sent me there for a girl, that if I could possibly help it I would never enter such a place again.
Mrs. Mervin. Well, I hope our present plan will be successful, and we shall be fortunate enough to secure a good girl. If we had less company, and our family were not so large, we would try to do the work together, and get along without help.
Emma. I wish we might, mother. I have often felt, after the disorderly reign of some tyrannical Bridget, that I would like to banish them all from whence they came, and wield the kitchen sceptre alone. (Bell rings.) There comes number one, I'll warrant.
Enter Bridget Rooney.
Bridget. The top of the mornin' to ye, ma'am; and sure is yer name Mervin?
Mrs. Mervin. It is; and I suppose you have come to answer my advertisement for a girl.
Bridget. Indade I have, ma'am. Is it a cook ye would be afther wantin' ?
Mrs. Mervin. I wish a girl to do general housework, and of course that includes a knowledge of plain cooking. Would you like such a place?
Bridget. And sure I can't tell, ma'am, till I ax ye a few questions, and finds out the characther of the place intirely. What wages do ye give?
Mrs. Mervin. Three dollars.
Bridget. And how many have ye in the family, ma'am?
Mrs. Mervin. Seven persons.
Bridget. Well, indade, and if ever I heard the like ! Sivin persons, and only three dollars wages! Shure me cousin, Kate Murphy, gits four dollars, and there's only three in the house. I'll come for no three dollars, unless yer house has all the modern convainyences. Do ye have gas in the kitchen and girl's room?
Mrs. Mervin. We have gas in the kitchen, but we do not think it necessary in the girl's sleeping-room.
Bridget. And, faith, it's as much wanted there as anywhere. A poor girl doesn't want to be groping about with a nasty kerosene-lamp. How much time in a week do you give a girl to herself, ma'am?
Mrs. Mervin. One afternoon and evening a week. I believe that is a general rule.
