Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-09-09
THE BISHOP AND THE HoUsE-KEEPER


we will not name at present, there iivt d
few years ago, bishop, kind, nHnla-
Bile old man, severe to himself, indulgens
10 others, so good and charitable, that eye-
ry body loved him. His house was n
model Of ptoprie,y and hospitality. 1t
was managed by an old housekeeper, Ma
dame pichard. 10 bachelors establish
ment the supreme authority is always ex-
ercised by lady. Madame Pichard was
the model Of house.keepers, and every
thing went on admirably under her admin
siration. Her only source of trouble was
her husband, drunken quarrelsome old
man, who at the time of the introduction
Of our story, was carried off by n dropsy,
produced by excuses. few days after
his death, the Bishop went TO his house.
keepers department, TO pay her visit Of
coincidence.
"Well my dear majam," began his
lordshp, al have called to endeavor to
console you in your affections. You
must not g,ieve too deeply. We are all
mortal, you know, and sooner or later,
wa come to the end Of our earthly pilgrim
age. Your husbands life is now ended
il would have been better if he had not
spent so much of it in drinking, Blu, still
the mercies oil heaven have no bounds"
"Your iordshlp is very good, but to
say the truth, was not thinking Of my
husband at all; will not deceive YOU"
Really J" answered the bishop.
"Your lordship knows that my husband
was drunkard, that he used to bea, mo,
and sell my clothes to buy liquor with;
for my part, am only sorry tina, he lived
so long"
This was kind OF funeral Grafton for
which the bishop was hardly prepared,
and it was with no little establishment that
he replied,
THAT is not very Christian frame Of
mind, I'm afraid; did you not love your
husband ~
"Your ordship would not ask me that
question. # you knew how came to be
married"
"You must tell mo all about it," said
the bishop, with the curiosity OF age.
"And your lordshp does not know any
thing abou, my Augustus continued the
housekeeper in melancholy tone.
Your Augustus, Madame Pichard 7
Pray explain"
81 was born at Boulogne, If it please
your lordship. At Is they called me the
village beauty, and, suppose at IL was
not much uglier; but excuse me, SIR"
said the old lady, drawing back her chair.
am going to tell you love story, and
| shall only tire YOU"
Go on" repeated the digntary, we
are both of us old now, and can talk Of
such nonsense without danger"
There lived in the village, young
man, tall; finely frmed, with blue eyes
and curling light hnir, think can see
him now all we girls used to pull caps
for him; he was what our par nts called
wild youngster; his name was Angus
tus, and we all used to call him handsome
Gussy.
He soon singled me out, and when
my father wen, to Paris, and my mother
WAS out Of the way he was always at my
side.-When one gets to be m old woman,
and has a great grown up gl'l to take
care of, one rails a, lovers; but still j,
was the hnppies, time Of my life; re-
member il as if il was but yesterday. ]
was proud Of nv Gussy, who was our viii
lage beau, and he soon quilted all the
other girls to pay his rourt to me.
II this sounds very strange TO your
Iordship no doubt. My father and mother
would never have agreed to my marrying
with so wild fellow as he was they for.
babe him The house, but we used 10 meet
often in secret.
Z" He would prowl around all day only
to get single look ut me, and then oh,
how PROUD | was One day my father
had Como to the city with load, and
slipped out to try To see Augustus for n
moment; we had not seen each other for
fortnight, | met him in the road. II
your lordship knew wha, delight it is to
meet ones lover, when one is just Is, and
has been parted from him fortnight,
you would comprehend how one feels.
forgot father, mother, every thing. We
stood under a tree by the rond looking
into each others eyes; we were so happy
that we did not even speak. A cart came
along, il was my fathers; he saw US,
sprang out, and began to beat me for hav-
lHp init augustus ubuiist hio OIor'o'
am certain that if he had attacked Angus.
tus himself, he would not have resisted,
but the poor fellow could not bear to see
me suffer, he attacked my iather and
fought desperately.
My father caught up stone, and split
open Augustus's head he on the other
hand, dealt the old man such blow that
he fell senseless.
"Oh run, run, Augustus" said /, If
the police should catch you, you are lost"
He obeyed me and fled, and have never
seen him since. My father soon came
to, and gave me dreadful beating.-
lie determined to marry me off, and east.
~ found a man who was willing TO marry
me without my affection, in consideration
Of a good dover.
When was tired Of being beaten everv
morning and night, became Madame
Pichard.
never loved my husband he knew
that nv father used TO beat me, and he
followed his example. We wand red over
the whole Of France, in great want and
misery, for The most part, till your lord.
ships kindness gave US support
This is my story"
a., -. L....,. sc hapIsnr,o Cua