Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-23
From the National Era.
our Minister'S Second VSife.
TCoNTISuEp.]
by MARY IRVING.

[ooNTNuEpl
A conclave met in noon session, Mt Mrs.
Rays, and, with one family dissenting voice,
that cf Miss Polly Little, voted the Lady Of the
parsonage young, pert, butterfly thing, pretty
enough to look upon, but worse than useless as
pattern and guide; in short, q complete Gu
tastrophe to the church, parish, and minister
himself
The Sabbath passed, and the week brought
its new trials and duties to Emily Young AS
"helpn was commodity not always to be Sc
cured at moments warning, Ms. Deacon
johnson had kindly lent her dOmes 'tic to the
establishment for few days.
"Now Emily,n said her husband as he
poised his spoon over his empty coffee cup, at
the breakfast-table "now you are fairly launch
ing into housekeeping"
Eyes, but-Fm puzzled about GOOD many
things There isn't any lock on the pantry, or
the store-room, or
"Well what of that"
"Why. never heard of such thing The
housekeeper keeps the keys, always Moth 81
did,
"Oh, / understand" returned her husban d
"Why, the fact is, Emily, this was favori te
mode of expression with him. "the fact is Il le
custom here is different. 1t would offend our
Northern girls very much, to keep everythin; z
lOCkeu up ATOlH IL Nouio cSoai Inv iAii
pugning their honesty"
care they SO easily offended" asked Emil
", rather scornfully.
"Yes, dear; YOU will have to be on your
guard with them for they can do a deal of
mischief in parish, if they take prejudice
against lady-especialy minister's wife"
Thus warned, Emily very timidly ventured
into her kitchen, an hour or two after break
fast, feeling very much like meddler in a
place where she had no business whatever.
The presiding genius, a neat, pretty Yankee
girls was being so utterly new to her, that
she was sorely puzzled to know just what rank
to assign her. or just what form OF speech to
use in addressing her. She thought of the old
cook on her fathers plantation, sooty and
plump rugged out in her own cast-oH earrings
and worn-out muslins; but this damsel, with
her tidy morning dress of shilling calico, and
mien Of selfrespect, was very evidently not to
be classed in the same category by many de-
gree. : -.
The girl looked up from her knife-rubbing,
as Mrs Young stood hestating on the thresh-
old, and made an inclination of her body that
might have been mistaken for courtesy.
Emily felt strongly inclined to courtesy IN re-
turn.
!" You have things very tidy here, see," she
said. as a sort of compromise, glancing about
the clean. newly furnished kitchen. The girl
did not seem elated by the compliment, but
went on with her work while Emily turned
uneasily from one thing to another, uncertain
what to say next. At length she turned to
leave.
"Ma'am didn't say what we was goin' to
have for dinner!n spoke the girl.
ooh, dinner?n said Emily with look Of
deep consideration. "Why, anything you
please
The girl dug her knife into the scrnbbing.
sand, and looked as thoughtful as her mistress
Have you been to market?" asked Emily
seeing that she still awaited orders
Market" asked the girl, looking up puz
zled. "Ain't none" she added, at last
"None?" ] thought every village had I
market!n
"No'm Mr.. Tins the butcher he make
his rounds every once a week, or according q
he kills crittur"
al suppose you know better than ! do"-
Emily bit her lips, for they had nearly slipped
into adding, maam!" :"
"What have we in the house 2"
GTher's bar'l Of -four, ma;am, and two
bar'ls Of corned beef, down cellar and a hall
bar'l and a keg of salt pork, I'm thinking
replied the girl, counting them on her sanded
fingers.
@And not any fresh meat /"
Not a bit, ma'am"
al must have some" said Emily, with an all
of vexation and decision.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
"Cannot you get any, anywhere" :" she ask
cd, in q concilatory tone.
HNowheres, that know Of" said the girl
tucking back her hair with one hand, "unless, J
she added slowly; "Miss johnson might kill
biddy, likely"
"A biddyl What's that?"
"a hen, maam!n
"Well," returned Emily, much relieved
"here, take this two-bit piece-you may TAX
acouple of them,' said she, opening her bea
purse, and slipping out two quarters " and 6
and buy a fowl Of Miss johnson, as you ca
her. Be right quickp
The girl nodded mutely, and going over
her old quarters reported the minister's wit
as the "oddest body she ever did come across
there was no taking count of her outlandis
wordsln
Mrs. johnson sent the hen, and refused th
money-an act of generosity which Emily ar
precated, but scarcely knew how to acknowl
edge gracefully.
tro M coSrISuED1