The Somerset reporter., 1894-01-25

1
but soon laid II down to her that
want goin' to hey no such nonsense
oh" said Mamie.
Never in her life had Nancy Norton
had genuine sympathetic woman friend
before, and ii was an understandable re-
| Ii to pour out her troubles in Mamie :
| ear.
Its shame" cried warm-hcarted
Mamie. "Why, you do the work OF
three women in this house. \ on rise
early and lie down late you have no re-
creations, 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, because you are
overworked You don't like to go any
here, because | 'ncle Peter won't give
YOU any new clothes until you have worn
out Aunt Hepsy's old wardrobe. Its an
imposition, that's what it is, aud |
wouldn't submit to it if were YOU
But" sighed Nancy. "What can |
do?"
"rell him once again how matters
stand" cried Mamie, her lovely eyes
flashing. "lusiSt upon fair wages for
fair work"
Thus instigatcd. Nancy made her plea.
but Uncle Peters brow grew dark.
II don't want to hear no such nom
sense as this, he roared. Wages Amt
you ct your home, and board and
clothes: What else dye want Why,
never heard such talk in my life,
'Is it YES or no;" persisted Nancy.
Its no-o-o," Numbered Uncle Peter
That same evening Mamie incidental
" allu ed to the fact that they would
all rise be-timcs the next mtraing, for
She was going to get 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 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 vide open
mouth.
"She wants to make living for her
self" serenely added Mamie ITO earn II
little money Every girl wants that,
you know"
"Humph,' growled Uncle Peter. I'D
like to see her make money. Why, she
never had no more gumption than katy
did She'll be back quick enough, you II
find
but in the mean time said Mamie,
coolly, lyon must look around for some
one TO fill her place, for, as you can east
ly imagine, have got my hands full
81 guess that's easy done, said Uncle
Peter. beginning to white afresh
But to his infinite amazement, it was
not so easy a task as he had fanced, and
after many vain efforts and singing dis
appointments, he found himself with two
wasteful, complaining. inefficient hired
girls in possession, for every one had re-
solutely refused to do the work alone.
alt was too much," they averred, for
one
"It'l ruin me--it'll clean ruin me-"
groaned Uncle Peter, wringing his hands.
''ren dollars Il month for one and eight
for t'other-and every Thursday after
noon and every unday evening out.
And look at them half slices o'brcad in
the pigs pail, aud my best towels, not
three years old, took for cleanin' cloths,
and "A broom week stumped through;
an they don't wash unless | get 'em II
new patent wringer, and the fat scraps
all throwcd away, an nothin' half took
care of. Don't you know of any one
could get, Mamie rs would look arter
things as Nancy used to do; declare
to goodness can't live So
Mamie knit her brows and reflected.
"rheres young woman working for
father,n said shea capital housekeep-
er and the best economist in The world
at least, so he says. And since my mar
red sister is coming back from Nebraska
next week, he may be able to dispe. Sc
with her. But she has fifteen dollars Il
month";
"lt's with tits with it," breath
lcssly cried Uncle Peter. "Ill 20 to
bridgeport and see Brother Sam at once,
hnd secure her. Ibis hired gal business
will be the death of me-
Brother Sam was sitting on his porch
reading the newspaper, AS MIR. Norton
came up.
"Ies, - said he, "she's a smart gal.
The best gal ever had. Thorough GO
ing New Highlander. Praps you may be
able to get her-though doubt if she'll
come to you for fifteen dollars month"
"fll make it eighteen gasped Uncle
Peter, "since you say shes Il New Eng
lander"
swell, you can try said Brother Sam.
"IIere she is
He flung open the door of the kitchen,
and there, making IA blackberry short
cake at the Whitley secured tablt, stood
his niece, Nancy Norton,
Why-its-Nancy cried he
"ies,' nodded Brother sam. "Nancy
it is The best, smarteSt creetur that
ever stepped, and worth her weight in
gold"
Uncle Peter swallowed something like
a lump in his throat.
Nancy" said he, "will you come
back'-here he swallowed second lump
ITO me for eighteen dollars month?
For do verify b'lieve you will earn it"
Nancy went up to him and kissed him.
"les, Uncle Peter" said she, "fll
come back"
For the old man had learned ii lesson,
aud his teachers had been Nancy Norton
and Brother Sans daughtcr.- Saturday
Night.