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


"Well, sir, deal in plum-oakes, in my own
country, and l want smart, likely appren-
tice. Would you be willing to come into a
concern, with great deal of good will, but
| not a very large businessau
"Well Sir, Pm the boy that will be likely for
to do large business anywhere plum-cakes
are KEEP"
Rose walked slowly, that she might hear all
she could, but cared little for the young mans
nonsensical colloquy with Doke If he was
come to buy Mr.. Richardss farm, nothing he
could say or do could possibly interest me.
when did the gentleman come 2" asked
of Rose, rather to elicit some further particu-
lars about his business than for the purpose of
obtaining a direct reply.
80, he has been here almost ever since you
went away; he came with MIR. Richards from
| town. and they have been all over the farm TO-
rether, and | heard him saw he liked it yery
| s uch-I guess he will buy t."
perhaps Mr.. Richards will ask too much
money" | suggested anxious to throw what OBJ
staoles could in his way.
| guess, for my part" replied Rose, Mr..
Richards would be willing TO sell the old place
for almost anything; and hoard Mr.. iShue
! say that money was no object 10 him.
| l felt assured that this last observation of
Mr.. Timothy Shue might be susceptible of
more interpretations than one; yet felt sadly
| annoyed, and wished that had not spoken of
him at all.
Mike met us at the door, looking pleased, as
| ignorant people and children are, with new
things and told us we might not remain togeth-
er many nights longer; upon which, Rose fell to
guessing what changes would be likely to be
| made.
would not listen to them, but, trying to
assume an air of entire unconcern, entered the
library, where | supposed Mr.. Richards to be,
and where indeed found him asleep on the
| sofa, OF affecting to be SO, for he neither spoke
| nor removed the newspaper with which his
face was covered. | did not awake him, but
softly left the room, affecting to receive his
| own affsctation.
He could not long avoid meeting me face to
face, | knew and was anxious to know in
what way he would demean himself, and, to
| expedite the time, | set myself to assist Rose
in the preparation of supper.
took special pains to prepare dish which
| knew Mr.. Richards greatly relished, for, of
all things in the world desired most TO please
him; but alas, it tended in the end to my
| modification and misease, for we were scarcely
seated at supper, when Rose was directed to
remove it from the table, and reprimanded for
preparing dish for supper, which should only
be served at breakfast. | felt the reproof was
| designed for me, and also that MIR. Shue 80
understood it for he at once begged that it
| might remain on his account, and psrtook of
it with the greatest apparent enjoyment. For
| myself, | could neither eat that nor anything
else. / knew my discomfort was not unob-
served; nevertheless though polite and atten-
| tive to his guest, Mr.. Richards avoided all d.
rect communication with me. never saw any
person, who, retaining perfect civility of man
| ner, would yet convey to you so sure feeling
of utter incompetence to please or interest.
For myself, was always ready to please and
| to be pleased, and sometimes, without any ef-
fort, seemed to confer the greatest pleasure;
but, alas all my skill failed at other times
yet the same fatal fascination, succeed or fail,
kept me from rebellion.
| | said, "This man is in my destiny" and
| felt that would move heaven and earth but
| that l would be in his. There is fate too
| mighty for our will.
| said he avoided direct communication with
me, addressing Rose in preference.
"Didn't | hear the voice of neighbor Hal
| stead's boy Master Doke?n he inquired of
her, as she waited at table
ayes, sir" she replied; "he is come to visit
Miss Mary"
| natured way, for she knew my dislike of the
| lad MIR. Richards, however, purposely per-
verse, understood her literally, and said, at
| once
Bring him in, Rose"
Which she accordingly did, and seated him
at the right hand of MIR. Richards, and oppo-
| site Mr. Shue, who, in kindness or pity, or
| both, opened conversation with me- in which
he exhibited variety of curious information
and anecdote, gathered from extensive travel
and close observation.
To my SURPRISE he did not so much as glance
at Doke, and though did not, either, | was
painfully aware of his i'll bred behaviour. MIR.
| Richards, on the contrary took especial care
| to do him honor. My vsiter was. of course,
entitled to polite attention. don't know the
extent of the lads i'll behaviour, but remcm-
Der of seeing him pick his teeth repeatedly
with his fork, and scratch his toes aud his
| head, holding at the same time the knife, with
which he ate, in his hand.
saw Rose replenishing dish after dish, and
felt to whom the inordinate demand must be
| credited, but my courage was inadequate to
visual observation.
Doke was we'll aware of the capacity of his
stomach, and crudely supposed himself to pos
sess q dimension of brain corresponding In
deed the idea of incompetency to converse with
+ vihe, never entered his head. It was therefore
without the least difddence that he mumbled
| out whatever came uppermost as he fed
"Charley, her bruber, is gone!" he said, abb.
ruptly and pointing his knife at me.
"Ah,n replied MIR. Richards; "gone whereq"
await till swaller this ere morsel of meat !;
noffen is 30 good as meat"
"Certainly, your pleasure is mine"
| heard a responsive chucklc; shortly after
which, Doke said
| "You want to know where he is gone, do
you, sir! Well, that's for you and me for to
find out. I'll tell you, though, what have
thunk-he's gone off somewheres to specorlate
in beef CATTLE"
aWhen did he vanishan said Mr.. Richards,
regardless of the conclusions of Doke.
| "The last chance he had for to go between
two lights"
"Humph, did he carry his effects with him y
| "Never effected noffen ii know of, and if he
did, do know whe'er he took 'em; he took his
shirten purity much, heard 'em say; and his
rife, he took that; do know whe'er he thinks
of shooter hisself or no."
aProbably he doe" replied MIR. Richards ;
| and his manner seemed to indicate that, in his
opinion, it was az good thing as he could do.
Every word struck my heart like an arrow.
wished for something anything that would
interrupt the conversation; and when Doke
al guess how't there's one will be sorry.
meant for to 60 and for to tell her-may be
YOU do know who mean-Lucretria Wiki
| fmfen"
ga most unfortunate young lady" replied
| Mr.. Richards; "to lose mother and lover is
really too bad"
And, turning to Mr. Shue, he explained the
circumstances, naming Charley as the brother
of his kousekeeper.
RI - h.x~~a xad IN INV