The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-04
Stories of an Inland State.

/
I, Where did they take that grip
e ION a farm answered Jackson, the EN-
, ployment agent.
We'll God help her" said Mary. TN
glad I escaped. farm Is it? Well,
know something about farms. Up with tn,
) sun and down with the moon and no day.
. off. You start in the morning by buildin;
the fire before dawn, milking the cow.
with the first light, getting breakfast a:
soon as you've MIXED, cleaning up tn:
dishes then; then churning; then its moor
and dinners got to get ready and ther
redding up again; and then mending; and
then the old farmer will come in and ash
you TO help man pitch hay into the barn
, Ike as not. Then it's supper, and after
supper its ironing until midnight. Con:
to farm has she? Well that young beauty
will come back with a face on her tina:
will break a looihing-glass. They'll work
her 10 death, and then kick her out In her
rags. ] know what work is on a farm
Jackson smiled and reflected that no en-
ploye on that farm had ever within his
knowledge returned. He did not know
why.
Meanwhile Myrtle Dawn and her en-
ployers had passed out upon The street.
Riggs, the superintendent looked over this
new house-keeper critically and said to her
quietly:
'Tll be frank with you, but your dress
don't suit me. You've got to have some
style. or there'll be a nutiny against you.
Can't you buy ready-made wrappers or
something tasty at the stores?"
II don't know" said Myrtle Dawn.
well III find OUT he said with surprise.
Come along. Here! You fellows. Now
| don't any Of you get lost. Get around TO
the livery stable at five o'clock all of you.
Hear me? Now don't fail. Yes. I'm going
TO keep our present house-keeper. By the
| way, what is your name?"
| Miss Myrtle Dawn"
What a pretty name" the young men
| cried in chorus.
Riggs went into a store with Myrtle
| Dawn and told a saleswoman what he
nanted-some tasteful wrappers and tea
! gowns ready-rnade.
| He remained in the front part OF the store
while Myrtle Dawn was being fitted out
| and when the shopping was completed.
| Riggs paid the bill and made a note of it.
| They passed up the street to a livery es-
| Enlistment. The boys were all there wait
| ing. spanking team had been hitched to
a carry-all, the prettiest vehicle Myrtle
Dawn had ever seen. Riggs took Myrtle
Dawn upon the front seat beside him and
drove himself. This appropriation Of the
new house-keeper drew out tremendous
amount of joval grumbling from the six
young men.
AS he drove out of the town, Riggs, hold
ing stiff rein began long conversation
with Myrtle Dawn IN which she told him
some of her history.
well" he said after hearing 1t. Gust
keep that all to yourself. The other serv-
ants might take advantage of you in many
ways if they knew it. Do you know what
executive ability is?''
NO" said Myrtle Dawn.
"Well it is lording 1t over those who are
under you. Now you're going to be house
keeper out there at Hastings. You will
have five servants under you. Make them
obey you. Always be dignifed and firm"
Myrtle Dawn's heart leaped at the words.
She could be that. she knew
BE above them in everything. Eat at
a separate table and do not mix with them
at all. They won't respect your orders if
you do. You are to see that the silver IS
all there; that the chinaware is not broken;
that the linen is not torn; that the house Is
kept clean; that the coal is used economic |
ally; that the food is good and that moth !
ing is wasted. Now when We get to Hast |
ings, you will go to your room, take off
these buds and hide 'em and put on the !
best wrapper we have bought; fix your |
hair up neatly in a roll on your head and |
not let 1t hang down in braids like that; |
sort of frizz it in front and take that part |
out of the middle; black your shoes. Then |
let your servants see you and do not smile |
at them or be friendly or they'll mutiny."
But what do do?"
That's all. You just boss the house and |
keep an eye on everything"
Myrtle pondered over what he had said. |
riggs himself was studying and at last |
said slowly and lowly:
Now these boys back here. They're all |
nice young gentlemen, but trife frivo-
lous. They'll try all sorts of tricks with |
you. Keep 'em at arms length. Treat |
'em pleasantly, but hold 'em off, Answer
their questions with dignity. They're above
the servants and when they ask anything
reasonable you are to obey them and please
them. When you don't know how 10 act,
come to me. I'm superintendent
do farms have superintendent? asked
Myrtle.
Riggs did not answer at once Finally
he said:
NO, farms don't as a rule. But this farm
has, and II has more than superintendent;
II has president, vice-president, an au.
ditor. treasurer, a secretary, a solicitor
and a superintendent Lord. my child. be-
fore you get through with this farm. you
will see the funniest things that ever NOR
tai man saw on a farm before"'
The man chuckled and then said, as
much to himself as 10 Myrtle:
81 suppose it's wrong. Somebody's be-
ing robbed. But what am I 10 DO? II they
offer me that big salary am l 10 refuse it
try 10 make EN- farm, but / can't.
can't afford 10 throw that salary away and
let somebody else do il. I've tried TO do my |
duty, but il isn't any USE
What shall I 90 this evenirg?" asked
Myrtle.
We'll. after you've rugged yourself up.
you must come down stairs and eat your
supper. The servants will eat at the table
after we are through. While we are eating
you must see that the food IS brought In
quickly and hot and see that the girl who
waits or Us does IL nicely. Just look I'M
portant and tell the girl TO do something
she Is just about 10 do. Now suppose she
goes 10 give me a cup of tea. You see IL
and say Give the gentleman his tea"
Have you had a housekeeper before?
asked Myrtle.
Yes. but she got too familiar with the
servans and they nut;niei and nlobbed her
ard she had TO so. Don't get too free with
The servants, whatever you do
The steady team now nearei a great farm
rouse. This house was a large building and
rev. The great row OF trees which formed
4 long lane leading up 20 II were several
years old. The farm was an old one, from !
appearances and the house had been added
% It or substituted for the original built |
ng in recent gears.
Il had grown quite dark and The lights
shown in many OF the windows.
Riggs held the reins tightly and Myrtle !
~ -. 1 .