The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-01
4 SMART YANKEE G e.
Che Is Twen.y-Seven Years Old, and Can
Do a Great Many Things.

there is an American servant-girl aged
twen.y-seven years. who was born in
New Preston and attended a private
school until thirteen years of age, leav-
ing it with an award for the best schol-
arship in bookkeeping. She immedi-
ately took cle-kship in the local post
Office. and although SO young. handled
the mail and performed other duties in
the store adjoining satisfactorily.
After six months she worked in a fac
tory in Watertown. making ferules for
umbrellas After that she took a clerk
ship in adry-goods store in Waterbury,
which she kept for three years.
She then went to Bethel to learn the
hating trade. and became so expert
that she made all the samples and was
appointed forewoman. the man in
whose store she had been employed in
Waterbury proposed to open another
store in Meriden and to give her entire
charge and good salary. She ac-
cepted. and did all the buying. BOOK
keeping, writing and general manag-
ing; but just as the enterprise became
3 success. the propri;S.e- died and she
was thrown out OF employment She
then went to Philadelphia. where she
learned cigar-making and worked at
the trade for three years She came
home and obtained situation as stage
driver, going twice day to meet pas
sengers at the station. five miles dis
tant. She managed and often harnessed
the two horses. lifted and strapped on
to the stage all baggage and carried
the mail. Mr. Kinney, the owner of the
stage says he has never since had his
business so thoroughly attended to. At
the end OF six months, she learned car
riage painting here in a factory, and
for some time earned two dollars and
half per day.
When work gave out here she went
to Hartford where for short time she
did copying in the off e of the fire de-
partment She afterward went into the
carpet-sweeper factory. and took con-
tract for cutting and dovetailing the
woodwork. Before leaving she made
several en- ire sweepers herself even
TO putting the stamp of the maker in
large letters on the top.
She came home for rest, and resi-
dent gave her two mustang ponies that
he had been unable to manage They
had been harnessed but few times and
were unshod. She caught them in the
field, harnessed and drove them, and
in few weeks had them completely
under control.
Between times this unusual girl has
mended shoes, planted tobacco by tie
acre, ridden the horse with a cultiva-
tor and raked hay with a patent rake.
STE had laid a new kitchen floor in her
IA house, built ve-anda for her
unc.e and shingled and sided an ice.
house for neighbor. She takes care
OF the home garden and made and
keeps in order the winding walks
about her house.
She is also an adept at shaving and
hair cutting, and waits upon gentlemen
at their residences in the village to
do this
She is fond of hunting and fishing,
and IN the fall bags many partridges,
woodcock and rabbits. and in the season
catches bass from the lake and trout
from the brooks Last spring she
caught the champion trout that weighed
two pounds and a half. The fish broae
the pole, but she jumped into the water
waist deep. secured the disappearing
sec ion of the pole. and safely landed
tie trout She catches frogs and dresses
the legs for her own taste She is
much interested in natural history, and
has specimens of snakes, lizards and
many other curious things preserved in
alcohol. She had a tame water-snake
that came about the door. but her
mother disliked the familiarity of the
visitor and killed it She alo climbed
tree to examine a crows nest and
took one of the young ones home She
brought it up on Indian meal and bread
crumbs and taught it to laugh and say
Hello"
This girl has also invented kitchen
utensi upon which steaks can be broil-
ed, potatoes fried, and another vegeta-
bic cooked at the same time
1t might be concluded that this girl
must be masculine and unrefned, but
this is not the case. A recent caller
found her reading Milton Paradise
Lost, with several musical instruments
IN her room. She is a fair musician.
and sings in the choir of the village
church She is a church member in
good standing. and Will not read novels
or play cards or in any way desecrate
the Sabbath. Her house is adorned
with embroidered lambrequins and
draperies that she has made. and she
makes her own dresses and takes work
home from residents here when time
permits She clothes entirely a sister
and child whose means are limited
She is a proficient housekeeper and
good cook, and gives the greatest salts
faction to her present employer. She
does not prefer homework as q means
OF livelihood, but during July and Au-
gust when trades are dull she accepts a
domestic situation rather than live In
ldleness- Boston Herald.
In al fhoro Evo