Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1888 — THE HIRED GIRL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE HIRED GIRL.

BY ANNA CERES FRITSCH.

EARKEN now unto my words, oh, ye housewives of America, for verily I say unto you, whereof the heart is full tho tongue speaketli. So ye employ a handmaiden, look ye well unto her ways, for her heart is filled with cunning, and

great is the craftiness thereof. She looketh out for number one, and consulteth her own convenience and rateth it high.

She looketh upon the son of her mistress, and she seeth that he is fair to look upon, and falleth in love with him and inveigleth him into a marriage. And when she hath gotten him safe and sure, she liideth not her exultation, but boasteth of her success, yea, even to his mother boasteth she, saying, “Didn’t I come it slick on you” ? She doeth not with skill that which her hand findeth to do, but worketh much evil. She cooketli ill whatsoever falleth into her clutches, and causeth much, discomfort thereby. Her employer squirmeth about upon his couch during the night watches and moaneth: “Woe is me! For have I not eaten of the pudding which Melindy did construct ? And exeeedeth not the solidity thereof that of the stones in the wall* of Jerusalem?” She leaveth the cellar door open, and the frost of winter entereth thereat and bursteth numerous glass jars of fruit which the careful housewife hath stored away. She sticketh pins into the couch of the hireling who tilleth lmr employer’s acres, and the hireling alighteth thereon and suspecteth the daughters of the tribe; waxing wroth thereut, he packeth h s gripsack and demaadeth his hire of his employer. And his master answereth, saying unto him: “Verily, I say unto thee, the gatherer of taxes hath borne away my shekels; I have naught, get thee hence!” And the hireling hencetli forth to the nearest Justice of the Peace and sueth him. She maketli some doughnuts and suffereth the boiling lard to stand round, and tbe tir.st-born of her mistress falleth into it and sustaineth severe injury. And the village doctor cometli to llie rescue, anoinseth the babe with oil and sendeth his bill to his papa. Thus maketh the handmaiden greatly afraid those whom she servetli, and their roarings are poured out like water.—Chicago Ledger.