The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-11-24


age to the point Of depriving himself o.
his horse and tilbury, as well known Il
the frequenters of the Bots as he himself
Rather than give up his drives there hi
would economic to any extent in othel
matters In order to pay the extra SOC
francs outlay essential to keep up his lin
tied stable.
Fancy then his relief OF mind as h
opened his morning Echo to find staring
him in the face ut the top of the advertise
ment column the following promising an
nouncement:
"a strong, healthy girl, 90 years of age
from the country. seeks place az maid OF
all work"
1t pleased him; he read it second time,
and after u little reflection decided to an.
swer 1t.
There was n rap Mt the door next morn
ing. 1t opened and Francine-we may MS
well give her name now-entered, al d the
following dialogue ensued:
at is you, then, my girl, who are the
strong, healthy personP"
"Yes, monsieur"
"You come from the country"
From Saint Benoit, by Poictiers."
"You comprehend the duties of maid
of all work."
Perfectly, monsieur"
"Can you groom horse9" ..
ut was ! and no other who had the care
Of neighbor Thomas, the carter's, stable. "
"And harness him tool"
"As easily as my father or mother
would"
Good engage you at the rate, to be-
gin with, of five and forty francs month
II am pleased with your services you will
have 30 francs month next year. the
same as an actress of the Renaissance.
Your name, them"
" Francine Remy."
Now listen to me attentively. This is
the order in which your service is to be
done: You will rise every morning at 8.
Begin Mt once with grooming the horse,
then return to the house and put the ket-
tie on to boil. After that you will find
my clothes across a chairback in the hall.
You must beat and brush them well, then
hang them up carefully in the dressing
room. This done, polish my boots and
place them on the shelf ready for tomor-
row, for do not wear the same pair two
days running. When ring my bell, you
will bring me cup of tea with thin bread
and butter. Then draw back the curtains
and open the shutters You understandP"
Everything, monsieur"
Next let us arrange the lunch-two
eggs and outlet of beefsteak or little
ragout Of mutton. At the same time make
out and arrange the menu for dinner, SO
that You will not be obliged to market
twice a day. A potage, two dishes and
any fruit in season; that's all. Have you
understood everythingS"
Everything, monsieur"
Good and now the housework In the
mornings you will polish the floor of the
salon, dining room and hall and dust the
furniture well afterward. At o'clock
you will go to the yard and take the car
riage out Of the shed. 1t is very light"
"Never fear, sir; it can't be too heavy
for me-"
''You will give Coco his feed and after
ward harness him to the tilbury. Then
shall drive in the Bots till 1880. During
that time you will prepare the dinner.
Also, you must roast and grind the coffee.
When you hear the carriage enter the
court, you will come down to unharness
the horse and put the tilbury in the car
rage house, after which you will wait on
me at dinner. While ! am drinking my
coffee You will prepare Soco's litter, fill
the manger and sponge off the tilbury
You know how to do it2"
Its easy enough, monsieur"
Then, after have gone out in the even
ing, you will clear away the dinner things,
wash the pots and dishes, put everything
In its place again and await my return"
And how Francine did work when she
set about it, shaking rugs and curtains
and securing dishes and windows and
busting, as she had been told to dol Then
came the stable work, and the grooming,
and the fresh litter for Coco, all attended
to with scrupulous care.
Without knowing why, Bagaudin came
In sooner than usual that night-that is
to say, precisely at midnight. He opened
the door softly, and there she was, Fran
cine, sound asleep on the woodbox. She
was broad awake in a minute, however,
sitting up and arranging her hair.
"Ah, 1t Is monsieur" said she.
"Yes, Francine, |. You have done all
told you to dofi' .g r... ,.
you have not done anything morei"
Pardon me, yes, monsieur. While /
was in the cellar I bottled the cask of
wine"
How many bottles in ALI"
"Two hundred and forty"
GOOD again, my girl; am greatly
pleased with you" QUIZ On .-
Which even a mistress might have been
with 30 exemplary maid of all work.
And to show how well he was pleased,
Bagaudin shook Francine's hand and
wished her good night.
Six months later, Francine, the bonnie,
was bonnie no longer. Some one else
secured andswept and groomed and dust
ed, and Francine gave the orders that once
she had so faithfully followed. NJ. Bag
audin, you see, was as told you level
beaded bachelor-he knew treasure when
be had 1t and the means to retain it-only
the tilbury has become family carriage.
From the French