Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-12-24
MARY eLAkE's AWAKENING.
How tho Munsons Lost In Case
Where They Had Thought to Gain.

Where They Had Thought to GAIN
Mary Blake was a domestic In a
family at Oak Park. where she had
lived more years than she had fingers
on both hands. and she was as much
an integral force of that family as the
head of 1t, Mr.. Munson. The one hope
of these good people was that Mary
Blake would never either resign or
die One horn of the dilemma would
have been as serious as the other.
Mary Blake-she was called by her
full name to distinguish her from
Mary Munson, the daughter of the
family-was as much attached to the
people she had lived with SO many
years as 1t is possible for those who
are neither lith nor kin to their en-
ployers. and she was perfectly salts
fed with her place and position. with
no foolish ideas about culture" or
Aspirations" after the unreachable.
She was. however, model domestic, a
cook that would put to shame the
greatest chef in the country with her
well seasoned dishes. an excellent
laundress, and when there was sick
ness a capable nurse. Added to these
rare qualities was honesty and a fairly
good temper. A little stolid, perhaps,
but fond of her own way, which was
such good one that 1t needed no in
reference. This was the aggregate of
Mary Blake's virtues and the Mum
sons depended on her to such an ex-
tent that II really seemed as II any
member of the family could have been
spared with less friction to its running
gear.
one morning-in the 18th year of
! her reign-Mary Blake came to grief
She went out the back way with
pitcher In her hand, walked block or
two on an errand to neighboring
grocery store. and. on returning, fell
on piece of defective sidewalk, where
she lay helpless. dazed and badly hurt.
She was taken to hospital by order
of physician. where a serious dislo-
cation OF the hip was reduced by the
surgeons, and she was laid on white
| cot In a private ward, where the Nun
sons visited her every day and held
themselves responsible for all ex-
penses.
/ 1t troubled them much to see their
/ faithful domestic suffer, but under
their grief lurked the hope that Mary
| Blake was not permanently injured
| but would return to them. and they did
! n In hair tn ma
conyalescence a speedy one.
| Then great scheme entered Mr..
/ Munson's head. He feared that they
had never appreciated the services OF
this excellent domestic. and he nursed
and fondled and metured that scheme
until at the end of six weeks Mary
Blake walked in upon them. She
| looked white ard limped slightly. but
after she had taken off her things and
given one look around the kitchen the
/ girl who had supplied her place said
she was ready to leave. and the cat
retired under the range.
Then Mr.. Munson unfolded his
scheme. He sent for Mary Blake
when seated at the breakfast table
with the family.
How are you feeling now?' he
asked CONSIDERABLY.
I'm all right. sir" she answered
briefly, not being given to many
words.
"oh, no. not all right You limp
little yet"
But it don't hurt bit I'm as
right as I'll ever be-
That's it. Mary" said Mr.. Munson-
you will never again be well: you've
received shock that you will never
get over You will always be lame
and feel the effects of the fall
IF you're meinin' that | can't do my
work or earn my wages just say so an
I'll be leavin' at once't." and Mary
Blake gave her little snort of defiance
that suggested temper.
1T has cost you" continued Mr..
Munson. "all the money you had saved
up for hospital expenses and doctors
-supposing you had to pay it
and was a loss to us of--let me seat
least 50 a day
Am | worth the DheS Oh tIidl!
asked the girl" with look of sur
prise.
"Oh, those are imaginary figures"
said Mr. Munson, who saw he had
made a mistake Now, Mary, / am
lawyer, and l advise you to sue the
town for damages. l will conduct
your case, and there will be no trouble
in getting a snug sum of money that
will keep you in your old age without
working. 1t will be a long time to
then. but the money will draw inter-
est, and it's only fair that you should
have your rights"
Then Mr.. Munson explained that the
town owned that particular piecr of
sidewalk. that it was defective, caus-
ing the fall; that he had secured ser-
eral witnesses who saw her fall. and
that his own family would go into
court and swear to the large bill of
hospital expenses and the value of her
services.
II took Mary Blake long time to
get the idea into her head b 1t once
there it took complete possession of
her, and the discharged gil! had to be
recalled to assist in tie Homework. |
and the kitchen became a scene of
wrangling and discomfort. Mary Blake /
was despotic among her own class of 4