Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-14

in domestic economy, but rich in specimens,
brought me, one day to such an extreme case,
in the shape of o cook and a character, that
was sure my fortune was made Every day she
lived with me it seemed sinful waste OF my
privilege not to be making book to frame her
in, if for no other purpose; only there was a
hesitation about using her. as ii it might be in
fringement Of o copyright; for such an exagge-
rated form Of humanity it was much easier
hncying as strayed out of book, than as ever
born alive.
Relieved from kitchen superintendent, then
did realize that an old-fashioned practice had
Of living with my children was not eminently
conducive to literary success. Pen, ink, and
PAPER, were incontinently appropriated by
little fingers, when the mother in full, "hands
and feet, and busy head" was not claimed by
the little people; and slow suspicion dawned
upon me, that woman, who would perform
"a special effort must begin by quenching
noring her friends. But my will was up, and
the way must be found. So went we ON, for
months more, in very suppressed state
ever daring to be as funny as could i" but if
ever bright thing rose in my throat, closing
my teeth upon it, TO bottle it up, as, possibly,
i've cents worth of lightning" for the book
That Jack a-lantern book How it beckoned
me on--how it tired me---how many petty
wastes and small breaches were repaired by
it's visionary proceeds, before it could even
borrow leave to be-"
Working by inches, in odd corners, between
calls and claims innumerable-with aching
shoulders, quiyering nerves, and painfully COM
PEELED attention--in the midst of highly ava
kcned babies dusty rooms, failing wardrobes
and kitchen clamors, all which were to be
renovated or beatfied in some miraculous
way, az recompense-l did, eventually, bring
the task to completion.
Stern, duly taking counsel Of my husband,
who, after patient reading and judicious pru-
ming, thought it would do, the important man
uscrpt was offered to o respectable publisher,
with whom we believed its appearance might
be negotiated. Shall | ever forget the dead
weight Of the packet that was brought to me,
u few days after, or the silly tremble Of the
fingers that opened it! With my returned
manuscript lay folded note, addressed to my
husband under whose care the application
had been made have always remembered
It's words--they ran in large, easy text, and
short paragraphs
:" Sir: We could do you no service by farther
detention of your manuscript.
"No experienced house would hazard the
publication Of what must prove wholly unsafe
able
g If your lady friend is not oYer-sensitive to
advice, allow me to Recommend to her the
study Of Proportion.
Every member of her romance suffers plot
ry-fgurcs, personal and illustrative, for
anatomical adjustment.
IF, as is probable, the lady understands real
better than fictitious relations, she will do wise-
IL, - ~ I'D E.,I &c
lensiye in my freedom.
with due respect, yours Sc,
SELLERS & Coz
Slowly, and with becoming disgust the con-
demned manuscript was examined-strip after
strip, those disecta meBbrd read, and laid up
on the fire slowly the fallen thimble was pick
cd up, and fingers cold, but no longer trem-
bing--fngers that never straycd toward the
And this is the end, though not the whole, Of
my story about story, my single contribution
to the calamities of authorsp
aThcn came the black timev added Aunt
Hopsy, between two pauses, leaving me to gil
the silence with that shadow of death, which,
| knew, had wholly changed her life; g then
my hands grew strong with desperation-not
hope; then this kind home was opened to me,
and since then my poor Aunty reused up
her crooked shoulders TO the climax, with an
homogeneous air Of pride, that quite kept me
from crying-'I have, perhaps, done as much
sewing az any woman Of my agen
Little Sue puckered her pretty mouth, and
muttered something-in very rainy whispers
about the greatest shame land that hateful
publisher and she knew it was beautiful
story while ] fell to wondering seriously,
whether Aunt Hepsy might not, even now, by
exchanging the needle for the pen, liberalize
the cut Of her mourning Doubtless, it would
be private qualification, and Jim suggests,
surely public Improvement