People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1894 — Old in Experience. [ARTICLE]

Old in Experience.

It Is a grave little woman who brings home your washing every week. She wears her hair in a childish pigtail, to be sure, and her skiits do not hang much below her knees, but her face is that of quite an elderly person. Yon often wonder what age she is and also what age she considers herself. One morning you find out. She looks a little graver than usual, and comes without your laundry. She delivers herself of this explanation without any pauses: “Please, ma’am, mamma didn’t send your wash ’cause baby’s been took with the measles, and she don’t know but what you’re afraid of the measles. The baby ain’t ever in the room where she washes and the board of health it has sent around a list of things to put in the water you boils your clothes in so’s you can’t catch no disease but still mamma didn’t know whether you’d want ’em or not.” She pauses for a reply. When you have given your orders about your illfated clothing you ask the little woman if she has ever had the measles. “Oh, yes’m, when I was a child I had ’em,” she answers. “How old are you now, Gretchen?” “Ten,” replies Gretchen.—N. Y. World.