The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-24
TIE WORKHOUSE GIRL.

TIE WORKHOUSE GIRL
Il need help, Parthenia," said Mrs
Patterson. ''Since Martha has mar
ried, want somebody to set the table
and wash the dishes. and rub the win
dows, and that sort of thing; and thinl
I'll get Il gal from the wOrkhouse."
Miss Parthenia Waldo held up hel
hands in astonishment.
"a gal from the workhouser' sale
she. "Why, you'd regret it as long a:
you lived. They don't teach them tt
do there; tney just slop about, scrul
up with a broom, turn cups to drain
without dryin' 'em-the awfullest drat.
you ever saw in all your life! Ma had
one, and glad she was to get 'em tc
take at the hotel"
81 mean to teach her my way
said Mrs. Patterson. 'Them l teach
kin do; and kin dress her for two
years out of the old things Martha
wouldn't hev when she went away.
She hadn't no need, and she never
half wore her clothes. Money is money,
and shouldn't be as we'll off us l am
ef I'd wasted it. Two pounds month
kin keep help for nothing"
''Well, perhaps you are right" said
Miss Waldo; land 1 should admire to
go and see what they'd got at the
workhouse along with you this after
noon; it would be a good ride for us,
and rides is healthy"
Thereupon Miss Waldo, TO whom
Mrs. Patterson was paying visit,
called to the hired man, Job. to har-
ness Saltpetre to the carriage; and
shortly after rather rickety basket
phaeton, TO which was attached a
white horse, with large knobs at his
knees, y very ragged manc, and one
wall eye, was heard to rattle up to the
house; then the two ladies put on their
hats, went out, and entered the vehi-
Gle.
Mrs. Patterson, being very stout re-
quired some pushing, and when in,
weighed the phaetOn down on one
side, while that on which Miss Parthe-
mia, who was very small aud thin,
placed herself, was elevated in the air,
until Job, who was man of resour-
ces, bethought him to put in ballast in
the shape of box of old iron under
the seat on the lighter lady's side.
The equilibrium thus restored, the
two ladies logged on comfortably,
Saltpetre hObbling ut his own pace
until the workhouse was reached.
1t was long low building, destitute
of shade-the managers having appar-
emily decided that if a man could not
sit under his own vine and fig-tree, he
did not deserve to have tree of any
sort provided for him at the public ex-
pense.
A row of hard wooden benches rang
ell against the whitewashed wall in
one room accommodated four old men,
who were at the moment much dis
turbed by the attacks of an idiotbOy,
with no forehead on him to speak of,
who went from one to the other, pok-
ing each with an old broom-handle,
and saying, "Twitty witty, witty
twitty," with the monotony of Gagged
poll parrot; and on seats of the same
comfortable sort, in another room, sat
several old women in hideous calico
wrappers all of one pattern, who were
dismally hemming poor-house towels,
while young girl, small, black-hair-
ed, and sharp of feature, and with
preternaturally crossed eyes, was en-
gagged in threading their needles, spec
tacfss not being provided by the au-
thorities.
A pair of stairs descended into the
sitting-room, and as the ladies entered,
the floor above shook violently, and q
pair of big feet appeared on the toy
step, ankles followed, then the hem OF
a gingham-dress, then the rest of q
portly female, who having descended,
shook hands with both ladies.
ut is kind of you to cOme," she
said. Il don't see nobody to speak to
from one weeks end to the other
Selma, go into the next room and take
that stick away from Billy. He'll poke
old Cricker's eyes out, and I'll bs
blamed.
"Take some seats, ladies-oh, there
amt none. Come to my room; wei
be lots more comfortable there. Selma
see to things till l come back"
And she led the way to a small
room, not ill-furnished, which opened
from the back of the hall.
"lt is nice of you to CALL" she sale
again. "I've got some new cider anC
bit of cake-jest providential as i
were;" and she produced plates ant
glasses.
Many matters were discussed. Martha
wedding was talked over, and finall.
Mrs. Patterson came to the point
.'Now I'm alone, I'm thinking o
taking help" she said; land hea
YOU had II girl to put out"
You naughty thing" said Mrs
Coney, with elephantine playfulness
81 don't believe you'd have come a
all if you hadn't had business to com
for. Yes, there is girl-that Selm
you saw in there. The guardians sa.
She orter go out this summer, bu
she's real good help to me, and
| haven't hurried it on. However, they'v
got another child on their hands now
so, if you want her, there's only on
objection"
:.What is that?" asked Mrs. Patter
son.
1.-The minister's wife found it to
much to put up with" said the ma
tron. .'She Jest hollered out the min
nit told her. No. says she, tina
ends it. Nothing supernatural kin b
| right"
.'Supernatral! Why. what on ART
is it. wonder?" said Mrs. Patterson
t.You might wonder week withou
guessing" replied the wOrkhouse ma
iron. $50 I'll tell you. It's ther
whispering voices"
..Ehm eiaculated Mrs. Patterson.
"Voices that come to her like folk
was Whispering said Mrs. Cone
lowering her shrill tones and lookin
over her shoulder. Spirits voices.
why, Mrs. Couey, you turn me a
! goose-feshm gasped Miss Partheni
Waldo.
.sShe does me often" said Mr.
Coney, 81 can tell you. The time oil
Aunty Brick died she told me sf
heard 'em say, One seat emptYp OR