Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-03-22
Useful Mary


hardly be blamed for going down TO
look at the house. 1t is true Mrs. Joss
Ign said something about the remote
ness of the suburb, circumstance to
which she afterwards alluded.
AT all events it will do no harm to
see it," said Josslin.
Mrs. Josslyn agreed to this.
So they called upon the urbane and
eloquent Barker. Barker was the
agent for the property AID resided In
Cedarhurst. He took them around to
the ideal home and showed them its
points. 1t had points, that was unde-
niable. 1t had few drawbacks, also,
but Barker made light of them.
Il like the house." said Mrs. Josslyn,
"but it's too large for me to manage
alone, and l know we could never get
satisfactory help out here
MY dear madam" said Barker. You
never made greater mistake in
your life. know myself of girl
whom / think-in fact, / am sure
you can get. can recommend her
personally because ut one time she
worked for Mrs. Barker A good cook,
steady, no young fellows trailing about,
strong as horse, neat as pin and not
lazy hair in her head. If she's out
of place now I'll send her to you and
If she isn't I'll send you another equal
ly as good"
Mrs. Josslyn wavered visibly and
Josslyn asked a few questions that
looked like business. Ii ended by their
saying they would think the matter
over and let Barker know within a
few days.
The next evening n young woman,
who said she came from Mr. Barker,
appeared at the Josslyn fiat. She had
heard from Mr.. Barker that Mrs. Joss
Ign intended moving to Cedarhurst,
and Mr.. Barker thought she might get
place with her. She had just left
the place she had with Mrs. Duck
worth. Mrs. Duckworth was nice
ton. She could refer Mrs. Josslyn to
Mrs. Duckworth. however, with entire
confidence.
She certainly looked as If she could.
II ever capability was written on a
girls face, 1t was written on Mary's
face. Mary was her name. She was
frankly anxious to get the situation.
"Fll come home early tomorrow and
wen go close the deal" said Josslyn,
decidedly. "Think of that girl working
for four dollars week when we're
paying six dollars to this thing we've
got"
Two weeks later the Josslyns were
established in their new home with
Mary. And Mary was indeed "a
peach" If one is to accept that fruit
as a synonym for excellence. She
was a domestic treasure. She cooked
to perfection and the house fairly
shone under her soapy ministrations.
Six weeks of this bliss-and then
Mary quit.
Then began the succession of SLOW
emily, incompetent and expensive girls
which has continued in the Josslyn
family to this day. Mrs. Josslyn says
that unless you are millionaires you
simply cannot get good girl to stay
In Cedarhurst. But Mary Is still work.
ing in Cedarhurst.
Mrs. Josslyn called upon the people
who had just moved in half block
west of her about week after her be-
reavement, and found Mary there. The
new neighbor said Mary was treas
ure. She really did not know what she
would do without her. Mr.. Barker,
who had rented their house to them,
had been kind enough to recommend
the girl
Mrs. Josslyn told her husband about
1t when he returned home and Josslyn
happened to meet Duckworth the same
day. He said: 1--WE never asked you
about Mary, who worked for you.
What sort of reference did you get
with her and how long did she work
for you"
eve had the best of a reference
from Barker" grinned Duckworth.
eve had the luck to keep her two
months, but the renting season was
dull just then. She's a daisy, amt
she? But / guess Barker's about the
only one who can get her to work
steadily. He pays her well, though"
Josslyn is not a revengeful man, but
If ever Barker is delivered into his
hands sfyNa1 no cayo avoI,,Ir coo