The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-25
MIGRATORY SERVANTS.
They Come and Go with tho Free
dom Of the Wind.
To-Day They Arc Hero nad To-Norrow
Whcro AFRO Thcy:-A Case which
:'iany or Our Readers VIII
Appreciate.


harmony is fair and lc"cly lis IL sum
mcr day; then suddenly and without
any warning whatever the girl appears
with the remark: Il must leave on
Monday, ma'am." The lady of the
house is Frustrated with CONSERVATION;
she reminds the girl of the dress she
gave her for Christmas; promises her
fifty cents Il week more wages and nm.
other night off, but these arguments
and petitions are useless; the girl is
adamant in her determination. She
mad made up Der mind. Other people
make up their minds sometimes, but
they arc rs pliable as wax compared to
the servant
After the lady OF the house has had
her scene with the servant, she reports
the matter to her bet ter half, who re-
marks complacently: what, Marian
gong? You can't persuade her to stay?
Nonsense! You women never know
now to do these things. You lack
diplomacy and tact. You have to
handle these matters gently. Let me
tackle Marian" So in Il blithe way he
approaches Maria and says:
II hear you have some tn oughts of
taking your dcparture?"
III it's lawn you name, you have
hurd right" is the answer
Tut Marian, l know you don't in
tend doing anything of the kind. Get
that idea out of your mind
II goes on Monday" replies Maria,
and plungcs her hands into the tub and
says no more.
The reasons for her going arc many,
for Maria is but type. Sometimes it
is to visit a sick sister, brother or
cousin; sometimes the climate doesn't
agree with her; sometimes she is going
to marry the coachman around the
corner and have house of her own
Again She is going without any appar-
ent reason. She likes the family; the
wages are all right; there is nothing
the matter with the missus, but she is
just going. She is bird of passage,
and when the inclination comes to fly
she spreads her wings and vauishcs
You might rs we'll try to imprison an
eagle as to keep her when her soul is
bent on flying.
A family on Sproat street had IN OK
pericnce with one of these restless souls
winch Wall long remain n sad memory.
The ycarning to be away-as strong as
that of the robins when winter comes
always scizcs the faithful domestic
when the house is full of company. In
this case a second cousin, his wife and
two children were making n visit at the
house of the Sproat street resident,
who is of hospitablc disposition and
doesn't mind how much company he
has if the wheels of domestic affairs are
moving smoothly. No sooner were the
newcomers fairly installed than Maria,
or to speak more specifically, and not Of
type, Katie, approached the lady Of
the house.
You'll have to find new girl,
ma'am
The lady gave miniature shrek.
Surely you are joking, Katie" she
faltercd.
I'm not joking, maam. 1 never
joke"
But YOU would not leave me like
this?'
II give YOU fair warning, ma'am.
That is all poor girl is expected to do"
But the house is full of guests and
what will they have to eat?''
That's not my lookout, ma'am. Per-
haps they can cook for themselves"
The lady begged and implored, and in
answer to all her applications came the
firm reply: ~ leave on Choosday,
ma'am."
That afternoon the lady explained
the situation to her husband in tremu-
lous tones. What shall we do, dear
she exclaimed. What shall we do?"
Never mind, love-" he replied. "a
girl like Katie shan't phase you. Well
get another girl soon and meanwhile"
'Meanwhile-'
"Ill get up early and fix the fire."
"Ah."
And start the furnace"
"Oh"
And sweep off the sidewalk
you darling"
Then they embraced tcndcrly. His
brave, helpful nature sustained her
dropping spirits in the hour of trial.
The first thing he did that night was
to purchase an alarm clock and when
he went TO bed, set it for six
o'clock Before dropping to sleep, he
remarked, rcassuringly, to his wife:
Don't worry, now. The clock'l 90
of. III put on the coffee myself"
1t seemed to him that he had hardly
sunk into slumber when he was awak-
encd by horrible din as though a
boiler explosion had taken place under
the bed. He sprang up in alright and
reached for his revolver, while stars
danced before his eyes Then he dis
covered that it was only the alarm
clock. lie pulled on his trousers the
wrong way and fell over n chair in try
ing to get them on, at which he said
something that caused his wife to re-
mark, in drowsy tones: Remember.
we have guests, dear" Then the
owner of the voice sank into slumbcr