Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-08-29
A BLESSED MORTGAGE

Mrs. MunrOe was In csctaSieS OF ue-
light. She had secured a new cook at
the most ridiculous wages. or course.
she had not told the new girl, but 1t was
quite true that she paid her not half
what she had been compelled to pay
che cook who had just left her. But
when Almira Pollers. fresh. pleasant
featured young country girl, had ap-
piled for the place and had accepted
Mrs. Monroe's offer of 81 a week to
start with. her new mistress did not
&hink II necessary to mention that the
preferred sum was very low indeed.
'Of course. you shall have more as
you improve. Almira. but you know so
little about fancy cooking I scarcely
feel able to pay you more at the start
Mrs. Muuroe had. smiling sweetly on
Almira. who did not know that very lit
Gle fancy cooking was ever done In that
household. And SO Almira took up her
burden. and for the first time In nine
Teen years of her life began to earn
wages.
The Pollers had always been farmers
and owned their own place. but Al
mirn's father had somehow managed
to get behind and mortgage had been
fastened upon the farm. The man who
held the mortgage was very well salts
fled to receive a good interest every
year and renew Peter Pollers' note. but
II came to pass that II was hard to pay
even the interest. This particular year
the crops had mostly failed. 1t lacked
but few weeks until the interest was
due. when Almira. the eldest OF the
fock--there were ten in all-made up
her mind to go out ito service" Her
determination created great commo.
ton In the family. None of the Pollers
women had ever worked out. and the
idea was very distasteful. but Almira
eventually carried the day. Had her
education been thorough enough she
would gladly have taught school, but
the little Pollcrs had appeared ut such
frequent intervals that Almira was oh
llged To stay at home most of tho time
20 assist her mother. and her eluca.
ton was limited.
SO. not without some inward strug'
giles. she had decided that the only way
she could help along would be by OK
ercising her chief gift. cooking. Mrs
Munroe's advertisement in the Week
ly Gazette had caught her eye, aud
she was very happy when she secured
the situation. The wages were moi
large. but she could save all the money
for her father. and there would be ono
less to feed ut home. That counted
for something.
Mrs. Munro's family consisted Of her
self and q brother. Mr.. Monroe hat
died several years before and his wild
ow was quite wealthy. Her home. sit
uated In an aristocratlc suburb or th'
city, although small. was handsome
and well appointed. and she had SUN
Client income to keep 1t up well. Mrs
Munroc liked to call herself economic
al, and we cannot deny she was II
some things. She dressed elegant.
and gave largely to her church, bn
there never was closer woman II
some respects than she. The shop poo
ple dreaded to see her come In. for nj
though she always purchased the best
she Invariably haggled at the price
until she got the goods for less thar
their marked price. At the groceries
Il was the same way, and woe TO TIT
servant who wasted scrap OF any
thing or presumed TO eat more thar
the mistress thought necessary. Afte
the first table Mrs. Munroe removed
any delicacles she considered unneces
sary for q servants coarse appetite
without the slightest conjunction
Her brother Tom, who paid hand
some sum for the privilege OF sharing
her home once saw this performance
and demonstrated with her, but to NJ
avail.
ut would be casting pearls befor,
swine" she remarked TO his intens
disgust. as she replaced dish Of lem
on jelly In the closet and substituted
saucer OF molasses.
Tom Birney was one Of those bi
hearted conviyial fellows who, lef
with more money than they needed
succeeded In getting rid Of 1t In differ
ent and Improbable ways. He wa
not really bad. but he drank goo
bit and never had done anything use
full In his life. He had been put Il
his fathers Office, but he was extreme
ly weak in his arithmetic, and sue
ceeded in mixing up the figures S
badly that 1t took an expert to ur
tangle them. After that his fathe
had not tried 10 make business ma
Of him. but said that as Tom had bee
cut out for a gentleman he should b
one.
But this was exactly what poor Toll
was not cut out 10 be--that Is, II "
agree TO the accepted meaning Of tn
word-a man OF refined manners. II
loved horses and enjoyed the societ
OF horsemen; liked better TO hear
robust German girl sing funny sons
at the garden than 10 hear Patti (
the Grand. II he ever yielded to h
sisters opportunities TO accompan
her TO dancing party he was sure
step on his partners toes, 10 tear the
dresses by his awkwardness, and drin
too much champagne at supper.
fact Tom, although klnd-hearted an
honest, was very Ill at ease and OF
Of place at society, and at last, aft
making himself very conspicuous at
New York dance, his sister vowed 81
would never ask him 10 60 with h,
again. She told him this very empha
ically the morning after the ball,
she left him 10 eat his late breakfa
alone.
Tom was feeling very badly and d
dulglng In q severe case OF "katze
TANNER" the result OF too frequent vi