Morris tribune., 1901-05-04
A MIXED MENU.
A Story Illustrating an In
genious Plan For Keep.
ing a Servant
By Charlotte W. Eastmans.

3O4~s@es1I0Os-seosia sssOS
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 not
leave me without help" Mrs. Mason
Eanswered.
81 got place where 1 get tree dol
lar"
Il would give you So, but you agreed
to work for me for $3.50 If would
teach you to talk and do the work.
81 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 better woman,
and when Lena announced, II got an
other place down town." she merely
answered, Every WE'LL" 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 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.
"Tll not fall down any harder than
have in my other plans, and l believe
I 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 interviewed 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
baby's 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 it
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, sis 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 well 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-
;tinted admiration for the glib manner
n which she could order six pound
bread, fried rare, or a small piece Of
'oast beef for the water pitcher.
Unsuspecting Christina worked hard
1t her part of the game, evidently de
'irous Of fitting herself as soon as pos
,ible for the "t'ree dollar place" down
own. She tabbered In her native
ongue gladly with her friends, and her
English that chance might call into
Use. never intruded on the ground with
which Mrs. Mason had tempered. The {
excitement of her experiment added
quite little interest to the usually
nonotonous work Of training a green !
,irl, and Mrs. Mason taught her many I
mysteries in salads and soups that she |
lad heretofore kept as strictly private s
Christina had reached that Z
tage in her development when Mrs.
Jason could give an order for dinner
nd go out for an afternoon with some
ssurance that palatable. well served l
inner would await her return. She
new that the time was near at hand I
or the inevitable announcement, and G
o when Christina said, little more c
hyly than some of the former girls, a
My cousin. she got me place where l a
ee her every day; the woman, she s
ay she glad to get girl what you f
rake; she have your girl anoder time" ]
[rs. Mason answered cheerily: b
"All right, Christina, you can go r
ght along I'll get along without a S
i'll for awhile, but Mr.. Mason is going Il
, bring company home tonight, and /
ant very nice dinner" u
Christina fcmiIod of 60 xviIlinoy an | n