Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-10-25
SOUTHERN STANDARD MEANWHILE. TENNESSEE
LOVELY PARrHENlA.
A Jewel of n Girl, But Somewhat Given Co
Eccentricity.

ECCcnVrlClI1s
If you want Parthenia you can have
her and welcome She is a jewel of q
lady, save that she is apt to 90 off on
tangents that give rise to suspicious of
drink do not think that she does
drink, only that her brain is a trifle
warped in the making or preserving,
and would not dare to swear that she
may not get up some morning and muir
der every member of the family. She is
such joker, and If it occurred TO her
that it would be funny to put the whole
family to death Parthenia would be the
one to do it.
Parthenia is black lady. She is the
BLACKLIST lady l ever saw. Unlike most
black ladies', she does not care to be
called colored out of mere mistaken
sense of politeness. rr
Call me a Niger" says Parthenia.
That's what Lam, and don't see why
l should object to being called it any
more than you would object to being
called white folks" aA4
And then she will go out into the
kitchen and shake with laughter for ten
minutes over her own witness.
Patthenia can cook clear around Del
monico and still have room to spare
that is, when she wants TO- She is eco
nomical to degree, and it is the won
der of the house what she eats, for meat
comes back to the table just as it went
off, and sweets are as safe in her keep
ing as If they were locked up in safe
deposit vault. The washerwoman who
comes on Tuesdays complains bitterly
that she has trouble in getting enough
to eat out of Parthenia, and this has no
connection with the woman of the
house, who is generosity personified.
The latter has put up with great deal
from Parthenia, partly because she be-
lieved she had good heart and partly
because she was a willing worker and
would sit up till midnight over the iron
ing of very large and extravaganza
family. But some of her little jokes it
was hard work to stand.
For instance, sometimes it would not
suit her fancy to make bread or desserts.
When asked why she had not done so,
and nine times out of ten her failure
followed distinct order with company
reasons why she should not neglect
them, she would laugh and say she
didn't feel like it-or hadn't time. If
her mistress ever went into the kitchen
to help her out by making cake or pud-
ding she always suffered, for the next
time that this was ordered it would not
come. The family would reach the ice
cream stage of dinner and there would
be no cake to go with it.
"Why, Parthenia, her mistress would
eXclaim, why did you not make cake,
as l told you? You know we always
want cake with ice-cream, and 1 told
you specially this morning to make it. y
Il sposed you always wanted to make
it," was all the satisfaction given, and
then the diabolical creature went to the
kitchen and was found there ten min.
utes later her head buried in a sheet
and her long, slim body shaking with
silent laughter.
At last her mistress lost all patience
: and made some vigorous remarks which
: Parthenia overheard. The latter nursed
/ her feelings in silence for a long time
She took an evening paper and read il
assiduously at nightuntil she fell asleep
the gas burning full streak all the time
On her afternoon off, as soon as tho din.
! ner dishes were washed, she would
! mount to her room and go to sleep. BY
these presents You may know her.
Still she nursed her resentment in
silence until it was almost time to break
l up for the summer. Then one day, wher
f it was so late that decent girl could be
q got with the greatest difficulty, she sud
denly told her mistress that she was 90
. ing to leave the very next day.
, When asked for a reason: you dom
= like me-" she said. Her mistress tried
G to assure her that she fairly dotted OF
her. but it was no go,
You don't love me; you only like
what you get out of me-"
Il 81 like you well enough to want yor
Il to stay" said tho other.
Yes" she replied, "just because YOU
y, don't want the trouble of hunting up an
= other girl"
i And so this jewel, with the great big
" flaws, went her way and left house il
9 mourning If you want her you can have
> her so far as am concerned, and l hope
=, you will be happy with her.
What is the moral of this story?
> don't know that it has one. 1t is fai
n example of what the slave of house
= wife has to put up with on the girl ques
r. ton. Some day, when l get smar
4 enough and have little leisure on m,
hands, am going to invent an automa
+ ton girl and make my everlasting for
e tune.-N Y. Herald.
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