The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-30

approval of his new niece, and IL re.
quired all Nancy's hearty affection for
the newcomer to preserve her from the
stings Of jealousy.
II don't see," said Uncle Peter, 'why
Nancy can't earn money like you do"
SLOW much do you pay herp" asked
Mamie. lifting her eyes to his face.
me? Pay Nancy9 Why, her board
and clothes, to be sure. It's all she's |
worth"
"And what does she do?"
"Just odd turns about the house
She did poster me for an allowance
once, but soon laid 1t down to her
that / want goin' to hev no such non.
sense"
"Ohl" said Mamie.
Never In her life had Nancy Norton
friend before, and It was an indie.
scribable relief to pour out her troubles
in Nannie's ear
"It's q shame!" cried warm-hearted
Mamie. "Why, you do tho work OF
three women in this house. You rise
early and lie down late; you have no
recreations, no holidays, and Sundays
you work harder than ever, because
Uncle Peter likes to invite people here
for their mornings to see how nice he
has things Oh, you needn't think that
I'm blind You are pale and thin, be-
cause you are overworked. You don't
like to go anywhere, because Uncle
Peter won't give you any new clothes
until you have worn out Aunt Hepsy's
old wardrobe. It's an imposition, that's
what it is, and wouldn't submit to it
If were yon."
But" sighed Nancy, "what can I
doP"
"Tell him once again how matters
stand!" cried Mamie, her lovely eyes
flashing. "1nsist upon fair wages for
fair work.
Thus instigated, Nancy made her
plea, but Uncle Peters brow grew
dark.
II don't want to hear no such non-
sense as this" he roared. Wages!
Amt you got your home, and board and
clothes? What else dye want? Why,
never heard such talk in my life!''
els it yes or no?" persisted Nancy.
Its no-o-ol' thundered Uncle Peter.
That same evening Mamie incidental
ly alluded to the fact that they would all
rise betimes the next morning, for she
was going to give them their break
fast, and hadn't much time before
school hours began.
"Why, where's Nancy?" asked Hiram.
"Oh, didn't you know? She's gone"
Uncle Peter dropped the gate pin he
was whiting; Hiram let the two days.
old copy of the Wakefield Eagle slip to
the floor; Noah stared with wide open
mouth.
"She wants to make living for her.
SELF" serenely added Nannie-''to earn
J little money. Every girl wants that,
you know"
"Humph!' growled Uncle Peter. "rd
like to see her make money! Why, she
never had no more gumption than a
katydid! She'll be back quick enough,
you'll find'
But in the meantime" !" said Mamie,
cool]y, -'you must look around for
some one to fill her place, for, as you
can easily imagine, Il have got my hands
full"
II guess that's easy done," said Uncle
Peter, beginning to whittle afresh.
But to his infinite amazement, it was
not so easy % task as he had fancied,
and, after many vain efforts and sting.
ing disappointments, he found himself
with two wasteful, complaining, inefi-
cient hiredgirls in possession, for every
one had resolutely refused to do ths
work alone.
"It was too much," they averred,
"for one.''
"It'll rnin ne-it'll clean ruin me!''
groancd Uncle Peter, wringing his
hands, "'nen dollars month for one
and eight for tother-and every Thurs
day afternoon and every Sunday even
O. bread in the pigs pail, and my best
towels, not three years old, took for
cleanin' clothes, and a broom week
stumped through; an they don't wash
unless get 'em IL new patent wringer,
an the fat scraps all throwed away, an
nothln' half took care of! Don't you
know anyone could get, Mamie, as
would look arter things as Nancy used
to do? I'declare to goodness l can't
live so!''
Mamie knit her brows and reflected.
''There's young woman working
for father said she-''a capital house
keeper and the best economist in the
world-at least, SO he says. And since
my married sister is coming back from
Nebraska next week, he may be able
to dispense with her. But she has ff-
teen dollars a MONTH"
Its wuth it--its wuth It'll" breath
lessly cried Uncle Peter. 'I'll go to
Bridgeport and see Brother Sam at
once and secure her. This hired gal
business will be the death of me!''
Brother Sam was sitting on his porch
reading the newspaper, as Mr.. Norton
came up.
"Yes," said he, ''she's a smart gal
The best gal ever had. Thorough.
going New Highlander. P'raps you
may be able to get her-though
doubt if she'll come to you for fifteen
dollars q MONTH"
''I'll make it eighteen" gasped Uncle
Peter, ''since you say she's New
Highlander"
= "Well, you can try" said Brother
Sam. ''Here she isl"
de flung open the door of the kitchen,
and there, making blackberry short
cake at the.whitely-scoured table, stood
/ his own niece, Nancy Norton!
"Why-it's-Nancy!'' cried he.
Eyes" nodded Brother Sam, "Nancy
it is! The best, smartest creetur that
, ever stepped, and worth her weight in