The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-24

ouV, retiring from the room, she con.
oiooeo her laughter in the open air.
am afraid you will find some difficulty in
managing that little lady" said MIR. Richards
pronouncing the last word most sareastioallv,
SAID L had no apprehension but that ma
yoke:felloto land spoke the word with a sorl
OF sweet emphasis, as though it pleased me tc
esteem her my equaD would be found quite
tractable, and hoped we should be able to ar
range the house to the entire satisfaction of the
new superintendent.
She is the daughter continued Mr.. Rich
ards, without remarking my equalization, "oi
an independent farmer, and her breeding has
quite united her for service, though in apti-
tude there is no deficiency"
Yes recognised sister at once,n re-
piled; 1--WE shall agree nicely, | am sure, and
our real anxiety to serve you must atone for
our deficiencies" And turning away called
Rose, saying We had no time to lose and, taking
up the busting brush which lay On the carpeS,
Tell TO work, regardless of my employer, as
mentally christened him.
You are not free from your sex's weak
ness-perversity," he said, looking on me in a
sort OF mingled surprise end melancholy.
so, no, sir,"f replied, affecting 70 very clear
apprehension, AID nsore intent UPON law dust.
ing than he, 81 have more than my share, am
afraid"
He fingered moment as if at loss TO know
what treatment required, and without further
words left the room. Rose peered around. on
entering, and, discovering that was alone, fell
smsrtly to work, singing disjointed fragments
OF hymns, interlardlng now and then with
questions and criticisms, all in an easy and free
way, indicating the greatest satisfaction with
herself and every one else. Used to work, al
most from her cradle, she considered it her vo-
cation, and was neither above nor below it ::
nor did it derogate one whit from her indie
pendence, in her own estimation, that she went
out to service when it pleased her, and thereby
added largely to her calico frocks and gay rib
ands.
She had a good fathers house to 60 to- if
sick, she used to say; and while she had her
health and the use of her hands, she was supe.
rior to the ladies who could not keep house
without her assistance. She was a good, hon.
est rustic, and thorough northumberland,
shrewd, and vulgar, without the least natural
refinement, and wholly wanting the acquired
graces which In some sort atone for its alb
sence.
To fall to work beside her on terms of per-
feet equality, as had resolved to 10, was a Sc
we're trial of my humility. | might assume the
semblance-I might force my neck through
her yoke and fs my shoulders to her burdens
but could not rasp the proper nature God had
given me to the likeness of hers.
We had been for half an hour, perhaps. in the
library, regulating and re- ging, when Mr.
Richards, equipped for journey, appeared at
the door
81 beg of you, Miss Halstead, he said, "to
exert yourself no further-you are quite unequal
to the task you impose on yourself, and doubt
not but that Rose is more than competent for
the doing of all necessary labor
Rose looked up with a comical expression of
good humored independence, and said, A." Mary"
had too much good sense to be soft soaped in
that way-that he wasn't going to make q
stuck-up Miss Pinchum of me; and turning the
cushion of the lounge, she inquired whether
there were any bugs in it,
| felt my cheeks burn, and unconsciousy
turned my glance In surprise and reproval up
on her. She met my eyes, and responded, [" Ora
cious sakes! you assume it like born queen
but guess my father owns as much land as
yourn, and what is sass for goose ia sass for a
gander; so get stick, and let's kill thousand
or two CT these bugs"
81 hope you will NOT find them to exceed hun
dreds, at most, replied Mr.. Richards, laughing
outright; and turning over some late prints and
papers which lay on the table, he said | would
find among them something to amuge my leis
running away, if possible; ne proposed an ex-
cursion into the near city, and hoped to bring
homo by sunset Q model housekaeper. If I'M
successful, however, he said he should remain
day or two, perhaps two CT three days.
| thanked him for the sources of amusement
indicated, and, wishing him every success, bade
him good morning, in the pOlitest way knew,
without in any way disparaging the position
he had assigned me. Not that | az all faltcred
from my first resolve; but affectaton | argued
with myself was detcs:able. | would make
no effort to appear more or less than | was, for
constant depreciation of myself was unworthy
Of the true hearted woman which | meant to
be. Quietly kept at work, talking with Rose
the WHILE kindly, but not Familiarity, till all
was in beautiful order. It gave me pleasure
to contemplate the hours labor, all was SO tidy
and pretty.
Next we went to the chambers, then TO the
parlor, and then to the kitchen and though
more defer3ntial, and at last ventured not on
tie arrangement or disarrangement of any
thing, without asking my permission.
Long before nj ht she insisted on NY leaving
the hard work to her. She was born for it,
she said, and it would be the death Of her to
fold up her hands; if | would go to the libra
nv, and rest, and read, it would please her.
She would like to show me how smart she
could be without my help. remained, how
ever, till we had all things bright and clearly
as possible. Our next effort was in the Gull
nary art, Rose brought eggs, sugar, epices,
butter, &C., and left the compounding to me-
and indeed fortune favored me-the oven was
at the proper heat at the exact moment, and
custards, cakes bread, and all, baked to admi-
ration. | would prove to Mr. Richards |
kAoA IL ,,sNL, 10
with good housekeeping
The day grew cloudy and windy toward the
close, and ct sunset flakes of snow were seen
flying about; it was as if a wintry day had
found place in the spring. Rose FASTENED to
kindle fire in the parlor, and while the farm
boy did the milking, she ran to my fathers
house, and brought away such additional arti-
cles of clothing as she fancied it would give
me pleasure to have. She had OWNED my
thought correctly, and confess was delighted
when | saw her unpacking the great baske.
she had brought There was my pink dress
and my white apron-my new collar and black
slippers, and whatever else could
desire.
"Now, go and pnt them on" said Rose,
" while prepare the tea. want you to look
pretty tonight"
| smiled, and told her could not look very
pretty, try as would but, added, was will
ing to try, even though there was no one but
herself and Mike" the farmer boy, to see me-
"Take my for word for it" said Rose, there
will be somebody else to see you, and admire
you, too. didn't have eyes give me for moth
ing; and when man likes woman, there are
more ways of its showing itself than one"
"What you say may be very true" | re-
Piled, not displeased, own "but having seen
no Indications of preference for myself from
anybody, am at a loss to understand you.
THE long and short of it is," she replied,
G. M D;obarIs xy,Il oopa hnma t0-niCht IL