A Christmas Story | Page 9

week.--There was very little variety.
Sundays we had only potatoes and cold meat.
'Why,' I asked.
'They must go to church, my dear brother.'
Mondays, one fry, not even a roast, it was washing day, all the heat must be turned off from the oven for the boiler.--The cook wouldn't have it roasted in front, the only true way.
So no dessert could be baked.
Tuesdays I could have no company for it was ironing day, and the irons filled up the range and nothing extra could be made. I submitted to my sister.
But now I had soup every day, and whenever I saw anything very good in market I ordered it home and had it cooked. Strange isn't it, with the same range and the same cook? Before my reign we could not breakfast till nine, the cook said that the milkman came so late. During my reign we breakfasted at eight punctually, for I suggested to her the propriety of rising at six instead of seven and letting him in on his first trip instead of taking the milk from him on his return. My sister was obliged to tell her two or three days before hand that she was going to have company, that she might have time to get everything ready for dinner. I frequently brought home two or three guests with fish and game in the same carriage and ordered it as the fourth course while partaking of soup. On one occasion I brought in partridges twenty minutes before dinner. I went down stairs knowing she would be roused this time, and flanked her by saying, 'Hannah, you won't have time to pick those birds, so just draw them and skin them. I want them roasted.' Before she recovered from her astonishment I had departed.
Whenever a quarrel down stairs took place I never interfered as long as they did not talk loud, but the next day if I noticed any one in the sulks or a tendency to let things go by, I had the furniture of one room changed to another. This required 'all hands' to work together, and I made them fly round so, that when it was done they were only too happy to go to lunch and rest, and I could hear many a joke and pleasant laugh rise from the kitchen table.
One rainy evening, as my sister and myself were sitting in front of the wood fire, exactly two months since the famous contract, and very much in the same position, and talking over everything but it, a timid knock was heard. I said 'come in,' and Sabina entered, looking very healthy and neat--I cannot say pretty, though she had a good figure.
I never asked questions on these occasions. I always made it difficult for them to talk in this, to them, gloomy room.--They had to stumble through themselves.
'Can I speak to you, sir.'
'Certainly, Sabina--go on.'
'I have come to say, sir, that--that--I have came to say, sir, that'--a pause; she looked very guilty.
'That's right, Sabina; you have come to say that--I understand--but what have you come to say?'
'I have come to say, sir, that--I have come to go, sir!'
I controlled myself. She was an excellent chambermaid; understood my ways thoroughly; and did her work well; had always been respectful to me, and was very steady. It would be a great loss, but DISCIPLINE must be preserved, and my mind was at once made up. My sister looked surprised and sorry right out.
'Well, Sabina, when do you wish to go.'
'On Saturday, sir.'
Oh how my sister wanted to speak, but I looked at the tin box that held the contract and she bit her lip.
'Very well, Sabina, you have a perfect right to go when and where you please, and I will take great pleasure in writing out an excellent character for you. Let me see, (looking at my account book) that is two weeks wages making $8. I never make presents, but as you are going here is a ten dollar bill. Where would you like your trunk carried, tell me and I will send it by Thomas Saturday morning?'
'Oh! it isn't that, sir,' said she, 'but--but, sir,' with the tears flowing rapidly.
'Why, what is the matter, Sabina?' (the first question apart from business I had ever asked.)
'I don't want to leave you, sir.'
'Well, that is strange, then why do you?' (business question.)
'I'm going, sir--I'm going, sir, to--be--married!' and she burst into tears.
(I congratulated myself on being a bachelor, if conjugal affection produced such an effect.)
'Oh! that's it,' said I, dryly. 'Well I hope you will be happy.'
'But you've been so kind, sir, you--'
'There now stop, I have only tried to be just,' said I, looking exultingly at my smiling sister, who took off a little gold stud and gave it to her with many wishes of