Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-06-11
|; A MIXED MENU.
A Story Illustrating an In.
genious Plan For Keep
ing q Servant
By Charlotte W. Eastmans.

| Ses4oss-.oos-.Oo -.Ooi-sooi-sooss0(
1t was a charming little sitting room
In which Mrs. Mason sat sewing dain
ty stitches. Before her stood the serv
ant girl, who, with a stolid stare, an
nounced that she had found place
down town.
"But. Mary. you surely would no
leave me without help" Mrs. Masor
answered.
81 got a place where get tree dol
lar"
81 would give you So, but you agreed
to work for me for $3.50 If I would
teach you to talk and do the work"
81 got anoder place down town.
say l go next week"
Entreaty and persuasion were alike
in vain. 1t all ended with. Il 60 next
week."
One year from this time Mrs. Mason
was a wiser if not a better woman
and when Lena announced, 81 got an
other place down town." she merely
answered, Every WELL" for this was
the third girl that she had trained fol
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 a 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.
T'n not fall down any harder than l
have in my other plans, and believe
can do it"
"All right, I'll back you," he prom
ised encouragingly.
Assured of her husbands co-opera-
ton. Mrs. Mason very willingly agreed
to take Lena's cousin, Christina. who
had 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
a blue stocking Of the deepest dye,
for 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
babys back or the bottom Of the dish
pan were alike available. When the
new Christina appeared. fresh and
rosy and clean. she started at her task
with vigor. Her former experience
taught her the best method Of instruc-
ton, and, taking up one article after
another. she told the names distinctly
and encouraged Christina to repeat 1t
until she was sure Of it
The first performance In the domes-
tic act was to fry potatoes for lunch
con.
"This. Christina" said Mrs. Mason
as she held up the spider, "is a 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
80 Of the commonest utensils in the
kitchen and the dining room were in a
confusion that had no order except in
the fertile brain of Mrs. Mason. But
she had her list we'll memorized, 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 the ia.
BILE when he held up the cracker jar
to Christina and asked for more raisins
was very amusing, he gave his wife un.
stinted admiration for the glib manner
in which she could order 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.
sible for the 't'ree dollar place" down
town. She jabbered in her native
tongue gladly with her friends, and her
English. that chance might call into
use. never intruded on the ground with
which Mrs. Mason had tampered. The
excitement Of her experiment added
quite a little interest to the usually
monotonous work of training green
girl, and Mrs. Mason taught her many
mysteries In salads and soups that she
had heretofore kept as strictly private
knowledge. Christina had reached that
stage in her development when Mrs.
Mason could give an order for dinner
and 60 out for an afternoon with some
assurance that palatable, well served
dinner would await her return. She
knew that the time was near at hand
for the Inevitable announcement, and
80 when Christina said, little more
shyly than some Of the former girls,
my cousin. she got me place where ]
see her every day; the woman. she
say she glad to get girl what you
make; she have your girl anoder time"
Mrs. Mason answered cheerily:
"All right. Christina. you can GO
right along. I'll get along without
girl for awhile, but Mr.. Mason Is going
to bring company home tonight, and ]
want a very nice dinner"
Christina smiled at so willing ar
lcquiescence to her plans and asked,
What get for dinnerw
"We'll have some of that nice oat-
meal cream, cabbage fried cake,
some souped eggs, chicken omelet,
and you may get some Of the best oys-
ter cookies from the pickle. Make
some coffee soup, Christina. and make
the freezer full. / think we'll have
soda pie with It."
Call right. do It," answered Chris
tina willingly. And Mrs. Mason smil-
ed as she thought Of the lady down
town. "Now, madam, you're welcome
to the fruit of my labor"
If she felt the least bit guilty, the
memory Of the many hours of care and
thought that she had given to the
training Of green girls came to appease
her conscience.
81 only wish I could see the other
acts" she said to Mr.. Mason. II ex-
pect to be in the fifth myself, but l
feel shall miss the third and fourth"
Christina reported bright and early
at Mrs. Bender's, eager to prove her