Daily American telegraph., 1852-06-17
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
from the National Era.
The Difference, and what Made 1t.
BY TIE AUTHOR OF "cLoyERNooK.'
tHnncl1dn1 |

ing her hands while she advised Matilda to
take lesson of her old mother-begin right
and not humor John to all his whims but to
always use her own wit when she knew she
was IN the rght-urging that in this particu-
lar instance she had, as the fruits Of her pru.
dence, the beautifulest pie she ever see whilst
if she had minded Robinson" she would have
had a batch that nobody could eat, and that
would have aggravated her whenever she
thought of it,
"Well, WELL mother" said the Judge, as she
brushed the ashes from the corner with the
wing of turkey, "your Judgment is generally
pretty correct; and while your pie baked
cooked up little plan which | want seasoned
with your opinion"
1t happened, as is often the case with we'll.
to-do farmers, that Judge Robinson had, on I'm
obscure nook Of his handsome estate, an old
house. He had formerly dwelt in it himself;
but since his more afluent days, and the build
ing of newer and more commodous one, it
had been let to a tenant together with u por.
tion of the lands.
1t was an old fashioned, irregular sort OF
building with messy roof, steep gables white
washed walls, &c. Nevertheless it was still a
goodish sort Of tenement, neghbored by or
chard, barn, crib, smoke-house, and the like
cOnvenlences. ..a
The plan which the Judge had cooked up
was a proposal to renovate the old house u
little, for the occupancy Of John and Matilda
AS much ground as he could cultivate was
placed at the young mans disposal; q garden,
in which currant bushes, straw berries, horse
radsh, and asparagus, were beginning to
sprout as also a cow, two horses, and the
necessary agricultural implements.
This bind of balp-tba Of ba1p;p
themselves-was not precisely the kind they
had hoped for. But "beggars must not be
choosers,' said Mrs Robinson, disposed, woman
like, to make the best Of the best and, in truth
as she thought more about the plan she began
to like it. 1t would be so delightful to have the
garden, and to learn the art of butter-making
and all the other mysteries of country life
Then, too, the baby would have a nice green
yard to play in-the idea was charming.
Mr.. Robinson told his friends that he should
remove to his country property for the summer
that the health of his family required it and
that he proposed to take house in town an.
other winter a hotel was miserable subter-
fuge for home and he continued to describe
it in the use of adiectiyes which shall not re.
peat.
These prelimnaries arranged, Mr. and Mrs.
John Robinson removed to their country seat
in other words they betook themselves, with
their baby, very excellent trunk which was
Mrs. Robnson's and very poor old one
which was Mr.. Robinson's, to the old tenant
house of Mr.. Robinson; because, in brief they
could not do otherwise.
And to this place, as before related. | one
evening, toward the close Of the following Nav,
crossed the meadows to make my first call
John Robinson had been my schoolmate | had
L IL. IL. It4l- 4
him up to man." and looked with more leni
ency, perhaps, upon his faults and foibles than
otherwise should have done. Besides, he had
mixed up with idle and profane habits, and
aside from his braggadocia and disposition to
and good qualities. Mrs. Robinson, fanced,
must find the old place lonesome, shut from
view of everything but wood and meadow, and
meet with many discouragements, accustomed
as she had been to o stylish and luxurious
mode of life
John had seen nothing Of for several years
but had heard reports not favorable to his
growth in grace or goodness. The wife had
never seen and as | walked down the hollow,
skipped over the run, (still trickling noisly
with the spring thaw, )'climbed the next HILL
passed the old oak, quickened my steps through
a strip of woods, and struck into the lane lead
ing directly to the door, mused to myself as
to what sort of persons | should meet.
A thousand stars were in heaven when the
old gate creaked upon its hinges TO admit me ;
but there was yet sufficient light for an outside
observation, and | recognised such signs of
thrift and industry as little expected to meet
The picket fence had been mended and white
washed, the strawberries trimmed the raspber-
ries tied to supporting stakes, and deal of
rubbish cleared from the yard, where the turf
now Law fresh and smooth, save here and there
where little patches had been broken for the
planting of flowers. The glimpse caught of
the high garden beds, straight rows of peas
pale shoots of onions, and struggling radish-
tops were no less pleasantly indicative.
From the milk-yard heard the rustling of
hay, the sharp ringing of the first streaming
mix on the bottom Of the tin pail, and the
hummed fragment of rural song, at the same
time. The windows of the kitchen were agow,
and the crying of child. with the voice Of one
trying to still it, the while some other task was
performed, met my ear as | raped for admis-
sion.
The door was opened by a young pale-look-
ing woman, whom | supposed to be Mrs. Rob
lnson, and to whom | introduced myself ~
neighbor, well known to her husband There
was slight trepidation in her manner, indlca-
ting difhdence | did not expect, though her
welcome was full of cordiality, grace, and
sweetness.
The roses were gone from her cheeks and
the curls tucked away from their flowing;
but she had, instead that look of patient
motherly meekness which made her more
beautiful her dress was neat and tasteful, and
rs she left the tea-kettle stcaming on the
hearth, the table, with its snowy cloth falling
almost to the floor, and the tea things partial
ly arranged, and took the baby on her knees,
she presented with her surroundings, picture
to be envied The furniture was neither ex-
pensive nor profuse but the taste and happy