Sarah's first start in lifeCampbell, Adelaide M. G.
General
Sarah's first start in life
Campbell, Adelaide M. G.
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Household employees -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
Sarah flew upstairs, not forgetting to take up her jacket on the way,
and before the cook had found time to grumble at her absence was down
again, dressed in a neat cotton gown and apron. Mrs. Ellis showed her
where to find the pots, pans, hot water, and washing-up cloths, and
Sarah set to work with might and main; but it was not so easy as she
expected. First, some of the spots on the coppers would not come off,
then the cloths got so wet there was nothing to dry up with, and
altogether when Sarah had cleaned a dozen she felt her arms ache as they
had never ached before. All at once she heard Mrs. Ellis calling her, so
she ran into the kitchen where she found a great fuss going on, as
dinner was being dished up, and Mrs. Ellis had burnt her hand badly in
pouring out the soup.
Sarah was very sorry about this accident, and anxious to do all she
could to help; but being new, and not knowing the ways of the lower
regions, she was not able to be of much use, but she was most helpful in
carrying the dishes up to the dining-room door, and so saved a little of
the footman's time, who was in consequence very grateful. She then went
upstairs to brush her hair and make herself tidy, and when she came down
found, to her surprise, that supper had been ready some time. Edith
found room for her and saw she had all she wanted, and introduced her to
the other servants, whom she had not seen at tea, and she was wished
success in her new career. After supper was over Sarah hoped she would
be able to go to bed, but found that all the dinner things had to be
washed up and put into their proper places, so she began her work at
once, and soon Edith good-naturedly offered to help her, both making
great friends over the work.
At half-past ten all was finished, and Edith conducted her to the small
but airy bedroom they were to share. Sarah now had to finish her
unpacking--her father's, mother's, and Dick's photographs taking a most
prominent position on the little chest of drawers. Edith naturally
wanted to hear all about Dick, and Sarah was delighted to find so
sympathetic a friend to discuss him with. Edith soon tumbled into bed,
but Sarah folded her things tidily up on a chair, and then opened her
Bible to read her chapter. Sarah's mother was a very religious woman,
and knew that the Bible was always a friend in time of need, so she had
made Sarah promise never to omit reading a few verses after her day's
work was over. In her prayers, Sarah thanked God for giving her so
comfortable a home, and asked Him to soften her temper, which she knew
would often get the upper hand. The light was soon put out, and all was
quiet, and she remembered nothing more till she saw Edith standing
half-dressed by her bedside, telling her to hurry or else Mrs. Ellis
would be grumbling at her the first day. Sarah found that last night's
experience was but an instance of what her daily work would be.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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