American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-17

and say you wish me well2"
But Phebe was choking. She gave him her
hand though, which he kissed very tcnderly,
when, to his amazement, she burst into tears.
He held ker hand, and hope sprang up again.
But Phebe had her little scheme, and she meant
to carry it through; so she hastily dried her
eyes, and said, "good by, james, wish you
well, but have little pocket-book for you,
just such q one as you want, so call at the new
brick house, MY house, you know. | shall be
there on Sunday afternoon, for the new tenants
have not yet come"
eyes, know that, and they have bought all
the furniture that | made, even 10 that work
table which you despised. shall not call there,
however, for | cannot bear TO look at the things
| hoped would be yours, Phebe; but there is no
objection to my going to your uncle's, they have
been always kind to me.''
They parted, for people were coming up, aud
they did not choose to be seen. She went
home, told her plot, and fairly enlisted her aunt
and uncle in it, for they saw that there was no
way of managing Phebe unless they humored
her.
Two large deal boxes had arrived from her
godmothcr; they were all filed and nailed up
before she left Philadelphia, and now the con-
tents were in that very brick house. Phebe had
been honest with her godmother, if with no one
else, and these boxes were the fruits of her con-
iessions A cousin in the village, meantime,
had bought all James's furniture for new mar
ried couple, as he told James, who had hired
Phebe's brick house.
You may depend that Phebe worked hard
enough to get the house in complete order,
though she had her uncle, aunt and cousin to
help her. Her uncle had part of the garden
fence pulled off, so that they could go in and
., ph.bo5.
one seeing what they were about. The plan
that Phebe had been preparing for nearly six
months was to furnish the whole house, for she
knew that all the furniture that James had been
making, was for her, even to the kitchen tables,
benches and all. Her godmother had sent her
box of china and common queens ware, and
her uncle, as there was nothing else wanting,
gave her the kitchen articles. She brought
with her from Philadelphia all the linen that
was necessary and to crown all there was lit
tie box containing silver table and tea spoons,
and large and small ivory handle knives and
forks.
By Saturday night every thing was complete.
Even the coal in the CRATES of the kitchen and
little front parlor, and the closets and sidoboard
were filled with every article which generous
housekeeper could wish.
Sunday came. Phebe went to church in the
morning, and as there was no afternoon service
she beguied the time in shifting and changing
, the chairs and tables all over the house, to sat-
isfy herself in which position they showed to
the best advantage. As the day was chilly she
lighted the fire in the paror, and then filled the
tea kettle, in order that the maid of all work
she had hired, and who was to be there at six
O'Clock, should not have too much to do.
Now she was in fiutter, a terrible fiutter,
Ear Foinbt ho that IaD, tuorld pot in
that he ,Uould go to the next door, and all this
delightful little mystery would come to nothing
and he have to be told, after all, of all she had
done, in a very humdrum way. She stood
peeping through the outside blinds full half an
hour, watching for his coming, and at length
she did see him. He appeared to be thought
| full and was walking slowly.
ooh, those beautiful blue eyes of HIS" she
said to herself, chow they will glisten when he
hears all know he will forgive me, know
he will-the very first word will make him for
| give mech, how could be so cruel about
that work table-how much he felt when he
first showed 1t to me.'
So thought Phebe and James was now ap-
preaching the house. He was on the opposite
side of the way, and crossed slowly as if heavy
of heart, casting one glance, quick one, at the
house and then moving on. By this time Phebe
had opened the street door and pretended to be
gazing up the street, and then looked so natu-
rally surprised as James stood on the steps be-
fore her.
ooh, James, good afternoon, come Income
in, do come," said she, with her face like scar
let, he looked so tenderly at her and yet SO
mournful.
81 do not want to go in, Phebe, told you
that the very sight of the furniture would be
painful to me; wonder you ask me-"
"You need not look at the furniture, JAMES;
you had nothing to do with the chairs and car
pets. SO you can hold down your head and look
at them"
She held out her hand so bewtchingly, and
looked SO unlike the saucy, provoking little
creature that had so often toimented him, that
he paused irresolute, and then went in
stCome here, James," she said, and futter,
hutter went her heart-"come and see the
pocket-book bought for you in Philadelphia
though, remember, you are not to look at the
writing inside till after ten-l have written your
pane IN it,"
She unlocked the upper drawer OF the beau
lfal work table, and she and James stood side
by side, quite close to one another.
"You see, James, that the drawers are full OF
my working materials, cotton, silk, needles,
pins, everything, and there, on that little prayer
book lies your pocket book"
"But this work table does not belong to you
Phebe! Why have you put your own things
in it?"
Not belong to me! should like to know
what other owner the beautiful table has, }" and
she stopped down and kissed it.
"Phebe-Phebe-wh does all this meant
You that desplsed that table-you that almost
drove me mad when showed it to you"
81 have kissed it dozen times at least this
very afternoon, James, and | mean to keep it
as long as live."
His arm was stealing insensible around her
waist as she said this, aud there was dreamy
thought floating in his brain that if she could