Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-06-24
VOL. VII.
t to be. Now have nothing fit to

they ought to be. Now have nothing fit to
wearor use."'
! Well, Belinda. you know her health is
delicate, and allowance should, therefore, be
made Oh ,le
90, | don't mind her finding fault with me,
much replied Belinda, looking as brave and
cheerful as possible. Il do the best can to
please her, as promised mother would
when left home, and that is all anybody can
do, But l do believe that should have cried
to-day, when my hands smarted so, if had
not thought how finely my wages would
help mother and the children along this win
ter.
Did Mrs. Maulins see your hands'
yes, ma am; showed them to her, and all
she said was, it was the clothes, not my hands,
she wished me to rub
When Belinda was ready TO go, Mrs. Eme-
ry gave her some healing liniment to apply to
her hands, and spoke many kind and encourag-
ing words to her.
If Mrs. Maulns would only speak so to
me- said Belinda, when l feel tired and
homesick, it would cheer me up, and give me
fresh courage, SO that l should hardly feel
that was tired. But mean to try TO bear
in mind what you have just said to me for l
am sure it will put much better thoughts into
my mind, than l sometimes have had, when
she found fault with me, without cause, and
make me bear it with more patience than l
! have done.
The winter and spring passed away, and Be-
linda still remained with Mrs. Maulins Her
health was excellent, which, combined with
the resolution she had formed in consequence of
the advice and encouragement of Mrs. Emery,
enabled her to malntain such constant cheer
tulness, as in her case, to disprove the infali-
bility of the adage, that, A constant dropping
,oiH ,oear stone.
One lovely morning, early in June, Mrs.
Emery called on Mrs. Maulns Belinda,
whose sphere, she being The only domestic,
comprehended many and various duties, opened
the door. Mrs. Emery could hardly suppress
an explanation of pleasure, at the sight of her
beaming face. Smiles were mirrored in her
hazle eyes, nestled in dimples around her
mouth, and diffused kind of rosy radiance
over her whole countenance. 1t could not be,
Mrs. Emery felt certain, the mere pleasure of
seeing her. They met too often for that. Ii
was evidently the overfowing of some Joy, too
great TO be hidden in her heart. She, more
over, had on her pink and white gngham gown,
which, with the exception of her white cam
brio, was the best she had in the world.
The mystery was explained by the words,
I'm going home TO stay three days. which
Belinda found opportunity to say she wait
ed on Mrs. Emery into the apartment, where
Mrs. Maulins sat in a rocking-chair, with
countenance expressive of fretfulness and i'll
humor.
Do take chair, Mrs. Emery said She
{ You find me here in this little nondescript
room, half kitchin, half sitting-room, because
the others are all nicely cleaned, and things
that are in order must be kept SO till Belinda
comes back. She is going 10 see her mother
and the two children, and expects to be gone
three days. What l am to do no soul can
tell. If do not get tired out, and have a
fit of sickness after it, shall think myself
fortunate.
Belinda has lived with you over eight
months, believe said Mrs. Emery, and
it is perfectly natural that she should wish 10
go home
We'll, il don't seem natural TO me, for any
one TO whsh to go to such place as that, after
tud--ing had the privilege of living in decent
| house. Why her mother lives in mere how
ell. There are only three rooms in it, and o.
| ly one of those is even ceiled. Ii was between
| daylight anc dark when called to see if |
could get Belinda TO come and live with me !;
and as sat by the fire, and by the light of
some splintered pitchwood, saw the rough
beams and rafiers overhead, expected every
moment that shower of dust and cobwebs
would fall down upon my new velvet bonnet
and cashmere shawl
IF it had been in the daytime said Mrs.
| Emery, you would have seen that there was
no occasion for any such fear. Though Mrs.
Selby's kitchen is rough and unfinished, she
does not suffer either dnst or cobwebs to accu-
mulate.'
There, if there aint Mr.. Chesford, this
minute, exclaimed Mrs. Maulins, as she saw a
chaise stop near the house. He has come for
Linda, and will venture to say there are forty
things which she has neglected TO do. Beliu-
dan she cried, elevating her voice.
Belinda appeared at the door, with her bon
4 net in her hand, for she too, had seen Mr..
Chesford. He was her mothers nearest neigh
Dor, and having come TO town the day previous
on business, had called at Mrs. Selby' request
and offered TO take her daughter home.
Have you done everything told you to !!
said Mrs. Maulins.
Yes, ma am, everything replied Belinda
throwing sidelong look ont at the window
where Mr.. Chesford sat in his chaise waiting
for her. .r
i am afraid you haven't, said Mrs. Maui
ins. Did you wash the woodhouse floor =
Yes, ma am, said Belinda, again glaucine
out at the waiting chaise, and at the same
time making motion to turn back into the
kitchen.
Stop--don't 60 yet. | know well enough