Quilts, sheets,
and other necessities are quickly stitched and neatly folded out of the
way by the women, while the men occupy themselves with work about the
place until it is time for the grand dinner.
The same neighborly help is offered in other emergencies, so that few
families want servants. At the same time, help has not been looked down
upon as menial work by the ranchers, and so the "help" lives as a
member of the family that happens to secure one.
In cases such as Sary Dodd's, where a woman is left penniless and
another woman needs her practical aid, the two meet half-way and the
kitchen atmosphere is serene. Quite different is the case in cities,
however.
Sary felt she was the social equal to any rancher's wife, for had she
not been mistress of a ranch, too--even though it was never paid for.
So she felt she was doing the Brewsters a favor by sharing their home
and work, even while she admitted the obligation she was under of being
provided with bed and board.
The tiny room allotted to the widow was directly back of the kitchen L.
It had a single window that gave a fine view of Rainbow Cliffs, but the
furniture was of the plainest. Sary took in the simplicity in one
glance and then turned to her mistress.
"Ah've hear'n tell how Sam Brewster kin buy er sell th' hull township,
ef he likes, Miss Brewster," ventured Sary, slyly.
But the mistress had heard of Sary's proneness to gossip and so
replied: "We don't consider wealth worth anything unless you know what
to do with it.
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