storeroom to fetch 'em--she as much as told me my room was better'n my
company, or words to them effects. Leastways, she did say as ladies what
was visitors hadn't no business in her kitchen. So then I come right in
here."

"Our cook only wished to show her respect for you, and to do you honor;
but, being a very simple and ignorant negro woman, she did not know how to
do so politely and properly," soothingly replied the lady of the house.

"What I would like is to be useful, and to do somethink to help earn my
keep. But, with so many folks about the place. I don't see as there's any
room for me, or anythink to do; so I reckon I had better vamoose the
ranch," said the lady from Wild Cats', but without the least loss of
temper.

"I beg you to believe that we are all very much pleased to have you remain
with us just as long as you can make it convenient to do so," replied Mrs.
Force, with sincere hospitality; for she had nothing but good feeling
toward the honest woman who was her chance guest.

"Thanky'. I knowed that. But, you see, I don't want to dress up in my best
clothes every day, and sit in the big parlor, with my hands crossed before
me in idleness, all day long. It seems like a sinful wasting of time, in
one like me, who for cooking, washing and ironing, or scrubbing, sweeping,
and dusting, hasn't her betters in this univarsal world!" said the
colonel's wife.

"You want something to employ your time----" began Mrs. Force.

"You bet!" interjected her guest.

"Well, then, suppose you let me teach you how to do this silk embroidery.
It is beautiful and attractive fancywork, and very easy to learn," said
Mrs. Force, holding out her frame, on which was stretched the
half-finished cover of a foot cushion.

"What! that rubbish?" disdainfully inquired the Wild Cats' lady. "No,
thanky'! You can buy a great deal prettier things than that in any of the
fancy stores for less money than the things cost to make it with, let
alone the lost time! No, ma'am! If I must waste all the days of my life,
let it be in honest, barefaced idleness, like I'm a-doing of now, and not
in pretending to work--playing at work, like you ladies here! I beg all
your pardons! I never meant no offense, but I'm bound to tell the truth!"

"No offense is taken; but we think our handiwork is a little more real,
fine, delicate and substantial than the machine work sold in shops,"
replied Mrs. Force, in some delicate, deprecating defense of her