Year: 1873




We were nearly worked to death when
Ellen informed us that she would stay
no longer where all the "trundle- bed
trash" took it upon themselves to "bo SIS
her around" So, though assured b er
Pd let mother do the ordering, she gath
cred up Der dry goods and her dignity,
and departed.


What was to become of us? Grace
was to he married in just three weeks,
and such confusion of silks and mus
Inns, laces and flowers, purple and fine
linen as there was in the rooms mp stairs
you never saw.


So much to be done in the way of sew
ing, to say nothing of the baking for the
wedding supper tor Grace had pretty
fine ideas of how she wanted things
done,) and no one to do it all but moth
er and !.


"Well," said brother Willie, 81 sup
pose it'll be my fate to start off in search
ofanother girl, though where to 90, I'vc
not the remotest idea. This section of
the country has been pretty well scour-
ed and a girl who is not too stuck up
to work out is hard to be found"


off this is the case, what is the use of
trying?" said mamma, 81 guess you and
can get along, Flora"


NO." said |, ''you will be down sick,
and it's bad enough TO have Grace 60,
ard leave us, without having you Kill
yourself"


81 am not going to kill myself" said
Grace, quickly, "you speak as though l
were. But why don't you advertise for
a grip


material. "Here goes!" and l hastily
produced the following:


WANTED.-A Girl to general house work in pri-
w vate family in tie country. One who is not to
Onice,


Will and papa had quite laugh when
| asked them TO take the advertisement
to town and make arrangements to bring
the girl (whom | was sure was in exits
tence somewhere, and would answer,)
to our house, as soon as she called at the
Office.


"You'll have the pleasure of seeing
something of your own composition in
the newspaper for your pains, AMI that
is all, you may be sure" said papa.


But had great faith in the success of
my venture. This was Monday; the pa
per was issued on Friday, and there
stood the advertisement that was to
bring us a "perfect jewell for girl"


The next Monday morning, mamma
had sick headache and while was
singing "Put me in my littla bed" (be-
ing the most lackadasical thing | could
think ot) buggy drove to the door,
and neatly dressed young lady came in
and informed me that she had seen our ad-
vertisement in the paper, and would like
the situation, if agreeable to us. Her
quiet dignity quite upset me. l Twas not
prepared for this


A tall slender girl, with pink, sea-
shell complexion, such masses of golden
blonde hair, and, strange tie say, large,
black eyes, shaded by dark lashes and
brows. There was the unmislakable air
Of a lady about her, and l wondered if l
could ever dare to "ooss" her.


concluded her services would be
agreeable, SO showed her to her room
and Will and the hired man carried up
her trunk.


In five or ten minutes she came down
attired in neat dark brown calico dress,
with pretty cambric ruffie in the neck,
and announced herself ready to com
mence operations. | wondered if these
slender white hands could ever do any
thing, but / was not long left in doubt.
All that day Louise Hale and worked
together, now in the kitchen, now hang
ing up the clothes, now in the dining
room, and finally, in afternoon toilets,
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 pretentiOns to being over-anxious to
make herself useful. l was astonished
at the case and deftness to which she
turned off the work.


GLOW do you suppose she ever could
be at such work?" said Willie. 81 never
was more taken back than when l saw
this handsome creature mashing pota-
toes when | came to dinner"


"Well," said Grace, sit is mystery
to me-"


81 believe I'd lock my door to night"
said Will, teasingly. He was always
laughing al our cowardice about stran-
gers in the house.


We We're standing at the gayden gate,
under the weeping willow, Grace and
Willie and |, feeling little sad at the
thought OF being so soon separated.


had been feeling half angry at Leslie
Glare for coming to take away our dar-
ling but to-night, as saw her, in the
pale moonlight looking SO sweet and
pretty, ! should have been more angry
with him if he had not loved her and
wanted to carry her off


turned from her beauty TO go to the
house, and there on the upper piazza
stood the 'hired girl" her arms embra.
cling the pillar. her side face turned to us:
the sweetest smile curled the full red
lips, and she seemed thinking of some
thing very pleasant and amusing. II