The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

stead of going to the doctors turned about in my tracks and took the car up town.
 Fortunately, I found the lady at home and in good humor She told me in the most cordial manner that she liked my work in opening her house so much thal she not only wanted to engage me to close it at that time but also to open IL when she was ready to come back nome
 "She noticed my paleness and on learn ing that my bedroom was small ana not particularly well ventilated she told me that she was perfectly willing that l should sleep in her house while doing the work, or if I felt inclined, might remain there all summer. She said she had had the best reports as to my honesty and soberness from the exchange and was willing to trust me.
 T gave ny two weeks notice ana maoe all arrangements to leave the poafolns house when l received 3 message rom the lady saying that she had decloea 10 wait two weeks longer before sailing. While 1 didn't like the idea of being out of work two weeks, still I determined to make the best of 1t. I went back to my old boarding house prepared to take short rest.
 q had hardly got in the door when a message came for me to come at once. No not to a lady, but to friend who was leaving the city. Of course l went.
 Such a house! Five servants gone off on a strike. The mistress was so oas- gusted that she had determined 10 paek up and get out of the city without even trying to replace them. My nrst task there was to pack and get the famliy OH hefore attempting to close up the house.
 T a,,fe l,a1 houses I had cards printed, stating that l was prepared to close and open residences at the rate of $5 a day, that rate including an eight-hour days work Of mysel1 ana one woman helper. I gave these two ladies as references and, of course, my address being in the home of one of them people knew that I was at least honest.
 "I didn't meet with much success that summer, but between the first of Septem- Der and the middle of December l opened seven houses. The spring following this number was more than doubled ana l was so encouraged that in August rent ed and furnished myself a flat just large enough for me and one general house. keeper
 At first I paid my helper from dollar to dollar and a half a day and her food. After renting my flat l was able to get the same woman as general worker for s20 a month When I am called on to do house in a hurry l call in more help and charge accordingly. q have found out that If work is well done in the city people didn't object to paving a good price for it. never skimp my work, and I never skimp my charges. My patrons are all people of comfortable incomes though none of them belong to the very rich.
 "It is cheaper and more convenient for them to have some reliable person here in town whom they can call on than it is for them to send down one of their servants from their country place. An other point is that I am here and in case anything appears to be wrong in the house the special watchman reports to me instead of sending the owners an alarm ing telegram.
 Still another point in my favor Is that I am supposed to have taste Besides knowing how to repair and arrange neat ly can do it tastefully.
 When people have been away 1t counts for something to be able to walk into their house and find everything in it's right place, even to fresh flowers and the dining table set for the next meal. On some occasions that next meal has been prepared by my helper
 When the family do not bring their cook along with them and are too tired to go to a restaurant, they appreciate being able to have their meal in their own home and without extra trouble. Does my helper complain at such work outside my own flat? Never as yet. She knows she is sure of a generous fee, and often several presents besides.
 December and August are my two slack months. The other ten months am kept fairly busy. It usually requires from five to ten days uo close up house. That means leaving everything as it should be, without so much as a speck of dirt
 "To open such a house takes from one to three days, so always count on work