Idle Hour Stories by Eugenia Dunlap Potts
page 79 of 204 (38%)
page 79 of 204 (38%)
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"Organize! Organize!" thundered a big man who had been jostled from his morning paper. "There can be no success without system." "Hear! Hear!" roared the fun-loving fellows. "Down with the crowd to the lower regions! Come on with your constitution and by-laws! Hold fast to law and order! Give us liberty, or death--pumpkin pies and lily-white hands! Hurrah! On to the kitchen!" With mock circumspection they were forcing couples to pair off; but the level-headed matrons soon arranged matters more to the purpose. The various branches of work were assigned to willing hands that only awaited the signal for action. Great was the consternation of the mutineers when the "boss" appeared in the dismantled kitchen and ordered them all off the premises. In vain they protested, laying the blame on first one and then another. Their day of grace was ended and no quarter shown. Wilfully and from sheer love of bickering, they had offended all sense of justice and propriety, and in unbroken ranks they must go. When the fiat had irretrievably gone forth, they showed again the claws and the cloven foot. The "cook-lady" said she "didn't hafter work nohow;" she reckoned she could "git along." The maids and the waiters took the cue and were equally independent. But though paid their wages in full, they were discharged without "a recommend"; and this, in the height of the season, was no small privation. "Teach them a lesson!" muttered the proprietor with satisfaction. "Serves them right! I'm rather glad of the row." |
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