The suburban citizen., 1902-02-08

W
light in the new arrival
from County Kerry. She was a mere
slip of a thing, with eyes like patches
Of blue sky let into her pale face, and
after each frightened upward glance
she dropped the black fringed lids has
tily in the vain effort to force back the
homesick tears.
Rigidly erect she sat upon the edge
of a kitchen chair, her nervous fingers
clutching the handle Of a shiny, old
fashioned valise, her soft curves and
fresh, peasant beauty furnishing a
striking contrast to her aunts sharp
angles and STOPPING figure.
Nora herself was not handsome, but
we had long since forgotten to com
ment upon her pecularities Of person
We only remembered that she was
honest, devoted and in the language
of much-tried housekeopers, "A treas
ure."
l had more than once heard from
Nora's garrulous tongue the niccc's
history, and knew that she had fur
America. I had promised 10 employ
Bridget as nurse maid. much to the
| satisfaction of Nora who wished TO
/ have her under her own careful guar
| dianship. Having come late in life
to this country Nora had never adapt
ed herself to new conditions, as other
girls of her class usually do She had
no followers, few guests and seldom
went out except to church. The intro
duction of this new element from an
old environment was like n burst Of
sunshine in her lonely life
The maternal instinct lies dormant
In the breasts OF all women. and the
advent of Bridget seemed to awaken it
| in Nora. She was like q child with a
new doll, and with her joy was min
! gled a delightful sense OF her own re-
sponsibilities.
The first thing to be considered was
Bridget's wardrobe. Nora was anx-
iOus to exhibit her new acquisition to
! her few old-country acquaintances. and
before doing so wished TO make her
presentable according to New World
! standards.
she's the look O. one lately come
over, hasn't she, mem? Old-fashloned
but dacint, anyhow. My sisters not
one to see her childer goin' ragged.
It's a sailor hat I'm thinkin' to get her.
an a nate an tasty jacket, don't ye
thinkY she said.
And when the two sailed forth to
| church on the Sunday following It
could not be denied that Nora's pretty
niece well became generous outlay.
/ As for Nora her face shone with hon
est pride.
After the first few weeks Of homesick
! depression from which Bridget suf.
fered, she began to revive and to take
a keen interest in her surroundings
She was extremely quick and bright
and adjusted herself to new conditions
with the facility so characteristic of
youth.
When l found her one morHing in
animated conversation with the police
man, while the baby tumbled up and
down the front steps unattended. / felt
that Bridget had become successfully
Americanized. Her cool impertinence
when | reproved her for negligence
showed her an apt scholar OF the as
sociates she had found.
Nora's satisfaction at Bridget's nres-
ence in the family was so keen that we
all felt anxious to be suited with our
new nurse maid, but as time went on |
found it more and more difficult to re-
gard her with Nora's fond enthusiasm.
1t was quite evident that my cooks
steadiness had not descended in this
Instance to the second generation.
At first Nora watched Bridget with
/ persistent solicitudc. She directed her
incOmings and Outgoings, her uprisings
and downsittings with an authority
which admitted Of no appeal 1t soon
became apparent however. that Bird
get had will Of her own. and its man.
! ifestations, at first uncertain and oc.
casional, soon became so pronounced
and were such a source OF astonlsh.
ment to Nora, that the situation might
have been amusing If Bridgets bad
temper ana Incompetence had not been
the source OF constantly increasing an.
noyance in our domestic economy.
She was frivolous, extrayagant. idle
and thoroughly irresponsibIe and. ex.
cept when she wished TO make her aunt
serve some selfish purpose, she treated
Nora with an exasperating contempt
Yet her companionship Was the only
source Of inspiration for Nora, who
was slow 10 recognize that the Sir
was gradually slipping from her low
ing grasp. As lapses became more IRE
quent so increased the loyalty will
which Nora defended them.
Sure, yen not be afther bein' toe
hard on the poor thing" she wheedlct
me, with the familiarity born Of Ions
! service, when Bridget failed 10 return