The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-14
VOL. VIII.


tightening blasted tree and q solitary crow.
"Thank you, Pm pretty well; how do you
do yourselff" was the good-natured, but some
what abrupt salutation, that discovered my
thoughts from the crow, and the poor youth
that by some undesirable association of ideas,
| was connected with it.
turned suddenly, and perceived that was
opposite the milking yard, for had not pre-
viously taken nots Of my whereabouts My
eyes fell at first upon Rose, who sat squatted
beside an ill-natured COW, who had thrust back
her ears and refused the cud. Her tail was
twisted about the neck of the girl who looked
the psrsonifcation of good humor as she milk
ed with both hands, her mouth working in
sympathy.
She beckoned me, by nod of the head, Ia
approach, and when did so, informed me that
we had visitors to entertain that night "Here
is mine, and there is yours" she said, bobbing
her head in opposite directions; and, following
her motions, | became aware Of the proximity
of Doke, who sat squatted in the dust under
the deep udder of gentle old cow, with his
head thrown back like calf
T" You see he has a new-fashioned bucket
one that can't be filed full, " said Roee, laugh
ing imnrodesstely; and sure enosgh perceiy-
| ed fh9t he was milking in his mouth.
"You don't seem disposed to return my sal
utation,n said the voice which had first accost-
ed me. al am a young man of distinguished
attainments in several branches of abstruse
science, but disposed to put myself on q level
with you common people while sojo with
you, which may be for weeks, and it may be
forever
"Pardon me, sir,n said, al am but now
aware of the presence of o stranger" And 30
it was, for till that moment had not seen the
pale and eight halfslovenly, halfgentleman-
ly, little person, who sat perched on the top
most fence rail, making himself into fool for
the entertainment of Doke and Rose, and
thereby apparently afording the highest amuse-
| ment to himself.
"Ah, Miss Halstead, you must look up to
see me- You discover am of an aspiring ma
ture; can't help it; was born so; and in my
will intend to write
"'Bury me deep in the infinite sea,
Let my heart have a linitess grave
81 ought to have been named Napoleon, but
nay mother was unaware Of my brilliant en-
dowments, and she named me Timothy-there-
fore, permit me to introduce myself to you as
MIR. Timothy Shue-goodish name, amt it,"
I He had climbed down from the fence while
making this last speech, and, approaching, of.
fered me his hand, which, by the way, was
partly encased in a soiled white glove. His
waistcoat was white also, or had BEEN his
coat was of fine material and fashionably made,
but was pushed partly off his shoulders, as if
he suffered from heat; and his neckcloth, in
| around his straw hat in fantastic style.
He was miserably lame, but swung himself
about with great dexterity upon a crutch.
can see him now as he appeared that night,
hanging almost on the crutch, which heaved
the shoulder of the lame side greatly above the
other. One leg was drawn crooked 30 even
the toe did not touch the ground when he
swung himself about But, notwithstanding
the deforning disadvantage, he was exceeding
ly graceful and preposscssing. His face struck
me then SIS being the handsomest had ever
seen; but | think now, though there was q
most sweet and amiable expression, and fea-
lures regularly moulded, there was requisite
the clarifying of the intellect to entitle him to
the appellat.on Of handsome And yet he was
more than pretty-there was n sort of laugh
ing intelligence in his mild, blue eyes, which
seemed to cay he saw into things in his own
lazy fashion, about as deeply as most people. His
hands were the most delicately beautiful | ever
saw, and a glowing spot in either pale cheek
indicated wasted or wasting health. His fair
hair had almost golden tinge; his teeth were
even and snow white; and the quiet smile about
the mouth told of pretty general looking
upon the sunny side of life. So appeared MIR
Timothy Shue, as he stood amongst US in the
| milk yard
81 have great confidence in first Impressions,
Miss Halstead,n he eaid, speaking slowly and
lowly, and rather as if musing slo4d, than ad-
dressing me, "and | incline strongly to the
| persuasion that this is a remarkable young
man, On whom | am tonight, for the first
time permitted to gaze. My optics have sell
dom been so RECALLED as with the phenomena
of his feeding. You have productive coun-
try here, hope; you should have, if this
young man hath any kinsmen like unto him.
self"
Doke probably understood not word new
ertheless, he felt instinctively that he was the
subject of remark; and bestowing on the
stranger grin Of delight, he rolled himself
forward in series of summersets, until he
reached one of the door-yard trees, to the top
of which he wound his way like serpent.
Secure in his new quarters, he began at once
display of his initiative powers, now bleat-
ing like a sheep now Growing like a cock, and
now yelping and snarling like a cur.
Mr.. Shue listened some time, apparently in
keen enjoyment of the exhibition, and then
remarked that he suspected the young mans
sphere of action was quite below his merits
Rose had BY this time finished the milking,
Ia portion of the work belonging to Mike and
which she did in kindly consideration of his late
disability.
Whence Mr.. Timothy Shus had come, and
how he CHANGED to be o guest at the White
House, remained ignorant.
Rose, probably feeling how great her own
curiosity would be under similar circumstan-
ces, fell little back, and in q distinct whisper
communicated the facts which were as fol-
lowe:
HTimofhv Shue. amt if a funny mamie
He's got a mother but she's dead; and he's
got sister somewhere, he says, II she aini
married and may be he's going to buy MIR
Richards out, and get married, and live here
but he's 30 dreadful lame, nobody will have
him. wonder how he got hurt, or if he was
always co."
"My dear young lady," said Mr.. Shue, halt
ing, and facing her, "you would like to be ad.
vised as to my present unfortunate condition
for that it is unfortunate is illustrated in the
fact that am denied the pleasure of carrying
your pail | am also slightly inconvenienced
INDIVIDUALLY; and, as you suggest, it will prob
ably be in the way Of my matrimonial pros
poets Believe me, it lie no fault of mine, thai
l am as you see me. Circumstances beyond
my control made me cripple in short, wa
Goodness sakes!D whispered Rose @won
der what he does for living -
. Doubtless" replied Mr.. Shue. smiIins
: placidly, "the prosecution of that INQUIRY
would be to you very curious but it involves
, variety of ways and means which do NO,
/ feel myself at liberty to descant largely upou
1t is no disregard of your wishes which prompt.
l this reserved course on my part, but simply 9
sense of duty. | may, however, venture K
say
, "sI am q man that hath had losses'n