The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-04-06

: had received those hints; and when the
poor lady had twitched her mouth in ad
dition with her foot, I could not help
thinking of her as Mrs. Twitcher; and as
few of the peeullarities, perhaps foibles,
OF this good couple peeped out, am a
shamed to say that the effect Of the Frazers
satlrical remarks was so strong on my
mind, that l allowed myself to be a
unused with sort of quizzing feeling, in
stead gently trying whether there might
rot be some chord in the mind of one or
the other Of them which might respond to
the touch of a kindly hand, and make
sweet melody; and | kept the conversa-
ton at low ebb, and suffered my visitors
to depart without discovering that be-
meath rather unattractive exterior there
lay hidden hearts full of tenderest sym
pathies: that the gentlemen was possessed
of fund of information which needed
but the touch Of a cogenial spirit to
bring it into use, spirit | had certainly
not led him to expect that he would find
in me. Mrs. Tichcr's lamcness, | after
wards learned, originated in an accident
she had encountered whilst following her
husband through scenes of war and suf-
fering, and the twitching was spasmod-
,ic affection resulting from the injury
How often have [ thought with shame on
my first interview with these good people.
1t was long ere I called on Alice Hart
land; but when | did soon found reason
to suspect that the insinuations against
her were wholly without foundation.-
The little foibles of manner which had
been so severely condemned, certainly ex-
listed. There were too many dearest"
and "darlings,' but the poor child ap-
peared to be genuine invalid, and most
dcsirous Of becoming otherwise, using all
means prescribed for her recovery, and
ready to own with thankfulness all pro-
gress towards that evidently desired end.
She had been for many years confined to
her couch, but her complaints were neu-
ralgic: and hence arose the idea that she
could shake them off if she would, but
that she liked to be ill., DR.. Lloyd was
named; and the burst of afectionate graf
itude which awaited the ment ion Of him,
was such as to show that | had not been
altogether mistaken in my original view
of his character. But when | learned
that this fee loving man had for seven
long years watched over this would be in
valid, bestowing on her his unyaryiDg at
tention, coming, sometimes for weeks to
gether, and at his busiest seasons, daily,
or even twice day, and this ''all for love
and nothing for reward" and that though
pressed and urged repeatedly to accept
some remuneration, be had never been
prevailed on to take single fee during the
whole of his attendance-I began, indeed,
to feel how unwisely | had acted in allow
ing doubt of his worth to enter my mind.
1t was years before the wounds infict-
ed on that gossipping evening were all
healed, years before fully discoved, that
though much Of what was said, was sub
stantially true, yet from the mode in
which ali that was faulty or foolish in
each character had been placed in a |
prominent position, everything good and
bright had been lost in obscurity, and as
totally false an impression had been lett
on my mind as if actual falsehoods had
been stated.
Ny readers, take warning by me-I
have been stating facts, for these and
similar hints were given me under the
circumstances described. If you 90 into q
new neighborhood, never ask any one for
such hints; and if any one should proffer
the doubtful kindness, reject it as you
would tempting fruit that you knew was
of poisonous quality. 1t is more than
probable, that the information you would
get would be sufficient to mar all your
intercourse with your neighbers; but it IS
highly improbable that it would help you
to steer clear of any one difficulty or in
convenience.