Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-22
LITERARY MISCELLANY.


straight row sganst the WAL, the ashes care
fully brushed up and the furnitnre dusted, and
afterwards rubbed till it shone again. And
during all her work the widow talked on, IN
kind Of irregular, active transitive way, now
telling that she knew q man, that he had q
sister that was chased by . bull once and that
she had been an idiot ever since and now,
that she know woman, that she had child
that lay three days without speaking, and was
then cured by an application Of rationale
grease to the soles Of her feet s
She had certainly had Q large and curious
experience if her own accounts were correct
and they doubtless were; and to watch and to
listen to her was an interesting pastme. Mr..
Richards was greatly amused, smiling enoour-
agingly, and throwing in word now and
then---enough to keep her busy
Miss Pinchum, who had felt Q little Jealous
on my coming, hitched her chair toward me,
and said, in . whisper, she feared we would
be dreadfnlly bored, now that an enemy was
really in her province She felt disposed to
form an alliance with me; and such looks ne
she gave the widow would have quite annihi-
lated her, if the widow had seen them, which,
fortunately, she was too busy to do. All at
once che disappeared from among US.
"sWhat frightful creature! wish she
would 20 home Can't you contriye to get her
OF? o, do tryr This appeal was made to
MIR. Richards, in very sweet and winning &C.
cents; nevertheless, he was not at all moved,
but, simply saying she seemed o person Of
good Intentions and really made the house
quite cheerful with activity and gossip re-
lapsed into thoughtful silence, CHANGING unessi-
" toward the bed, where lutte Harry lay
moaning to himself
80 Makes the house cheerful, does she [!
She's fool-that's just what she is; pretend
ing TO come here to see the sick She came to
see you---thsts what she came for; but if you
think she's 30 kind and so wise, | am sure she's
welcome to come here, for ell of me- have
no right to say anything against it. only
wish she would wait few days, and would
be out of the way, for hated her the moment
set eyes on her.
should not form judgments 90 prematurely-
for myself have no doubt but that she is as
good as she is original
as Maybe you think she is handsome, ten
feet high, and red hair, and forty years old II,
Did you ever hear, Miss Pinehum, COM
mon adage about glass houses.
- have heard, that o man buried half his
senses when be buried his wife, and believe
it too,' and Miss Pinchum beat the carpet vio-
lentIy with her foot
"sThere she is, coming up stairs continued
tho irritated lady she walks like 9 war
horsep The widow appeared, with her
sleeves turned back and busting look she
had been preparing tea there was nothing
like it, to keep body up under trials she
said she would remain by the bed, while we
went below and took . mouthful or two'
Mr.. Richards thanked her, and led the way
30 showing her. quietly, that he appreciated
her efforts to please him. Miss Pinchum de-
clined at FIRST; shc didn't know how anybody
could think of eating, when little Harry was
30 sick; but having shaken her fist at their
backs and sfterward banged at the open
door through which they were gone, she con-
cluded, If l would remain by the bed, she
would 20 for half Q minute. and take cup Of
tea, jutt to keep her head from breaking At
the door she turned, came close to me, and
asked if / thought it possible that Mr.. Rich
srdr, 90 handsome, and young enough for her
or me- would marry that vulgar widow.
knew nothing of the gentleman, and
could not 90 correctly estimate the probabili-
ties as herself, upon which she concluded that
be said 9 great deal more than he felt, merely
TO plague her-the happifying influence Of
which conclusion ! did not disturb by the ut
terancs Of any thoughts, for Miss Pinchum
was certainly little younger, and no prettier,
than her rival, as she esteemed the widow. /
thought, ct the time, il was strange they could
not see he was 70 above them, in his bright
radiance and collateral light they must be
comforted, not in his sphere
But who Of us all are any wiser?
little Harry kept turning on the pillow,
and moaning to himself and sat down be-
side the bed, and took the tiny hand which
lay on The coverIid in mine II was burning
hot and grasped my fingers tightly as if hold
- A. 4 I'll - 49, - l~1 -
many hours 70 live, though none Of the house
clock struck twelve in some distant part Of the
house, but al was 90 still | counted the
strokes. While did 90, there was a light step
on the stairs and crouching as If afraid, the
beautiful hound, Fleet came Close to the
bedside, and raising himself on his hind feet,
licked the hand that lay on the Counterpart.
1tHumphi worse--much worse! said
strange voice and looking up, my eyes met
those Of DR.. Roberts as supposed the person
who was bending over the bod to be.
"He inquired when the present symptoms
made their appesrance-shook his head doubt.
fully, but administered an opiate, and said there
Was yet little hope. He stood for some min
utss. his hand on the boys face, quite regard
lees Of everything; and when he turned away,
the teass were in his eyes. 1t was strange to
see him 20 affected for though he turned his
face from me, knew the tears fell on and on.
81 was interested in tho young man, knew
not Why and wished ! might say something
70 comfort him. He had not realized my ideas
Of him ~ oil, for no had been expected for
hours past and l had pictured plsthoric, con-
sequential little person, with short whiskers
and glaeses, sod saying many inflated nothings
But the person before me was, in the FIRST place
handsome which l had mot anticipated young
which / had not anticipated; and shy which
had NOT anticipated. can sce his black,
melancholy syss and jstty hair full Of snow
his fair, flushed cbeeks--sll - they were that
night. ] felt that his was . good and kind
heart aad rsspect and esteem mingled at once
with my admiration. Bot yet, and yet when