The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-29
LAST DAY IN THE YEAR
CHAPTER ]

Ali 1t is a pity to be maid servant
The well is unfathomly deep to get wa
ter, and when standing on the north side
of the kitchen the fierce wind blows IL
from the cracks of the doors. piercing
ones hands aid face, and making one
SILVER with severe cold in the dead OF
winter.
when that old woman brought me
here" the girl murmured, ''she said
There were six children in the family
beside the masters, but two Of them are
not at home The mistress has some
what changeable temper, but if you once
understand her disposition it is very easy
TO fatter her. and she may give you some
nice presents when she is in good hui
NOR They are the richest people around
here and are notorious for their stingi-
ness But the master of the house is q
very good, kind-hearted man, go you may
receive some compensation in time. How
ever. if you don't desire TO remain here,
lust send me postal card, and l will
find you a better place. Anyway, you
must learn their weak points and work
them out for your own benefit. What a
dreadful old woman to teach me with
those unkind words! Yet if 1 am only
true to my master l am not at all afraid
to have a hard mistress
1t was cold, cold morning when the
mistress called out loudly from her bed
room that the hot bath must be prepared
early in the morning, for a young daugh-
ter was to attend dancing party In the
afternoon, and must take bath, as she
needs a careful toilet.
Hastily she obeyed and began her task
on that cold morning When she stood by
the well the last shade Of the moon fell
on the frozen ground and the keen wind
made her wide awake from her half
dreamy mind. Now she must fill the bath
tub. at least twenty bucketfuIs. She did
her work very fast and became wet with
perspiration Just then she slipped and
fell and, alas, the bucket was broken
into pieces when il struck the ground
Not only a severe cut on her snow white
leg we're the result of the mishap, but
she was harshly scolded by her mistress,
as If all her property were being de-
stroyed; and all that day she was looked
upo nvery sharply in her every move
ment and not a word was exchanged be-
tween her and her mistress. From the
next day she was told over and over
again that even a little thing was not
made without costing some money, so If
she was so careless she would receive
punishment from heaven.
She felt so ashamed when her fault was
told TO everybody who happened TO call
on that day. After that she took special
care in everything.
III 20
Der Of servants who came in and out OF
this house; it was a common thing to see
two or three changes in a month; but.
strange to say, this maid, whose name is
Mine, made up her mind to stay and
serve
She served so faithfully. though she had
many sad hours and the neighbors used
to say that If her mistress would treat
this gentle and faithful girl cruelty, heav-
en- would surely punish her. and no more
good servants would come; while young
men said that hIine was too pretty to be
a servant; and, indeed, it was painful to
see her work in the kitchen and do rough
work with those soft, white hands
Early in the autumn, Mines only uncle
became very sick. Poor man, He was
a green grocery. but now he was obliged
to retire to a humble cot in the rear of
the shop
As he was so very sick in bed, Mine
desired to visit him; but she was like a
bird in a cage She had already asked
for her wages before they were due, so
she was considered like a slave by her
hard mistress, who gave her not minute
TO leave her work. When she was sent
out on an Grand even her steps were
counted. And If she lost any time, you
can imagine what the result wasi
She wrote to her uncle comforting
words and encouraged him. telling him
that she would visit him before long.
/ nevery country the month Of eDcem-
Der is the busiest time in the year. yet it
was the custom in this family to go and
see the theater on a certain day. partly to
display their opulence to others; and,
moreover. as this was such a rare event.
even a servant was allowed to accompany
them Now. the girls were all excited
over the coming pleasures. As for Mine,
she was so anxious to go and see her
uncle that she said timidly that she would
he very thankful To be excused fro mtho
party and TO be allowed to go and visit
her sick relative.
Very fortunately. her petition was
granted, and she was so happy that she
could go on the next day. When the day
came she left the house hastily and turn
ed toward her uncle's home, though the
angry words of her mistress. Come back
as soon as you can" were ringing in her
ears. She got into a jinrikisha. but the
runcr seemed to move very slowly. and
the distance to her uncle's seemed so very
great. 1t was very sweet to think that
her por uncle lived in Hatsu-ne-Cho,
which means the first note of a singing
bird mightingale) yet it was really one
Of the very poor streets and the poorest
people lived there
Her uncle. Honest Yoshibei." as he
was called because Of his honest dealing. /
was favored with many customers. 4
Though he could not afford expensive I
vegetables. vet he was known as an hon (
est and faithful man. and when in good
health he was able to support his fam
Ky. He sent his boy eight years OF age.
to a FIVE rim school-bed. At first il SEEM
ed 10 he a very slight Illness. but when
Niire went TO visit him he had been con-