Year: 1874

WIN llnLD UlRAs


We.w nearly worked to death when
Ellen informed us that she would stay
no longer where all the trundle- bed trash
took to bossin' her round And so,
though assured her would let mother
do the ordering, she gathered up her
dignity and her dry goods and departed.


What was to become of us? Grace
was TO be married in just three weeks,
and such a confusion of silks and mus
lins, purple and fine linen as there was
in the room up stairs, yon never saw,


So much to be doEe in the way of
sewing, to say nothing of the baking for
the wedding supper for Grace had
pretty fine ideas of what she wanted),
and nobody could do it but mother
and l.


"Well. said brother Willie, "Isuppose
it'd be my fate to start out and look for
another girl, though where to go I've
not the remotest idea. This section of
country has been pretty well secured,
and a girl who is not too stuck up to
work out is hard to find"


I" If that's the case, what's the use of
trying" said mamma. 81 guess you
and | can get along, Flora.


"No," said I" you'd be down sick,
and it's bad enough to have Grace leave
lis, without having you kill yourself.


''Im not going to kill myself, said
Grace, quickly; you speak as though
were. But why don't you advertise
for girl %


Capital" exclaimed I, running for
writing materials. "Here goes and I
hastily produced the following:


WANrED.-A girl to do general house
work in private family, in the coun-
try. One who is not too fine to be
"bossed' preferred. Apply at Gazette
office.


Will and papa had quite laugh when
asked them to take the advertisement
to town and make arrangements to bring
the girl (whom / felt sure was in exist
cnce somewhere and would answer) out
to our house MS soon as she called at the
office.


"You'll have the pleasure of seeing
something of your own composition in
the paper, and that'll be all you'll get
for your pains, said papa.


But I had great faith in the success of
my venture. This was Monday; the
paper was issued on Friday, and there
stood my advertisement which | was
sure would bring us perfect Jewel of a
girl.


The next Monday morning mamma
had sick headache, and | while was
busy over the wash tub in the kitchen,
singing Put Me in My Little Bed
(brlng the most lackanassical thing [
could think of, a buggy drove to the
door, andaneatly dressed young lady came
in and informed me that she had seen
our advertisement i'll the paper, and
would like to have the situation if agree
able to us. Her quiet dignity quite
upset me. L was not prepared Tor this.


A tall, slender girl, with a delicate
sea-shell complexion, masses of golden
haIr, and strange to say, large black
eyes, shaded by lashes and brows.
There was an unmistakable air of a lady
about her, and | wondered if L should
ever want or dare to boss her.


l concluded her services would be
agreeable, so showed her to her room.
and Willie and the hired man carried up
her trunk.


In five minutes she came down. at
tired in a neat brown calico dress, with
Il pretty cambric rutiie, and announced
herself as ready to begin operations. |
wondered if those slender white hands
could do anything, but 1 was not long
left in doubt. All that day Louise Hale
and l worked together, now in the
kitchen, now in the dining-room, now
hanging up clothes, and in the afternoon
sewing in the cool north chambers, with
Grace. We talked of nothing but our
work, and though she seemed willing to
do anything that was to be done, she
made no pretensions of being over
anxious to make herself useful. l was
astonish6d at the ease and deftness with
which she turned off the work.


"How do you suppose she could ever
be at such work, " said Willie never
was more taken back than when l saw
D this handsome girl mashing potatoes
when L came home to dinner"
"Well, said Grace, "it's mystery
to me.


r. 81 believe I'd lock my door tonight" :"
said Willie teasingly. He was always
laughing at our cowardice about stran-
gers in the house.


We We're standing at the garden gate,
under the weepinp willow Grace and