Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-24
MY MARRIED LIFE
A Gen, of a Maid
By ADELE GARRISON

THE maid whom had liked 90 we'll at
FIRST sight held her single reference out
90 me with pride shining in her eyes. I
took II and drew from the envelope n sheet
Of notcpaper whose appearance betokened
the belongings OF well-bred woman I
unfolded II and read;
THE bearer Of this, Katie slovinsky.
has been In my employ as general house.
keeper for a year She leaves me only be-
cause am compelled 70 go South on nc
count OF illness. She is n good cook. iaun-
dress and general worker. neat, strictly
honest, willing and obliging For n mis-
tress who can understand her temperament
she will make a most valuable maid.
SARAH S. CLARKE.
The Aberdeen, Tuesday, January IL"
I could read between the lines OF this
letter had dealt with many girls oS
Katie's type IN my teaching days / knew
the childish temper. the irritating curiosity.
the petty jealousy. the familiarity which
ono not understanding would deem imperti-
nence. with which would have TO contend
II engaged her. But the two other appi-
cants for my work whom I had seen, the
half-drunken viraRo OF yesterday, and the
grim vision OF today. decided me. would
try this eager girl II her terms were rea-
sonable.
What wages do you wish7"
Twenty-Five dollars n month" Then abe
looked at me shrewdly.
Perhaps. bimeby. IL suit you. you give
me $2s2"
Perhaps" 1 returned noncommittally.
You wish every other Sunday and Thurs
day of, suppose"
"oh, yes, mlssis. II you please, missis."
When can you conner"
She laughed gleefully, displaying a set Of
beautiful white teeth
Right now. this meenit See ! brought
my work dress my apron, my cap. right
here" She lifted n bundle wrapped in
paper. which had seen in her lap. "You
like me to wear cap7 / look nice in cap"
She smiled coquettlshly.
''Of course" I answered. "And I will
give you trial for week. You may
come out into the kitchen now and I will
show you where things are. and tell you
about dinner"
As I preceded her into the kitchen had
sudden qualn I knew picly's fastidious
taste, and that underneath all his good
natured unconventonality he had rigid
Ideas OF his own upon some topics. hap
pened to remember that nothing made him
80 nervous and irritable as bad service in a
restaurant. Ills idea of n good waiter was
n well-trained automaton with no eyes or
ears. How would he like this enthusiastic
irrepresslble girl? It was too late now
however. l was committed to a week of her
service.
A KITCHEN PROMISE
AS we entered tho kitchen, / was again
glad that before / left It the night before
had put everything in order. / had been
tempted to leave II in disorder when Dicky
had made the scene about Jacks letter, but
my natural methodlcal self had trlumphed
over my emotions l would have been twice
humiliated II I had yielded to the impulse
TO leave everything. Dicky had scrutinized
II In the morning when my headache was
80 bad could not arise. and now my new
maid was looking II over critically.
Nice Kitchen" she said smilingly
Yes, and hope you will keep II looking
nice"
Her face clouded a little
'T always keep my kitchen nice" she
said seriously. had read her correctly I
saw that she would be like a child in her
resentment of criticism suggestions
Here are all your cooking utensils" I
said. Her face was a blank as she looked
at me.
Things to cook with" explained. I
might as well get into the vernacular first
as last, reflected grimy.
"Oh yes. misss--what your manner I
forgot what the letter said"
Graham, Mrs. Graham" I replied
please call me that"
'Oh. yes, Missis Graham. find 'em all
You just say. Katie. here kitchen, here
cooking things, here dishes. here dining
room, here meat, veg-e-ta- -bles-dessert to
cook find everything. I fix. II / no
find, ask"