The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10


hat the signora says that she herself will
return at 600, and that the signorina must
stay to dinner" which was exactly what
1 had meant 10 say.
People who have lived here for a long
time tell us that the little familiarities of an
Italian servant are not impertinences, but
signs Of the good feeling that prevails be-
tween servants and employers. So when
Margherita has made a particularly salts
factory purchase at market we are not sur
prised when she appears at the drawing
room door, ard, making a courtesy, holds
up raw chicken for our sympathetic ap-
probation. rs he not fat and heavy?
Would the signora only life him? How
young and tender. And is it to be believed
that he cost a franc less than the last one"
But after all why should she not? AS the
signora says the chicken is a matter in
which we are all interested. Why should
we put on senseless stiffness about it?
Margherita, however, has her own tact
and ceremony. When we have as guest for
dinner the sculptor whom she knows and
admires, or the American novelist who talks
Italian perfectly and who rarely fails to
stop for few words with her on the way
to the drawing room she does not hesitate
to recommend n dish, to call attention TO the
Improvement in my Italian or to express
concern at Victor's lack of appetite
PoVerino!" But let her be serving other
American or English friends, she is as
demure and silent as pretty English parlor
maid. Some of Margherita's characteristics
snow strongly when together we go to mar
ket. Her apron, with it's bib and shoulder
straps, is shining white; the frills of her lit
tie cap are at once coquettish and severe.
She does not walk behind me-not She but
by my side; and we have much pleasant
conversation. AT the market her activity
begins. There she has to stand between me.
an amiable person, no doubt but with no
idea OF values, and the rapacious merchant,
who would gladly rob US of our all. l ask
the value of measure of peas. Ten
soldl. only 10 cents L say; how cheap,
and they seem very good and fresh" My
voice is drowned in Margheritas shrill notes.
Ten soldi, indeed! Has he gone mad? She
could get the same or better anywhere for
eight soldi. The merchant protests. His as
sfstants join in with outcries. Her friends,
who are also marketing, flock to her side.
The strife grows loGder and more unin-
telligible. Soon l can only distinguish a
word or two at intervals, but perceive that
Margherita is asserting that we are d noble
and grand American family, and that we
and all our noble and grand American
friends will never come to this place again
unless at this instant we have satisfaction
in the matter of peas. Quite unable to stop
the tumult l stroll on to another stall, and.
looking back, see that at last Margherita
has got all she wanted, and in the insolence
or triumph after the money is paid and the
peas delivered has turned back and sue
cessfully claimed a soup bunch as sort of
lagniappe. Strange to say, the merchant
seems as much pleased as she. They part
with many compliments If L in the mean
while, tempted by the freshness and cheap
ness of things, have closed a purchase .on
my own account she sternly rejects it,
"Caulihower! But have we not enough and
more than enough without caulifoWer?' l
timdly say something about tomorrow
Tomorrow we can get what tomorrow we
need. The caulifower Will then no longer
be fresh. | meekly follow her out of the
market, and when l propose that she shall
go on home alone she looks at me doubsfuIIy
as If wondering whether she can reconcile
1T with her conscience to leave a bleating
lamb in the midst of ravening wolves.
The Italian way of sending the servants
out TO market seems to me very good
thing Every housekeeper has pitied in some
ways the women who work in American
kitchens. They have no time in the open
air and their health and spirits are bound
to suffer. To Margherita and her friends
the little excursion out in the morning is
daily refreshment. They meet their friends
and make new acquaintance. There is
something to think about beside drudgery
OF course If a woman goes straight to mar
ket and doesn't dawdle she hasn't many
minutes for conversation. AS it is Margher-
tia Is happy and contented with these out
ings and chance to go to mass Sunday
morning, and would never dream of asking
for an afternoon off.
MARY JAMESON JUDAH