The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, AUGUST II, 1854


Pinchum, she is so artificial that doubt if
there be any Of the original Miss Pinchum
leit-false hair false teeth, and one false eye,
haven't you gu
But Miss Pinohun could not laugh it was
no use to try; and, almost choking with indig-
nation, che replied:
My heart is not false, at any rate and
that is moro than can be said Of some persons,
and | guess some other persons will find it
outn
"Then you admit my defect is not quite so
Obvious as yours; but plead guilty TO your
accusation, for if have any heart, have not
boon conscious Of it for long time"
81 don't know Miss Pipchum's opinion
said the widow, gaily, but for my part,
think man without @ heart is better than
Donen
Excellent, " responded Mr.. Richards " then
my case is not hopeless, desperate Gs it is.
What gay you, Mics HalStead9"
"That you have nothing to fear, certain
~"
:" wish was dead |" exclaimed Miss Pinch
um, setting by her tea-cup and suffering the
tears to drop in unooncealed freedom down
her cheeks.
care You i'll and what can DO done to serve
yOu?7 asked our host.
"Now, you needn't pretend any interest you
don't feel" replied the injured woman, sob
bing all tie while, "you might just as well say
you hate me at onoc, and wish Yves dead and
cut OF your way If you only wait q little long
or viii be, for | can't endure this way OF liV-
ing much longer-and when you have had me
decently buried, you may 60 and marry Mrs.
Wilkinson, or Miss Halsteed, if you want 70,
es soon IS | am cold, MIR. Richards" At this
point the poor woman became too much agi-
tated TO say more.
A flush Of fire passed over TIE face Of our
host, end left it pale his intense anger made
him calm, and he replied in low, steady voice,
"You have surprised snd panied me, madam,
but as to wishing you dead, your life and death
are matters Of utter indifference to me; and as
for marrying Mrs. Wilkinson, doubt not but
that she would be quito rs averso to such On
union rs myself"
"What does GveTse meant" asked the
widow, in my car; but Mr. Richards, who
overheard the question, replied:
cit means, madam, that no possible COM
b;nation Of circumstances could bring about
marriage between you and me-"
"If ever | stitch my eyes blind to make
pantaloons for you again, and face that ugly
ball, and everything, to bring my work home
to you, | hope may be hanged--thaps all. AS
for marrying you, would not have had you
the best day ever you saw; and now you are as
ugly as mud fence, and as old as the hills.
Look at me-, in my mOuEnirg-deepest kind
do | lock like getting marriedt"
81 can't say that think You d." replied
MIR. Richards, smiling, for the ludicrous scene
had quite restored his good humor.
"You are great old fool, that is just what
you arc" "And you arc another" cried the
widow, looking from Mr. Richards to Miss
iinchnm; and as she spoke she rose from the
table, and, kicking her chair half across tho
room, foundered out of tho house, holding her
mourning shawl aud bonnet in her hands; and
slamning the gate behind her, and muttering
to herself, she disappeared in the darkness, for
it vas now night.
Seeing that her most formidable foe was
gore, Miss Pinchum began to swallow her sobs,
and tho next moment removed the handker-
chief from one eye, which she turned in mute
spGGei t tS her aga hearted tGEmentor as she
He was quietly partaking of his tea, and ap-
parently did not observe her; upon which, che
said, in fsltering tones, she was not angry, but
that she had her feelings hurt.
Still Mr. Richards maintained silence, or
converted with Mrs Halstead At this juno
ture the lady rose, and, laying one hand play
fully on the shoulder of her patron, said, in
coaxiDg tones, Come Harry, forgive me, and
let us kiss and be friends"
81 have no desire to be friends; indeed, after
YOUR conduct this evening, it is quite impossi-
bic. | trust shall be able to ind house
kecpor who shall better understand her duties"
Add turning to me, he spoke in light and
lively vein, az though the embarrassing scene
through which we had passed was but the
most trif;ng episode in an otherwise most
agreeable occasion.
While we were breakfastipg at home, the
following morning, and | relating to Charley
the scene at the whito house the previous even
ing. VIC noticed the widow Wilkinson crossing
our fields with an unusually hurried step, and
bearing heavy bundle, which was swung on
a stick, over her shoulder
"She is running away" said ITO escape
notification Charley said she was proba-
bly carrying home some bundle OF WORK Dut
be looked anxious, and went to the window TO
assure himself, as thought that Lucretla old
not accompany her.
Good" exclaimed Doke, 81 hope she is
going away down the river" rather an equiv
ocal term to most persons but to Doke IL was
no yagary, and down the river meant to the
end CT the earth.
| asked what especial interest her move
| ger. began TO twitch and twist cuTiously as nc
answered. that she had probably lett some
good stuff in the cupboard at home, and that
| # so. he was the boy that would be grabbing
after it.
| eyes, Dokey, you have as good Iignt az
ANYBODY and there is no way but to look Out
for yourself in this world and more especially
| in this neighborhood,D said Martha.
| NV father ventured the remark, that the
reighborhood was very good one-umloly nc
spoke, nevertheless he did speak It,
i"What do you say?" exclaimed Martha
Thunderstorm.
"Nothing," replied my father and, leaving
| his second cup of coffee untasted, he walked
out into the sunshine, and silently Leaned
against the barn door.
| Charley soon followed, for the widows move
ments had completely destroyed his appetite
and shortly after arose, indignant at the stat
of things in general. 49,.
Charley, to say the least, was half IN lov
with Lucretia Wilkinson, slmple-mnde
child, unkno1ing her own heart, Dependent
inexperienced, and in all ways united 10
the mate of the selfdistrustful and vsclliatin
Charley. | saw my last hope that he woui
attain to a manly ambition, and claim an
occunv bonorabIy a place in the world, vanist
ing away. saw my father growing old, allk
destitute of self-respoct and the respect of tn
world-an honest, good man, but with n
thought to compel the fortune and the Gonsic
Grafton that como not of themselves. Hetty
saw broken, in spirit and body, and Marth
dry as dust in the midst, with that hungry a
, formity, Doke, prowling about the premise
. eager as hound that has just struck u
, scent-useless, troublesome.
| Indignation against my own kinored To-
turbulent, and presently recoiled back upo
myself. "If it be 60 easy to bend circunstal
; ccs, why sit idle and ill.natured!" l aske