The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27

ana embarrassed, could say but little, and tina
little very badly. At homo had kept in th,
opscarest corner, and now the night protected
me from his observation but when we drew
near his own home, and the lights streameC
Drhhantiy from dozen windows, felt tina
.nere was no further refuge for me, and tina
ne would see at glance how plain l was snt
now little knew. The suffering this though
occasloned me was quite gratuitous.
Inc lane leading from the main road tx
MS house was bordered with trees-maples anG
.ocus.s-and gradually ascending for quar-
ser Oh mile or more when, opening a small
gate, winding walk, paved with gravel, and
edged with box and flags, led us to the main
entrance of the house, email, uupretending
| cottage, as know now-but then, it was the
hne house OF our neighborhood-and the white
walls, and piazzas, and green blinds, and flower
beds, and serpentine walks, had an import.
ance, from their novelty The ground had
been purchased and the improvements effected
by man of liberal fortune, who, for some
| cause, never came to reside among US, and
who, after years neglect, shufled off the
pretty homestead altogether. Fortune had,
perhaps, dealt him better hand elsewhere.
"a servant man opened the door for us, and
to my great annoyance, for wore Money was
directed to remove my wet overshoes and cloak.
The door leading into the parlor stood open,
and the books on the table, the pictures on the
wal, and the ornaments On the mantelpiece,
indicated more refined and elegant taste than
| was accustomed to- AS we paused, Mr..
Richards shaking the snow from his brown
curis and wet garments, and affecting to busy
myself hound, one of the most beautiful of
| bis species, white, spotted with fawn, and his
hide as smooth as the silver collar he wore.
rose from the rug and his master went for
ward, and answered his whine with caress,
and merry shake of the ear--sLittle Harry's
playfellow, and the more endeared to me on
that account he said as he led the way to the
sick child's room but the tone and manner
were so worldly, could not tell whether the
dog were endeared to him for the child's sake
or the child for that of the dog.
eve were half way up stairs, or thereabouts
when face, something wrinkled from youth
full proportions, peered from the door above
and voice, of that querulous and authorita-
tive tone which very unhappy wives sometimes
adopt, said:
"tMr. Richards, are you going to be all
night bringing in neighbor girl
&C., no, Miss Pinchum; here we are entire
ly at your service
This tone was the gayest had yet heard
him use; and, as he spoke, he pushed the
woman aside, and conducted me to the fire.
CO It's too bad said she, following slowly.
"My host brought forward the easy chair
and the cushioned footstool, advising me to
carefully warm and dry my feet - hoped
would suffer no inconvenience from the expo
sure-said he would call the attention of DR..
Roberts TO me on his arrival
:" 1t was not until he had comfortably seated
himself in the corner of the sofa next the fire,
and unfolded two or three newspapers, using
his hand as a paper knife, that he seemed to
remember the sick boy; and then he did not
rise, but glancing toward the curtained bed,
as he opened gold repeater, and twirled the
chain quickly about his fingers, asked the
nurse how her little charge seemed to be.do-
ing:
Miss Pinchum, who had seated herself as
far from US as possible, and with her back to-
ward us, affected not to hear; for she had
smothered her face in her apron, and bowed
down her head, till the pretence, whieh am
assured it was, made some show of reality.
"fPoor little fellow!' said the father, turn
ing down the Counterpart, and bending over
him-'no material change that ses-gradu
ally wasting away | thought he sighed as
he laid down the little hand, but am not sure
though am sure his blue eyes were undimmed
when he turned away.
"'Fond Of sea weeds?' he asked, bringing
of which had amused the last DAYS of Mrs.
Richards, as he informed mo.
I" | said yes, though had never seen a col
lection before; and, drawing chair near mine,
he turned them over, pointing out the various
delicate shades, and descanting, for my amuse-
ment on the beauties of nature generally.
1t was simply from habit of politenese,
and he would have shown them to Martha
with as much pleasure, have no doubt but
the civility aroused the indignation of Miss
Pinchum past endurance and, putting the
apron from before her eyes, she bent over little
Harry, sobbing and moaning at a woful rate.
"'Any fatal symptoms, nurse?' asked Mr..
Richards, still turning the flowers
Miss Pinchum was too much affected to
reply but she cried the louder.
"'She is very much attached to the boy
Mr.. Richards said, alphabetically; she has
er's before him, believe'
"'You are quite mistaken, Mr.. Richards,'
replied the lady, looking terribly outraged; Il
am not thousand years old, sir'
"'No, Miss Pinchum, not a thousand years
DID, and the smile and the emphasis seemed
to indicate that she was about as nearly q thou
sand years old as women lived to be.
"'Well, don't care anything about my
age,' said Miss Pinchum, wiping her eyes; but
was not bigger than that little girl Gndica-
ting me) when you were married Il know
that
"'Very WE'LL said Mr. Richards, twirling
his chain, as before, and as though the subject
were to DO dismissed; q confess am not OBJ
servant of the ladies' ages, unless have some
particular interest in them
"'I would like to know what have done,
that makes me so hateful to you,' said Miss
a., Har laolr nf; n1, 30
one of reproach.
"'Really, nurse, don't understand your
mood tonight; you have certainly been very
faithful-been all could wish you to be.
"'There it is again-just as if | ever said |
wished to be anything wasn't!
"'NO, Catherine, you never said so, certain
ly;" and MIR. Richards crossed one leg over the
other knee, and smiled complacently.
"If poor little Harry's mother had not said
to me, almost the last words she ever spoke,
she wanted me to take charge of the baby, |
would 90 right out of this house, stormy night as
it isl would not stay here to be talked so to-
"All this long controversy amounts to
nothing / prefer declining it; worn down as |
am with watching and anxiety, the little rest |
can have is grateful
al don't know how you expect others, who
don't rest ct all to keep mp forever - and Miss
Pinchum looked as though she were the most
injured woman in all the world.
"sYou would do well to avail yourself of
Miss Halstead's kindness-we will call if you
are needed, and you surely require Sleep; and
Mr.. Richards went to the window, and tapped
softly on the sash, with his 6nger-ends.
al approached the bedside, and added my
entreaties that she would try to compose her.
self. but she would not hear Of it, and putting
me back, said, while there was breath in little
Harry's BODY, she would not desert him. |