Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1886 — CATHY. [ARTICLE]

CATHY.

ELEANOR W. F. BATES. It was the last day of Mrs. Hilton’s long and severe sickness; not the last day before the lonely journey through the valley of the shadow of death, but the last day before she finally resumed her station downstairs as housemother. She went happily, if feebly, from room to room. Pretty and | pleasant was her home, but it sorely lacked the eye of the mistress. She marked rnauy instances of neglect by the servant, but resolved nothing should make her unhappy while she enjoyed health. “Mamma isn't shut away from you any more, my treasures!” she sa'd, sitting down on the floor between her little sons, Ernest and Bernard. They took her caress calmly and continued playing with their blocks and she played with them, building houses and stores, barns, stockyards, schools, whatever the fertile fancy of the little sons dictated. When this palled upon them, she pleased herself ana them by relating the legends familiar to childhood everywhere; notable the history of the rat that had his tail bitten off by a perfidious cat who promised to restore it, hut didn’t* to the despair and untimely end of the unfortunate rat. Bernie said he would buy the rat a new tail; Ernie said he would give Bernie his cent to buy it with, and Bernie thereupon proposed to buy two tails. From these arcadian pleasures she was drawn by the cook, who demanded an interview. The interview disclosed the appalling fact that ■Bridget wished to leave, and leave at once. “But why?” / Bridget’s sister was dead. “But, Bridget, you surely don’t mean to leave me alone, just off a sick bed and with two little children to take care of, without giving me time to get another girl?” That was exactly Bridget’s meaning; and to Mrs. Hilton’s dismay, the bereaved person bade her a smiling farewell shortly afterwards. Mrs. Hilton felt indignant at the girl’s heartlessness; and it cannot be denied she had tears in her eyes when an embodied ennbeam entered; this was Georgia, her husband’s sister, fair-haired and brighteyed. “O Georgia!” cried Mrs. Hilton. “I am so glad to see yon! I am alone in the house with these babies. Torn is away for two nights. I dismissed the nurse this morning and the cook dismissed me this afternoon and I don’t know which way to turn! .Tam not able to stay alone a single day.” “I will stay with yon till somebody comes.” said Georgia, taking off her hat. “I will be cook and housemaid and nursemaid—who wouldn’t be nursemaid to you, my blossom?” with a kiss to Bernie, “and you shall tell me where your next girl is ooming from, and to-morrow I will go and hurry h< i up.” ■---: “But! don’t know where to turn for one.” •aid Mrs. “Hilton. “In a little place like this every girl willing to work out is' snatched up without loss of time, and it will take days and days to get a suitable one from the city.” /" • “WeHjNton’t worry, dear, ’’ said Georgia; Ernest was trying to open her parasol without loss of a moment, and Bernard already in her lap. vigorously tugging at the safetychain of her bracelet. She commenced to —ck and sing to Bernie. - " “The greatest piece"of Philosophy r -7- " Begins with Don’t and ends with Fret*™ She embellished it with numerous trills and roulades, looking laughingly at her sister-in-law, and at every other syllable Bernie rocked himself violently backward, and then pulled on Georgia's slender wrists to recover himself; his rippling laughter accompanied her singing as she reiterated the couplet again and again; but this amusement came to a sadden end by a sharp ring of the door-bell. “There is no one to go to the door,” said Mrs. Hilton, rising, but Georgia gently forced her back into an easy-chair and gayly went herself to answer the summons, with each little nephew clinging to her dress. Mrs. Hilton heard a soft voice ask • question, Georgia question in reply, then the stranger spoke again and in a few minutes was apparently requested to seat herself in the hall, and Georgia’s pretty foee beamed as she returned; “The Lord is tempering toe wind, you 'poor shorn lamb!” said toe. “This is one of toe Haley girls, who live dow n by toe brick-yard. Her aunt has worked in our family and is neat, and this girl is looking for a place. Isn’t it fortunate, if she will only suit! I like her looks ever so Shall she come in to talk with yon?” “Yes. indeed,” said Mrs. Hilton, and . looked with interest on the tall, stout girl “tost entered. She was dressed with, neat-nee-Mi and but little finery, had a pale frockleo-i akin, very light eyes, and lightantsm han>, with a straight noee and thin : V fe- I

lips. I She replied in answer to Mrs. Hiltons question* that sh« watt 18 yeafh old; tIW mother was BngHali, her father Irish. No, she ha<l never Worked out, but hermother had taken'crest palps hi r housework. t?s. she" was fond of children and would la- willing to assist in their cure. No, she had no follow ers, her mother wouldn't allow such n thing, aud she didn't want to b.* racing out eveninKS. her mother thought it wusn't decent. Her name was Catherine Aguss; most evenbody called h> r Cathy.' All this and much more delivered in a soft, demure, voice. -■ ““Weil, -Cathy," said Mrs* Hilton, “I trill lopk up your references and let you know to-morrow what 1 deride.” - Cathy thanked her respectfully and retired, only to be suminoued again early the next morning, for Mra. Hilton had a relapse and was dangerously - ill for Route days. So Cathy reigned undisturbed in her kitchen till one day Mrs. ’ Hilton, once more able to rome down-stairs, appeared on its threshold. .She found little to condemn and gave a few gentle directions, but to her horror, Cathy burst into tears. "I thought everything was all right,” she sobbed. “I didn't know the dish-cloth was musty or the bread-jar mouldy—oh! ohlohr Mrs. Hilton, still weak from her sick-< ness, retreated precipitately and Conversed no more with Cathy till Ihe next morning, when, finding a large roll of soiled tablenapkins, mildewed and damp, in the china closet drawer, she again summoned the girl to n conference. “Them was there when I cam* here and I didn't know as you’d have them washed,” Was Cathy's defense. She was fertile in excuses for shortcomings, and when cornered always took refnge in tears, which usually drove Mrs. Hilton from the field, nervous and disgusted. “That girl is very sly and tricky," remarked Mr. Hilton to his wife. -- “O, do you think so?” said the lady, much alarmed. ■- “I know it. That pale eye that shifts continually, tells the story." “Then I won’t have her in the house another day.’’ declared Mrs. Hilton. “Now don't be silly,” said her irritated husband. “They arc all tricky, and you won’t do any better if yon change, and you could not get another girl so fond of the children.” ;

it was true. Ernie and Bernie at first clung to Cathy, often even leaving mamma, and hanging round the kitchen table where the servant was busy. She baked little cakes and pies for them, nnd sung strange songs in a high, not untuneful voice; but one day Ernie fell out of the kitchen door and was terribly bruised, and after that declined to leave his mother’s side, except for the daily walk with Cathy. That walk was a great source of pleasure to the children; they never came home without new treasures; wild flowers, ferns, acorns, odd stones, all had a value for them. But apparently they climbed higher and played narder than ever before, for their clothing showed signs of ill usage. Once Ernie’s little straw hat was completely destroyed, the crown torn from the brim, and he came home with Cathy's handkerchief tied over his head, she professing ignorance of the manner of destruction. Another time Besnieaippeared with hia coat-sleeve torn out of the garment. “Cathy did it, mamma!” he shouted, as he entered the house. “Why, how did you doit, Cathy?” said her mistress, receiving the injured article in her hands. “I didn’t do it, Mrs. Hilton, indeed, I don't know how it was done—did I do it, Ernie? Did I, Bernie?” “No,” auswered both the children, and Ernie added, “But- I thought you did, Cathy!” Mrs. Hilton decided mentally that Cathy was not guiltless iri the matter, but she said no more, and resolved to watch. Her frequent illness often separated the 'children from her, and she was compelled to surrender them into Cathy’s hands. On one of these.pccasions she sent for Cathy, and when the girl appeared in the sickroom, she charged her minutely as to their requirements and urged upon her perfect faithfulness, at the same time making her a handsome present. “I love the little boys, ma’am,” said Cathy. “I wouldn’t injure them nor neglect them for nothing.” She loft the room, and in less than three minutes a loud shriek from the kitchen proclaimed an accident. It was Bemie’s voice, and Mrs. Hilton begged Georgia, who was spending the day, to bring him to her. Poor little Bernie! He was very pale and trembled violently, and the blood was streaming from mouth and nose. “What is it, darling? Howdidit happen?” “Cathy pushed me down-stairs,” sobbed Bernie. ’

“She could hardly have done so —6he hadn’t time unless she ran every step of the wav after leaving the room,” said Georgia. “His fall bewilders him.” , “Cathy did, she did,” sobbed Bernie. “Call Oatny.” said Mrs. Hilton. Cathy uttered voluble®' protestations, winding up with, “O, do you think I would hurt him; Mrs. Hilton? Did I push you, Bernie?” “No,” answered the child in a dazed fashion, nnd the matter was dropped.uutil Mrs. Hilton could lay it before her husband. “I Relieve, Tom; that Cathy amuses herself by piagtring—those children, andlhen bribes or-otherwise induces them not to expose her. I shall dismiss her as soon as I get well,” “Fiddlesticks! you shan’t do it,” roared Tom, who loved his own sweet will as well as any woman. “I never saw a woman so full of notions! Why, it's the talk of the neighborhood how fond our children are of Cathy, and Cathy of them.” -y “But Bernie has had two shocking falls, and each time he said Cathy threw him down—” “All a notion, I tell you! He never knows how he gets-hurt and always lays it to the nearest person.” - “Ican't Agree- with , .you, -Tom,” was nil his wife said, but iu her heart she pondered these things,and resolved toe girl should go as soon as she could compass it. Ernie and Bernie seemed to wish to be with their mother more than ever before, and did not 6eek Cathy's side; bkt Cathy came for them punctually every sunny afternoon and took them on their accustomed ramble, and from these rambles they returned so often with their clothing badly tom or spiled that Mrs. Hilton, out of patience, finally said to toe servant: “I shall hold yon responsible, Cathy, if another garment is injured while the children are in your care.” This had a wonderful effect; the bairns came home clothed and in their right mind.no accident had happened for some time, and Mrs. Hilton began to feel less uneasiness in their absence. There enree a day when toe mother found it absolutely necessary to be away from home some hours. She charged Cathy over and over to Care for toe treasures. left some novel playthings for them and hoped and tried to believe dhay wouhj be happy and safe in her absence, bat she was uneasT. The epidemic of tom cloth - ing had ceased to rage, bumps and bruises .had seemingly passed by, and now it appeared to the epoch of broken china, but what were wedgwood and majolica to her boys’ comfort and happiness? So she hastened through her business and returned as quickly as possible, looking up at the nursery windows as she neared toe house. There they were, her “flowers of sunshine,

nicnlded by tHe touch of Jehovah’s hand.* Ernie ran down to meet her with a shout. I - “ Where is fßernie?" said Mrs, Hdtoa, loikihg up lh« stairway,. .■ r "Benpe couldn't come, he’s hurt hie i kue said Ernie. ' *l>jam fall?” was the quick inquiry, while tlte, ever-present anxiety rose again and would not down. “No," s iid Ernie, and she was up-stair* in an instant and had her little son in hei aims. "tvhat Is it. darling? Hid yon fall on it?’ &i she tosied her bennet aside anil wa? pulling off her gloves. Hernia looted pub-, and his large blue eyes seemed to melt and darken as he answered. “Is my knee a pincushion. mamma? It hurts me, and Cathy says it s a little pincushion.” Mrs. lliltou turned down the child’* stocking und there, exactly as if it had been thrust in by a determined hand, protruded the head of a needle; who could scarcely grasp it, so deeply had,, it sunk, and hei fingers slid from, it repeatedly liefore she succeeded in drawing it ont. It left a tiny purple puncture; this she bound with a strip of soft linen, Wet in a soothing tincture, and rocked aud sang her boy into a state of comfort and content. H,e was sitting on her with six raisins and a piece of pink court-plaster, when Mr. Hilton appeared. She showed her husband the needle and related where she found it. “Hernie probably fell on it,” calmly responded Mr. Hilton. 'T do not know how it happened,” said his wife. “But why did Cathy tell th« child his kuee was a pincushion nnless she knew the needle was there, aud if she 'knew it, why didu’t she take it out, and why did I find the children alone when 1 came home? Never shall I leave my children in her care aguin, and I hope, Tom, yon yvill not oppose me in my wish to dismiss her.” “Do as you like,” said Tom, loftily. “It is my opinion yon make a great mistake in doing so, for there is no proof that she has ever Deen anything but kind and considerate to the children.” “The condition of their clothes and their little bruised bodies is proof enough, and you yourself said she was very sly and tricky,” replied Mrs. Hilton with spirit, and Mr. Hilton, seeing that his wife was in the frame of mind' he denominated “nprvous,” held his peace. She now descended the stairs in search of Cathy, but The girl was not in the kitchen or dining-room; supposing she would return immediately, Airs. Hilton bethought her of an errand to the cellar which she could now perform, as time served her. This cellar was damp and cold and seldom visited by its mistress on account of her sensitive lungs, and when Cathy entered the kitchen above it, she was utterly unconscious of the lady’s proximity. Mrs. Hilton stood endeavoring to decipher a label on a fruit-jar when she heard Ernie run into the kitchen. “Mamma! Where’s my mamma?” She never could tell in what terms or whether Cathy answered the child, for the air and her ears seemed go filled in an instant with the cry, “Don’t, Cathy, don’t pull Ernie’s hair!” that she paused for nothing, but flew over the stairs with a swiftness never excelled even in the days of her agile girlhood, and appeared, pale and breathless, in Hie kitchen doorway. Cathy had one hand on Ernie’s shoulder and (he child was crying; She looked at her mistress with a perfectly indescribable look, turned away and walked across the kitchen.

Mrs. Hilton made a powerful effort, as she gathered her boy to her, to regain her calmness before she spoke, but in spite of all, hsr voice vibrated as she said, “Cathy! I am shocked at your misbehavior! What are you thinking of to take such a liberty as to use violence with mv child—” “I didn't,” interjected Cathy. “So great a liberty that you cannot remain in my employ, and I wish you to leave immediately. Go up stairs at once and get yourflothes ready to take away. ” No disrespectful word had ever passed Cathy's lips to Mrs. Hilton, but now she stormed, she raved; she swore. The lady patised not, however, to listen- to this eloquence, but left the room with her little son, and Mr. Hilton, appearing on the scene,' persuaded or forced the furious girl to leave the house; and before sunset, Georgia, fall and running over with joving-kindness, had charge of her little nephews, and they forgot their sorrows in her gentle graciousness. - “I am so glad -you have got rid of that Cathy. She was too horrid!” said a neighbor, later. “I meant to have told you before now how she stole up behind Ernie last week and pushed him violently down the door-steps. Why, it might have broken a limb or fractured his skull! And when I called to her to be less rough, she answered in her smooth way that perhaps she did play too roughly with him, and thanked me for reminding her —the cat!” Some years afterward; a gentleman who was passing his novitiate as physician to an insane asylum in a neighboring town, invited Mt. and Mrs. Hilton to visit the establishment. The buildings were large and elegant, set in spacious grounds; no painful sight met the visitors; humanity and charity here walked hand-in-hand and many of the patients appeared contented', and even happy. “There is an interesting ease of, hereditary insanity.” said the young physician, pointing out a figure at the end of a corridor. She sat gazing out of the window, and held a child’s doll in her hand, through the ‘ body of it thrusting absently a knittingneedle again and again. “She developed a mania for destroying household articles and other thiiigs, assaulted a. child, was arrested, her antecedents looked up, and it .was found she had insane relatives and was undoubtedly insane herself, and untit to be at large. Good day, Cathy,” he added to the patient, whom they had nowreached. ‘ " ■ The woman rose and answered in a soft voice, “Good afternoon, doctor.” s' , , Mrs. Hilton knew the voice and recognized toe lighteyes and pUs fcttbTnrcr hair, the stout figure, the broad and cruel hands. She shuddered, irrepressibly, turned deathly faint and hastened into the open air. nor coujd she be induced to enter the building again; and this was toe last time she ever saw Cathy.