New Britain herald., 1915-12-29
How Madge Tried to Banish Katie's
 Strange Old-World Superstition.

I did not know whether to be angry at Katie or sorry for her, wher she told me that she must leave my service if Dicky's mother came, be- cause she did not dare to sleep in the house with an old woman. Katie evidently knew what she was talking about, but I confessed to my self that I was thoroughly bewildered l l have had many curious experiences with the mental twists of alien girls 1 of Katie's class, but this was some thing new.
 | What do you mean, Katie?" l asked finally. What harm can il possibly do you to sleep in the house 1 with an old woman?" l Katie shuddered visibly. l "Oh, Missis Graham, don't you know old women dem turn into witches, make charms over you. next morning you all dead? I no sleep in get real old"
 Katie you are talking the most ridiculous nonsense" I said sharply, for I was not only annoyed, but alarmed at the gross ignorance and superstition the girl displayed. A 1 person holding such ideas as hers | was really undesirable in ones home. You no tink dot?" Katie Queried anxiously.
 l "Of course not returned. Neither does anybody else who has 1 any common sense. Wherever did you | pick up such foolish ideas?" l Lots of girls and women in my town say SOL Katie returned sullenly. 1 had a sudden inspiration. Listen l to me Katie,'' I said firmly, trying l to choose words which she would understand. "Who were the biggest men in your town, the smartest. the ones the rest of the people tried to be like?"
 Katie looked at me as if she thought I had suddenly gone insane. l why the priest and the doctor l and the"
 1 You don't need to tell me any | more," I interrupted her. "Did your priest or your doctor ever tell you old women turned into witches?" 1 "No-o.' The admission came from 1 her reluctantly. I knew the power of these old-world superstitions and re- l ter for while.
 we will talk more about this later. ! Katie,' I said calmly. Just now I
 
 l the apartment in perfect order SO when Mrs. Graham comes she will 1 think I have had a good little house. 1 keeper"
 l Katie smiled brightly. T feex 500 nice," she said heartily. Wat you l want me to clean first?' What Will DicLy Say? Lets take all the corners and 1j~ 4%c fS.ct, 1 the horror of the average young Eousekeeper for the criticism of an older woman. Take everything off the pantry shelves'-I indicated the tiny closet which was just big enough for our small ice box, with a set of 1 shelves and drawers opposite-"and l everything out of the drawers Then wash and dry the shelves and drawers thoroughly. When you get ready to l put the things back, call me. There may be some things I will want to 1 throw away, or something I need to | tuy"
 l All right, Missis Graham, I feex." | The cheery, familiar phrase fol- l lowed me back to the living room. I sank into my big armchair troubled and bewildered.
 l What I should do without Katie I did not know. She had been with me | c1ly a short time, but she was so efficient, so cheery, so willing that housekeeping had been an easy task with her. I dreaded unutterably either trying the homework myself or breaking in a new maid under the critical eyes of Dicl<y's mother. I wondered what Dicky would say to Katie's defecuon. He had insisted upon my keeping her because she was the model he wished of a picture en- titled Poland" which he had begun years before, when Katie had done the houseworl> for a bachelor apart ment which Dicky shared with three other artists. I knew that Katie looked up to Dicky as to some su- perior being. Perhaps he would be able to reason her out of her super stition. If he came home to lunch l resolved to tell him about Katie's re- solve.
 In the meantime there was much chat must do to prepare for the ad- tiition of Dicky's mother to our house. hold I walked into my bedroom and surveyed it sadly.
 Of course I had not possessed ii lcng enough to become much at- tached to it, but I had enjoyed its pretty appointments immensely, and was shame-facedly conscious of the fact that did not want to give it up to my mother -in-law. However, there was nothing else to be done. so. sitting down in the low rocker beside my bed I began to plan the arrangement o1 my belongings.
 Katie's Very Good Suggestion.
 The bed, of course, would have tC stay where it was. Fortunately, had a good supply of bed linen and dresser scarves. Of course, I could +,Ixo oil tho porSopo1 frOrr