and sponge to be set
for bread.
Janet rushed for pail of water.
Mr.. Dent wss at the we'll.
Mr.. Miles Dent was the summer
boarder. lie had bought q mill priv.
ilego Of Mrs. Titus and vas building
a mill.
lie was a handsome, very pleasant
MAINS perfectly healthy people are
very apt TO be, ard he was very
large and strong. In age be might
have been thirty, or thercabouts.
Very old, indeed Janet had pro-.
nouncel him and che bad always
been little afraid Of him, bis man.
ners were 80 nice, and he had such
nice books in his room.
Whether he was aware Of her exist.
euce or not, she wos rot quite sure.
But h1 seemed 20 see the hurryiDg
anxious little creature pow-for.
saying, My arms are the strongest
he took the pail, filed Il and carried
IL into the kltcbea.
Have your hands full haven't you.
little one2 he said pleasantly. CLAN.
cling about him. Your shoulders
hardly look strong enough for
ell this baking and brewing.
Janet smiled shyly-pleased, SUR
prised but she was TOO abashed to
more than murmur some faint re
sponse, and Mr.. Dent went away.
But she felt cheered by the friend
" words Of the big, brown bearded
men and though Mrs. Titus scolded
Der because The Cruel hadn't milk @.
nough and she was obliged TO 90 up
and down stairs three times before
the lady was served she laid her head
upon her pillow more lightly than n
sual- al for one kind word. Poor
little janet