Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-17
THE GIRL COULDN'T STAND IT
One Housekeepsr and Her Trials With Q
New Servant
One Days Happenings Ending With q
-RevOlt-A Dinner Tabee
Comedy.
Written for The Ev-nlns Star.


Written for The Evening Star.
In answer to an advertisement for Q
waitress. a young girl sho announced her
self fresh" from the country, made her
appearance one morning just as my hus-
band was leaving home to go to his Office.
AS he passed through the door he casually
remarked:
Its a very easy matter to obtain good
servants, Notwithstanding the complaints
of housekeepers to the contrary"
1 was a trifie subdued by this assertion.
not knowing just how much of the observa-
ton was intended for my benefit, but was
comfor'ed by the reflection that, perhaps.
was to have no further cause to bewail the
trials of housekeeping rendered so complex
by the ladies and gentlemen who had ruled
in our kitchen.
Alas. had rejoiced too soon. A telegram
came to the cook soon after to Come at
once" Some one had died, and with that
punctiliousness for which valuable servants
are noted, she would not allow any domes-
tic arrangements to interfere with her at
tendance at every funeral of a friend or q
cousin. to the third and fourth degree
In an hour she was gone, and 1 was left
.
instruct the new girl. Mary. i was pain
fully conscious that the success or failure
of my instructions would rest upon me-
without "eNtenuating circumstances"
My first venture was to call through thu
speaking-tube:
Mary
No response. waited a moment, then. In
louder tones:
Mary"
A quick step was heard on the stairs.
The door opened suddenly. and with q look
of terror Mary appeared
This house is hanted, ma am, somebody's
talkin' in the wall. i don't reckon 1 feel
like I'd want TO stay" said the frightened
girl explained. and soon Quoted heE
fears.
Mary. do you understand doing cham
Der work property
Yes, ma'am, 1 can make beds right
smart, deed can"
/ After giving directions. left her to per-
form her duties, as 1 must perform mine.
in the absence of the cook. and go to mar
ket. when, as 1 was preparing to leave the
house. the doorbell rang with decided en-
phasis. There was no response on the part
| of my new treasure.
| Mary"
| "Yes'm."
| 10 ana answer the doorbell."
Where is 1t at, ma'am?'
| i explained, but with some misgivings a.
to the way in which she might obey my
directions. Soon a voice outside my door
said:
There's a boy says he wants to see You,
ma am; somebody comm"
Tell him to send his message by you 7
am dressing to go out"
My mistress is washin'. an she says ssna
the folks as is comm up by me-"
heard the words distinctly from my
room. and 4 stood aghast, as / thought
what would have been the effect, had that
message been delivered TO a friend.
one of my husbands constituents from
the west and his Drlde were IN the city, and
me verbal message which had been sent
to me in haste Was that IL agreeable they
wo4id uIne with as that evening.
here was a dilemma which must be met,
and, having no time to waste. preparations
were begun at once. 1t was a gay to Dc
remem Dered, and as the dinner hour drew
near 1 was seized by serious misgivings,
warned by the hight OF passing events. that
Mary would prove rather an unsatisfactory
appenda5e IN her attendance at table.
Descending to the dining room TO give cpo
last nnIsnIns touch to the table 1 was sur
prised TO see few celery tops with sickly
green leaves displayed in a vase on the very
center.
Mary, where is the celery?" / asked.
Its on the table. ais good. L put the
long stalks INTO the Stove with the later
parin's. Amt that right, ma'amy' said
: my willing assistant
Uncertain as 10 what future DEVELOPMENTS
might take place, L left the room without
making any reply, except that the shaded
. could be drawn and the gas lighted. Very
5 soon terrible odor filled the house and
hastily descending the stairs. found Mary
waiting in the gathering twilight
Why don't You light the gas as told
You TO do?''
Pointing to the gas fixture. the girl re-
piled:
Il did turn that thing just like you told
me. an 1 am waitin for the light to come. "
The guests have arrived. and all are
seated at the table. The hostess epearedly
gives emphatic looks at the water ever. and
touches her glass in signal. Light dawns
on the maidens bewildered mind She
seizes the pitcher with her strong right
hand and gazes at the lady sitting at the
right of the host a moment then asks:
| do you want some water?'
The visitor. failing to discover that she
is the person addressed, does not reply.
and Mary. thinking she may possibly be- q
trifie deaf. stoops until her lips are Gloss
to the ear of her victim, and shouts:
: Don't you want some water?"
An affirmative is given. and the glass ID
filled with a too apparent gush.
After an interval of silence. such as only
housekeeper can appreciate, the soup ID
removed from the table.
| The new waitress takes her position by
the side OF the host: her arms EXTENDED
STRAIGHT before ner. Dotn nanuS clasplns
the tray. while she intently watches the
disintegratinn Of the turkey. so earnestly al
times that the tray is pushed arainst the
! arm Of the carver as II TO urge him 20 re
newed efforts.
The implement Is dull. and happy
THOUGHT strikes him to rid himself OF that
| prodding tray. and ne asks for the steel
4 puzzled look comes over that ingenious
| face and Mary electrifies her mistress by
saying. where do you keep your steel at
ma'amc'' A smile. which a hastv raising Of
the glass cannot hide Is plainly visible On
the face of the friend from the west, ana z
: flush from the suppressed laughter, which
she cannot conceal, rises to the cheek OF
the visiting lady.
At last the victory Is complete. and the
fowl is ready to be served. Suddenly two
strong. willing hands seize the platter, but
another hand holds Il i'm its place.
| The host. divining her intention by that
intuition and sagacity which has given him
the victory in many legal contest. deter
| mines to become master Of the situation.
| even IL his wife is not mistress.
| In answer to his stern. questioning LOOK
the servant, strong I'm her purpose, still en-
deavors to take the platter from his un-
willing hand.
II am going to pass it round" she says
detiantly.