Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-17

ments, such as drawing, dancing, playing on
The harp and piano, and talking, dressing,
and flirting; but as to the one accom- lish-
ment-"the one accomplishment needful for
womeu." as Dame Nvdlekins called it-they,
the dashing, rich Misses Passymognt, know
nothing of it. Nay, Miss Laura Passymount
blpshed. and Miss Arabella Uttered. when
Dame Nodlekins asked them if they could
darn a stocking, and even offered to give
them a lesson, on hearing their disdainful
confession of utter ignorance. sour stock
ings do not require darning, cousin Node
kins," said Miss Passymount, tossing her
head: "we are not accustomed to The thing
at alive have been differently broug up"
and Miss Passymount looked to my mother
and myself-for we were present at this
couyersation-as much as to say, "We leave
darned stockings and table cloths to such
poor folks as YOU" -
Dame Nodlekins took no notice OF the
rebuff, but went ON with her work, and Con-
tinued to scold me, at intervals, tor ldieness
and skipping stitches-though, on the whole
she was proud of me ss her pupil; and, be-
tween us, it is impossible to say how many
pairs of stockings and socks we made whole
in the course of the year. eiesided near
our cousin Deborah, and midway between
her house and ours was the fine mansion in-
habited by the Passymounts; and many an
evening when was invited to take tea at
Dame Nodlekins', and to bring my work-bag
in nv hand as a matter of course, and to sit
with her for long hours without speaking
intent on our needles, the silence unoroken
save BY the ticking Of the eight-day CLOCK
| confess the sounds of music and the light
ed rooms, as passed by the Passymounts'
house, filled my young heart with something
like regret-not envy; no, ] hope | never
INDUCED hGt. The Passymounts did not
ask anv of US to their festive gatherings,
save at rare intervals; and then we did not
often &C; for we were pro1d in our humble
way, and had enough to do to procure stuff
frocks for the little ones without spending
money on inery for the Passymounts' parties.
But had danced there once or twice IN
white muslin frock, which my dear mother
had ironed with her own hands, and Dame
NodeIkins had delightedly darned. when l
met with an accident running after the chill
dren: and loved that dear old white muslin
frock ever since, and have it now laid up
iu lavender, because | passed such happy
bright evenings when wore it; and did
no, feel bit that looked shabby, when
my partner, Harry Lloyd, picked up fresh
rose had worn in my hair, and would not
restore it to me, saying something very fool
ish, of course, as young men will do to
foolish young girls Who Ike to hear fiattery.
And when II went by the PassymountS'
house, on nv way to drink tea with Dame
Nodlekins, and to sit porine over needle
work in silence, it was only natural, think
to look up at their windows with sigh; for
| knew there would be dancing aud merry
making within, and Harry Lloyd would be
there. People said that Harry Lloyd was
courting ArabelIa Passymount; but knew
that was false; because Harry had wished
to marry me, and his father would not con-
sent that his son should marry portionless
girl; and nv father would not listen to
Harry, out went of in such rage as nev'
er saw him in before, at the bare idea ot hls
daughter entering any family ,unwished fol
as, truth to tell, Harry had been silly e.
nough to press me to marry him without
asking anybody's consent. Old Mr.. Lloye
and nv father were very civil to each other
but when Harry found that would neither
see him in private, nor receive any of hi:
letters, he chose to behave himself like al
injured person, and as If we had all deeply
| offended him. Yet did not believe he wa'
courting Miss Arabella Passymount, though
| could fancy Harry dancing and laughing
within, as, leaning on my fathers arm, VI
walked homewards down the dark street
across which ray of light CLEANED, stream
ing from the windows OF our rich but unkilt
| relatives.
Harry's mother was a crony OF Dam
Nodlekins; SO she. of course, knew all
bout the tale Of true love never running
smooth. But Miss Deborah, like ,Pruden
spinster made no comment. She had eschew
ed matrmony herself; but being natural
of taciturn, uacommunicative tempera
/ ment, no ono knew whether it was from
| choice or necessity. Her work-box was t.
! Dame Nodlekins as dear friend; do no
believe she loved any human being 60 wei
her whole heart was in It; and the attach
ment she evinced towards me as time pro
/ gressed, was fostered and encouraged b
our mutual zeal in performing tasks of needl
work. Not that shared in her devotion;
was &C. ated by a sense of duty alone, an
} would far rather, could have done SO cor
} scientiously, have been dancing and laugh
, ing with companions of my own age. B.
ply the needle did, and so did Dame Nodle
kins; and we two became, with the hug
work-box between US, quite pair o: levin
/, friends; and at least two evenings in ever
week | went to sit with the lone woman
: She would have had me do SO euery evening
: but though there were so manyof US at hon
t our parents could not bear to spare any I
US out of their sight oftener than they deem
ed indispensable.
r At length Harry Lloyd came to say goo
: bye; he was going abroad at his father
: wish. My parents shook hands kindly Wi
t him, and he said pleasant, affectionate wor,
+: to all. But when he came to me-ah.-l
|, did not speak; but flung myself into n
d dear mothers arms, and wept, and | hea
It my father say, "God bless you!'' and Har
I. was gone. So went on darning stocking
d and the Passymounts went on dancing, al
S, Dame Nodlekins went on the even tenor
l. her way; until at length her summons can
7. and, after several warnings, she shut up
: work-box, locked it, and put the key in
s. sealed packet. These preparations CO.
ofl pleted, Dame Nodlekins turned her face
1t the wall, and fell asleep.
r. My gentle mother had heart SO tend
" and benevolent, that although Dame Nod
it kins and herself had So few sympathies
n- common, she shed tears or hearing the G.!
er ing scene was over; and | remember
er turning to my father with sigh, and ST
CT ing, "Ah! she was wonderfully industric
" woman, and such help to me in the dan
ly ing-way. Poor old soul! ! doubt not Il
E. she has left US all she mad to leave; a
every little ia n WIndfalI. with a LARGE fa,