Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1917 — Useful Mary [ARTICLE]

Useful Mary

It vvjas an alluring advertisement, In the first place. The Josslyn.s could hardly be blamed for going down to look at the house. It is true Mrs. Josslynsaid something about the remoteness of* the suburb, a 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. Starker was the agent for the property and resided in Cedarhurst. He took them around to the “ideal home” and showed them its points. It had points, that was 'undeniable. It had a few drawbacks, also, but Barker made light of them. •q like the house,” said Mrs.'Josslyn, “but it’s too large for me to manage alone'/and I know we could never get satisfactory help out here.”

“My dear madam,” said Barker, “you never made a greater mistake in your life. I know myself of a girl whom-1 think —in fact, I am sureyou can get. I can recommend her personally, because at one time she worked for Mrs. Barker. A goodjcook, steady, no young fellows trailing about, strong as a horse, neat Us a pin and not a lazy hair in her betid. If she's out of a place now I’ll send her to you afid if she isn’t-I'll send you another equally as good.”" . Mrs. Josslyn .wavered -visibly and Josslyn asked a few questions that looked like business. It ended by their saying they would think the matter over and let Barker know within a few days. ' 1 The next evening a young woman, who said she came from Mr. Barker, appeared at the Josslyn flat. She had heard from Mr. Barker that Mrs. Josslyn intended moving to Cedarhurst, and Mr. Barker thought she might get a place with her.,_ She had just left the place she had with Mrs. Duckworth. Mrs. - Duckworth was a nice lady, blit the children were an objection. She could refer Mrs. Josslyn to Mrs. Duckworth, however, with entire confidence. i

She certainly looked* as if she could. If ever capability was written on a girl’s face, it was written on Mary’s face. Mary was her name. She was frankly anxious to get the situation. “I'll come home early tomorrow and we’ll go close the deal,” said Josslyn, decidedly. “Think of that girl working for four dollars a 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 execellence. 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 slovenly, incompetent and expensive girls which has continued in the Josslyn family- to~this~da.v. Mrs. Josslyn Says that unless you' are millionaires you simply cannot get a good girl to stay In Cedarhurst. But Mary is still working in Cedarhurst. Mrs. Josslyn called upon the people Who had just moved in half a block West of her about a week after her bereavement. and found Mary there. The new neighbor said Mary was a treasure. 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 * i t when he returned home and Josslyn happened to meet Duckworth the same day. He said : “We never asked you about Mary, who worked for you. What sort of a reference did you get with her and how long did she w’ork for you?” “We had the best of a reference from Barker,” grinned Duckworth. “We had. the luck to keep her--‘two months, but the renting season Was dull just then. She’s a daisy, ain’t she ? But I 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— “Well,” he says, “you’ll see.”