New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-20
AN IDEAL SERVANT.

THE ideal servant does exist for have known
and loved her. and her name was Lena Larsen.
We had been without servant nearly three
month"; and were almost IN despair. when night.
after the smallest child had been cuddled into bed
there came a ring al the door bell Another girl"
thought 10 myself. Ito ask how many children
have"
I opened the door. and there stood Lena Larsen
She was nearly six tall and big and strong and
with such frank honest face liked her from that
moment
DO you want a grip" she asked.
Indeed do I said Come IN and let talk It
over"
And we struck e bargain then and there. although
the four children and many Of their friends
were playing in the dining room. Lena came and
for the first month there struggle. She often
asked me afterward did I remember the first
turkey she roasted" how she and I worked
over the oven. mistress and maid the verge OF
tears for the head OF the house liked his turkey
even. deep. mahogany brown like the pasteboard
turkeys IN the confectoner's vlndoW-and this
turkey was very pale, IL was not long before Lena
learned the secret Of the range and became an ex-
pert cook.
When look back on those happy days with my
children realize how much Of that pleasure 1 owe
TO her. The two older boys grew to be college men
college girl, and from a nursery the house was
During those years Of uncertainties it was Lena
who took pains lIiaI ything-the dining room,
10 love us all alike. but the third boy her favor
helped her out when the groceries late by
going errands to the nearest grocery store and il
known that more than one occasion he had
might have it for Easter SUNDAY OF course Lena
had to spend Christmas Ia Arndt-au good Swedas
90 that-but for weeks before she cooked and bal
In the vain hope that she could leave enough
last Us until she returned. And when Lena came
homei
The train from Arndt comes In about 6 o'clock
and were usually at supper when heard her
familiar fOOtstep the gravel walk. Jack always
gave a welcoming bark the head Of the house
always said. Now, don't out there and make "A
time over her-yOu know yOu'Q spoil but one
heard the OF the sentence the mistress
third boy, and until they grew too big the older
boys, one and all rushed out to the kitchen-and I
am not ashamed TO say that ! always drew her
kindly face down to mine and kissed II,
Perhaps she may have had her faults. but I do
not remember them. Sometimes thought she
had too much company, out we remembered how
made birthday cakes and cooked Tor Ediths out
boys and how gently she handled the pretty china!
Dear Lena. hope she has some pretty CHINA OF
her own in far OF Sweden and that her husband
thinks her jewel. and We know she has little chill
d-,D To love her Even when the shadow OF death
darkened the household her work was just a. talth-
fullv done though We knew how heavy her heart
TUos for WAS he her favOrie OF all the children;
had ne not been kind TO her as irdeed he had been
10 every one in his short life? somehow, after she
rtarf--uOre ike a frienG-and relt when Lena
married as 81 the last tie had been broken that
bound US 70 the old, happy days Wnen az the chill
dren were with Us , -,
uarting gifts the nttlest childand when We look
a. them they bring back such host OF memories OF
An that precious life with my ch1furen. MADE possl
HE bv her years Of honest service ana IaitnIuI
srtentshipI And we pray may all good angels bless
her wherever she may De-tne dear LsnAl - -
Hartford, Conn -