The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-15
A MIXED MENU.

Ut WAS "a charming little sitting
room in which Mrs. Mason sat
sewing dainty stitches. Before her
Il stood the servant girl who, with a
stolid stare, announced that she
had found a place down town.
But, Mary, you surely would not
leave me without help" Mrs. Mason
answered.
Il got place where l get tree dol
lar"
Il would give you three dollars, but
you agreed to work for me FOR two and
half If l would teach you to talk and
do the work.
Il got anoder place down town say
| go next week"
Entreaty and persuasion were alike
in vain. 1t all ended with, Il go next
week.
one year from this time Mrs. Mason
was a wiser, if not a better woman
and when Lena announced, II got an
other place down town" she merely
answered, very WELL" for this was
the third girl that she had trained for
the woman down town.
When Mr.. Mason came home to din
ner that night, he saw at once that
some shadow had clouded the domestic
heaven; but when his wife had poured
out her tale Of woe, she proceeded to
lay before him plans for her future
campaign. When he had fully caught
her idea he laughed long and loud.
you're mighty smart little wo-
man, Maria, but if you try that game
you'll fall down" he announced, when
she asked for his opinion of her plans
III not fall down any harder than
have in my other plans, and | be-
lieve / can do it,"
"All right, I'll back you" he prom
ised encouragingly.
Assured of her husbands co-opera
tlon' Mrs Mason very willingly agreed
TO take Lenas cousin, Christina, who
mad Just arrived from the fatherland
In the week which intervened before
the advent of the new domestic, one
might have supposed Mrs. Mason to be
blue-stocking of the deepest dye, fol
she carried a pencil stuck in her hair
and stopped to jot down burning
thoughts on whatever was most. con.
venient to rest her notebook upon; the
baby's back or the bottom of the dish.
pan were alike available. When the
new Christina appeared, fresh and rosy
ana clean, she started at her task with
Vigor, Her former experience taught
! her the best method of instruction, and
taking up one article after another she
told the names distinctly, and encour.
aged Christina to repeat IL until she
was sure of it.
The nrst performance in the domes-
tic act was to fry potatoes for lunch
con,
This, Christina" said Mrs. Mason
as she held up the spider, lis kettle
and these are eggs" pointing to the
potatoes. After this the bread and
the meat, the crackers and the raisins
the coffee and the lemons, changed
places, and so of the commonest uten.
sils in the kitchen and dining room
were In a confusion that had no order
| except In the fertile brain of Mrs. Ma
son; but she had her list well memor.
lied, and her mistakes were few. Mr.
Mason gave her enthusiastic support
and though he feared to give an order
to Christina without first consulting
his wife, and his appealing look at tho
table when he held up the cracker iai
to Christina and asked for more raisins
was very amusing, he gave his wife
unstinted admiration for the glib man,
| ner in which she could order a six
pound bread fried rare, or a small
piece of roast beef for the water
pitcher.
Unsuspecting Christina worked hard
| at her part of the game, evidently de.
sirous of fitting herself as soon as pos.