Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-18
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
H OIL wv 0 0 D
BY ALICE CAREY.
CHAP. II--Continued.

doh0ate shades, and descantinG LOT my aihu5c-
ment ON the beauties of nature generally.
II was simply from habit OF poiitenesT
and he would have shown them to Martha
with as much pleasure, have no doubt; but
the ciyility 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 wofni 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
HShe is very much attached to the boy
Mr.. Richards said, apologetically; she has
been his nurse from infancy, and was his moth
er's before him, believe
You are quite mistaken, Mr.. Richards
replied the lady, looking terribly outraged; |
am not thousand years old, sir!'
"No Miss Pinchum, not thousand years
DID, and the smile and the emphasis seemed
TO Indicate that she was about az nearly thou
sand years old as women lived to be.
asWeu, | don't care anything about my
age said Miss Pinchum, wiping her eyes; sbut
l Was not bigger than that little girl (iadica-
ting mel when you were married - know
that
Very well' said Mr.. Richards, twirling
his chain, as before, and as though the subject
were to DO dismissed; Il confess [ am not OBJ
servant Of the ladies' ages unless have some
particular interest in them
"tI would like to know whfe1 pave done,
that makes me 80 hateful to Bald Miss
Pinchum, softening her look Of Indignation to
one Of reproach.
81 Really, nurse, / don't understand your
mood tonight; you have certainly been very
faithful--boen all ! could wish you to be.
atThere it is again--just as if ever said
wished to be anything wasn't
"No, Catherine, you never said 80, certain
ly;p and Mr.. Richards crossed one leg over the
other knee, and smiled complacently.
elf 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 20 right ont of this house, stormy night as
it isl would not stay here to be talked 30 to-
"fAll this long controversy amounts to
nothing; prefer declining it; worn down as
am with watching and anxiety, the little rest
can have is grateful
az don't know how you expect others, who
don't rest at all, to keep up forever y 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 Endness-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 fnger-ends.
81 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.
Don't make that noise' she continued, ad-
dressing Mr.. Richards, but go down stairs,
and bring up o little wood, or your own child
will die with the cold!'
The gentleman rung the bell, and directed
some addition made to the fuel, and resumed
his old seat in the corner, quite forgetful of
Miss Pinchum's existence apparently.
tAre you going to sleep 2 asked that lady,
turning sharply round.
9'Not at present. was the quiet reply.
Jewell, then, what are you going to do?p
az Is there any service [ can offer?'
Have You bought that carriage We were
talking aboutf' inquired Miss Pinchum, alb
raptly.
asDid speak Of carriage? No matter,
however, have not bought one'
al don't know what | asked for, ! don't
care Miss Pinchum said, testify don't
suppose should ride in it twice in my hfe.'
"Mr. Richards made no reply to this last
observation, but turning 10 me, talked with
seeming interest of the neighborhood, the
country round about, its agricultural advsn-
like. While we were 80 engaged, there was a
loud ring at the door, and the next moment
heavy step was heard ascending the stairs;
the door opened, and tall figure, completely
envclopcd IN black, stood before MS
You are Henry Richards, unless am very
much mistaken she said, for the vister was
a woman,) advancing toward that gentleman,
and my name is Wilkinson--I am q widow
my husband has been dead two years; | never
took of mourning, and mover will, the longest
day ! live My husband was q carpenter
he worked at this very house, some. wonder
what's become OF the man that first built it,
no was rs sour-looking as yinegar--some al
lowed he was love-cracked, and some allowed
maybe be had killed q man sometime, and was
taking on about il, for he never made himself
no way sociable, among us here--never visited
nobody--hc went down the river Mt last. Well,
how is your little boy! heard he was sick
Self brag is poor recommendation, but / can
NUS with anybody in the village; am Wild
ow, and have had experience, and have come
70 60 to work, and do whatever is to be done;
and, Ia me, there is always enough to do where
one il sick twenty WELL are no moro trouble
than one sick, 70 they say and believe it's o
fact--in my husbands last illness Il have been
widow two years, now II seemed to me that
my house was just as upside down as il could
bel am good housekeepcr, and was wered
till was nigh about crazy. You must be
lonesome here--a little good company will be
rewiving. But Just let me tell you how got
skeered as was coming here, tonight. You
see I'd been all the afternoon TO Mr. Goodman's
donation party; there was number there
some | didn's expect TO see, and there were
some expected that didn't come IL always
will DO 80, you know, Mr.. Rchards.well,
was there, and along in the evening, when the
men began TO come for their wives, Il don't care
about mems society any more,) just puts my
bonnet on, and home | goes, and no sooner
gets there, than word comes to me about your
little boy being 90 dreadful bad; and thought
about your beng in strange place, and all,
and just puts on my things again, but had
! not taken them of, and | starts for your house,