352 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



The mater was worsted ; she was no match for this un- 

 conscious Darwinian, this primitive evolutionist, and, has- 

 tily smoothing the corners of her mouth, beat a hasty re- 

 treat. A laugh "loves company" as well as misery. 



For five years we labored patiently to make something- 

 better of the Goddess. Several times she was sent home 

 in disgrace, but as often returned with the plea to be al- 

 lowed one more trial. 



She had some good qualities, and we sought to train her 

 in the way she should go ; but it was of no use. Early 

 training and outside influences prevailed, and she went 

 more and more in the way she should not go, until at last 

 we were compelled to give her a final dismissal. 



Then followed an interregnum of weary housework again, 

 until we grew desperate enough to seek another assistant. 



Then appeared a "cook" who did not even know how 

 to fry potatoes, but was anxious to learn. 



She could wash dishes and clothes, but took her lessons 

 in cooking standing in the doorway with her back to the 

 stove, while we watched the dinner; if a particle of fat 

 flew or " spit" from the frying-pan, our cook fled from the 

 kitchen ; she "wasn't goin' to be burnt up 'fore her time, 

 'deed she was n't ! " 



Several times she took to her bed for several days, but 

 entertained company gaily ; and once, after we had waited 

 on her and carried her meals to her, she arose, brought the 

 dishes into the kitchen for us to wash, and departed to visit 

 a neighbor. 



We bore much for the sake of being spared the dish- 

 washing and hunting up a washer-woman ; but when, with 

 the Christmas dinner on the stove, and stranger-guests in 

 the parlor, we found the fire out, the kitchen deserted and 

 our "cook" strolling in the woods picking flowers, we felt 

 that even our patience had reached its limit. 



