The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-22
May Burton, a Girl Worth While

ingly declared May. But. papa. you win
be late at your Office: and l must away
to school and ask to be excused"
From the schoolhouse May hurried away
to do the marketing for the evening din-
ner. Then she returned home and hustled
herself till noon putting the guests
chamber to rights and making 1t cheerful
with bouquets on the table and mantel.
In the afternoon she braved the displeas-
ure of the cook by going to the kitchen to
give some orders relative to the evening
meal.
81 must use tact said May to herself
as she approached the formidable one In
her dominion.
As she entered the kitchen she saw
Bridget summing herself on the back steps,
much OF her morning work yet undone.
On hearing her young mistress enter
Bridget looked up as If to say: We'll.
phwat yez comm into my private quarters
ferf
'Oh, Bridge, what do you thlnkf'
cried May, sitting down upon the steps
beside the cook. MY Aunt Anna Is com
ing today and as mamma Is away you'll
have to plan the dinner alone. But I'm
sure you can do it--for who ever saw an
Irish girl who could not do anything II
she once set herself at it7 Papa's awful
y anxious-fcars things will not run
smoothly so It Is for you and me-es-
pecialy you--to show him what we are
capable of doing Now. IL there ever
was anyone with spunk and pluck you've
got BOTH and I'm as sure that you'll do
your best, and surprise us all. as | am
sure that my name is May. What do you
say, Bridgie?"
Now, when May nrst mentioned the
fact that company was coming, Bridget $
displeasure became manifest, but May
WAS too tactful to let her know that her
ugly mood was noticeable. Instead, she
had talked on In n confidential way,
gently touching Bridget's vanity, namely.
her "spunk and pluck" which Bridget
was forever Dragging about having a
large amount of. So, when she ended by
asking Bridget's opinion of her own
capabilities the Irish maid smiled In a
sanguine way aud answered: Fer yer
own purity soike, Miss May. I'll do
me best To have dinner worth me repu-
tation, which. bedad. was nothin' small
In the Aud Country. Why, do yez
know, 1t used TO be said of me that
phwat liver | took II into me head to do
| done 1t perfect. An us you amt one
OF Thin stuckups. what's too good to
see the virtues of "A poor sarvant loikc
meself thin. bedad, It's Bridget phwat'll
stand on her rid head TO please you II
need be"
'"rhere'll be no need of that, Bridgie,"
laughed May. And know you'll do your
level best In everything. not only to
please me, but TO show Aunt Anna what
Il wonderful cook You are. And when
mamma comes home I'll have something
to whisper in her ear about plucky.
spunky Bridget"
"och, go on wild yez,' cried the cook,
good-naturediy primping up and shaking
a warning finger toward May, who Joined
in the laugh. Now wen. ON Bridget,
"ef yer aunt's comm this afternoon
we've no time to be foolin', we mint.
Come-you git a two-cent move on yez.
Miss May, an go an order everything
you want fixed from the market. 'Spose
we have roast duck fer dinner, Ell? You
mind how l can cook em with sage
dressiu', don't yex?''
May declared that roast duck 1t should
be, aud as she left the kitchen she felt
that everything would 20 nicely. now
thar Bridget had shown her willingness
To cook fowl, FOR usually the mere men,
ton OF one caused her ire. Il hates the
soight " a bird--big or little. | even
hate the soight Nv feathers" was one OF
her expressions when her mistress In
sisted ON u fowl for dinner.
Poor Bridget" soliloquized May, as
she went about her work setting the din
ner-table. After all, she Is no more fool
ish than the rest of us We are all fond
of little extra notice, a little praise
which might really be called fiattery-.o
satisfy our vanity. And since | have
shown her that plant my faith In her