Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-10-07
HOW SHE.
| MANAGED


bands cup of black coffee, you really
cannot realize how surprised 1 was
this morning when l found Annabel
at the door, asking for me-"
Who's Annabel?" asked Weaver,
ooh, yes, the maid in the fiat down
stairs"
"Of course. She asked me if 1
would be willing to take her with us
to our new house. She's been dissat-
isfied with Mrs. Barber a long time
and she wants to make the change
anyway, so as to be near her sister.
who lives in one of the suburbs near
where we're going. Now, what do
you think? Shall I take her? OF
course, she's a splendid maid-so kind
to the children and so systematic in
every way in the housework. But if
I take her Mrs. Barber will say"
"Why go into what she will say?"
asked Weaver. If you want the girl,
here's your chance. You'll need an
other girl besides Hilda when we get
into the house,"
Weaver took out his after-dinner
cigar with an air of having closed the
subject for all time.
"But listen, DEAR" said Mrs. Wea-
yer, anxiously II know Mrs. Barber
will say dreadful things of me. Yet
how she can blame me I cannot see.
told her just the other day what I've
always said ever since Mrs. Wear
took our Martha from us, that rather
than stoop to that sort of thieving-
and it is really that would willing
ly do my own work until l could find
some one in proper way. But, she
won't remember that l don't dare
to take Annabel-"
May ask why not?" broke in her
husband. 1.-THE girl is dissatisfied
wants to be nearer her own people
is leaving Mrs. Barber of her own ac-
cord, according to her story. You've
wanted just this chance. Does Mrs.
Barber hire our servants for u.s."
"Annabel is dissatisfed-and she
said they would not give her the
money she wants. She's asked for
more pay and they began to criticise
her work right away. And she said
if would give her what 1 said |
would"
"Ah!" broke in Weaver. $50 you
have talked to Annabel before this?"
"Oh, but nothing about her leaving
Mrs Barber, really" Then Mrs. Wea-
yer hurried on, breathlessly. st just
saw Annabel in the basement the 9TH
er morning. l had run down there to
get Hilda to go for some luncheon
things that had been delayed. Anna
bel and 1 talked only till Hilda came
back. just asked her if she had
sister, you know, or some one who
might like to come to us. l told her
we were moving to new house and
that we should need another maid.
But made it very plain that 1 wasn't
asking for her-that I wouldn't try to
take any ones servant. She asked me
what would pay and of course told
her, And that was absolutely. every
thing we said.
But she told me some things. Do
you know, Mrs. Barber puts in four
full-sized sheets in the wash every
week? told her that we always put
the top sheet at the bottom and saved
sheet on each bed that way. And
then she spoke of those Sunday night
BARRIERS many little affairs-she's al
ways entertaining, you know. | told
her that we loved entertaining, but
that we managed little differently.
For always wait until l owe every
one and then give one big affair and
have it over. We all have much
better time that way, l think, and it
spares the maid. told her the only
small affairs l give are Sunday even
ing suppers. for the few near and
dear friends. And that / always get
them myself, and never keep Hilda
Sunday afternoons or evenings We
talked naturally, and only because
had to wait for Hilda.'
DO you know how much Mrs. Bar
Der pays?" asked her husband, with
a growing smile.
why, yes; Mrs. Barber told me
the other day And Mrs. Barber said
that Annabel saved her dollars every
week on the grocery bill by her care
full management. That's why we can
afford to pay her what / offered her.
So told Annabel that we were NOV
ting Monday and for her to do what
she thought best about coming then
or afterward. told her that / felt
she should give Mrs. Barber two
weeks notice. as l wouldn't have her
angry for worlds"
$50 she's hired?" Weaver's grow
ing smile broke into a laugh SIT will
be interesting to learn what Mrs. Bar
Der will say. Thank goodness, we're
even on Martha now-and also that
we are leaving this neighborhood. The
conscience of woman is weird study,
NV