Eastern times., 1855-08-30

you're sight more uppish and saucy than
the ra'al quality at home-and I'll see the
whole Yankee race to-
| made my exit without waiting for the con-
clusion of this complimentary observation !;
and the less reluctantly for having seen on the
table the lower part of one of my silver tea
spoons, the top of which had been most vio-
olently wrenched of. The spoon was we'll
remembered loss during Lucy's administra-
tion, and knew Mrs. Larkins had none to
spare.
Unsuccessful thus far among the arbiters of
our destiny, thought | would stop at the
house of a friend and make some inquiries
which might spare me further rebuffs On
making my way by the garden-gate to the IL
brary, where usually saw Mrs. Stayner, l
was surprised to see it silent and uninhabited
The windows were closed, a halffnished cap
lay on the sofa, and bunch of yesterdays s
wild flowers upon the table. All spoke of
desolation. The cradle-not exactly an ap-
propriate adjunct of library elsewhere, but
quite so at the West-was gone, and the little
rocking-chair was nowhere to be seen. l
went on through the parlor and hall, finding
no signs of life save the breakfast-table, still
standing with the crumbs left undisturbed- L.
Where bells are not known, ceremony is out
of the question, so penetrated to the kitchen,
where | caught sight of the fair face of my
friend. She was bending over the bread
tray, and at the same time telling stories as
fast as possible, by way of coaxing her little
boy of four years to rock the cradle which
contained his baby sister.
What does this mean =
90! nothing more than usual. My Polly
took herself off yesterday, without moments s
warning, saying she thought she had lived out
long enough; and poor Tom, our factotum,
has the ague. Mr.. Stayner has gone to some
place sixteen miles off, where he was told he
might hear of girl, and am sole represen-
tative of the family energies. But you've no
idea what capital bread | can make.
This looked rather discouraging for my
quest, but knowing that the main point of ia
Bile companionship was the source of most of
Mrs. Stayner's difficulties, still hoped for
Mrs Larkins, who loved the closest intimacy
with her help, and always took them visiting
with her. So passed on for another effort
at Mrs. Randall's, where three daughters had
sometimes TO lay aside their dignity long
enough TO obtain some much coveted articles
of dress. Here the mop was in full play, and
Mrs. Randall, with her gown turned up, was
splashing diluted mud on the walls and furni-
ture in the received mode of those regions,
where stained glass windows are made with
out patent. did not venture in, but asked
from the door with my best diplomacy, wheth-
er Mrs Randall knew OF a gal!'
A gal no; who wants gal"
Mrs. Larkins.'
She Why don't she get up and 60 tc
work1'
'She is too feeble
Law sakes, too feeble She'd be as able
as anybody to thrash around, if her husband
didn't spile her by watin' on
We think Mrs. Larkins deserves small
blame on this score.
But, Mrs. Randall, the poor woman is real
ly i'll, and unable TO do anything for her chill
dren. Couldn't you spare Rachel for few
days to kelp her =
This was said in the most guarded and dep
recatory tone, and with manner carefully
moulded between indifference and undue so
licitude.
Nv gals has enough to do. They ain
able 10 do their own work. Caroline hasn'
been worth the first red cent for hard worl
ever since she was to school at A.
20, did not expect to get Caroline. l un
derstand she is going TO get married.
What, to Bill Green! She wouldn't lie
him walk where she had walked last year,
Here | saw had made a mis-step. Re
solving to be more cautious, left the selection
to the lady herself, only begging for one 0
the girls. But my eloquence was wasted
The Miss Randalls had been a whole quartz
at select school. and will not live out agail
until their present stock of fnery is unweara
BILE. Miss Rachel, whose company | ha
hoped TO secure, was even then paying atten
ton TO branch of the fine arts.
Rachel Amanda y cried Mrs. Randall, a
the foot of the ladder which gave access +
the upper regions, bring that thing dow
here! It's the preetiest thing you ever see
in your lite = turning TO me. And the edu
Gated young lady brought down dolefu
looking compound of card board and many col
ored waters, which had, it seems, occupie
her mind and fingers for some days.
There said the mother, proudly, "a ga
that's larnt to make such baskets as that, ain
agoing to be nobody's help, guess!
l thought the boast likely to be verified as
prediction, and went my way crest-fallen an
weary. Girl-hunting is among our most for
midable schores.'