Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-05-07
M ISCELL A N Y
Dame NodIekins's Work-Box.

ne love, love, love-you
.g MIS- CELL AN Y.
Dame NodIekins's Work-Box.
Our relations, the gay, prosperous Passy-
mounts, did not think it worth while to trouble
themselves about an old spinster cousin of theirs
aud ours, generally known as Dame Nodlekins,
though her visiting cards designated their owner
as miss Deborah s. NJ. Nodlekins." The Passy-
mounts We're aware of the fact, that our cousins
comfortable annuity was only life one; and,
it seemed highly improbable that
Dame Nodlekins would have aught to bequeath
on her deceaSe, save personalities, which were OF
small comparative value, as she was liberal
almsgiver, and in n moderate way enjoyed every
luxury. The garniture of Dame Nodlekins's
house, indeed, was faded and antique the spinet
was cracked; the linen was well darned;. the
plate scanty, and worn thin with use and fur
bishing; and the books, torn and dusty, might
easily be counted ON couple of shelves. Dame
Nodlekins had neither diamonds nor pearls, nor
trinkets of any description; her days were passed
in dreamy state of tranquility, stitching stitch
ing, stitching forever, with her beloved huge
work-box at her elbow. That wanted no plenish-
ing; that was abundantly fitted up with worsted,
cotton, tape, buttons, bodkins, needles, and such
multiplicity of reels and balls, that to enumer-
ate them would be q tedious task. Dame Nodle-
kirs particularly excelled and prided herself on
her darning carpets, house-linen, stockings, all
bore unmpeachable testimony to this branch OF
industry. Holes and thin places were hailed
with delight by Dame Nodekins and it was
whispered-but that might be mere matter Of
scandal-that she even went so far as to cut
holes in her best table cloths, for the purpose Of
exercising her skill and ingenuity in repairing
the fractures. BE that as it may, the work box
was as much q companion to her Us dogs OF
cats to many other single ladies' she was lost
without it (; her conversation always turned on
the subject of thread papers and needle cases
and never was darning-cotton more scientifically
rolled into neat balls, than by the taper fingers
of Dame Nodlekins. f.s t-
The contents of that wonderful work box
would have furnished small shop. AS child
always regarded it with a species of awe and
veneration; and, without daring to lay a finger
ON the treasures it contained, my prying eyes
greedily devoured its mysteries, when the raised
edge revealed its mountains of cotton,a forests
of pins and needles. And have no doubt tha
Dame Nodlekins first regarded me with favor, II
consequence of being asked by my mother te
give me lesson in darning--a most necessary
accomplishment in our family, ,as was the eldest
of many brothers and sisters, and, though very
happy among ourselves, the circumstances o.
our dear parents rendered the strictest industry
and frugaity absolutely indispensable in order
to make "both ends meet" However, it was {
wholesome, honest poverty, and we did not envy
our gay relations, the Passymounts though, as
we all grew up, it was impossible on straitened
means to educate us so completely as our fon(
father and mother would have aspired to do, ,hai
they possessed the ample means of these rea.
tives. There were three Misses Passymount
and one Master Passymount: the young ladies
cultivated various accomplishments, such q.
drawing, dancing,playing on the harp and piano
and talking, dressing, and flirting; but as to tht
one accomplishment-"th one Accomplishment
needful for women," as Dame Nodlekins called
it-thev, the dashing, rich Misses Passymount
knew nothing of it, Nay, Miss Laura Passy
mount blushed, and Miss Arabella Uttered, ,wher
Dame Nodlekins asked them if they could darr
a stocking, and even offered to give them 9
lesson on hearing their disdainful confession o
utter ignorance. "Our stockings do not REQUIRE
darning, cousin NodlekinS." said Miss Passy
mount, tossing her head I'VE are not accustom
ed to the thing at alive have been differently
brought up :" and Miss Passvinount looked L
INV mother and myself-for we were present q
this conversS.ion--as much as to say: CIV
leave darned stockings and table cloths to sucl
poor folks as YOU" '.sist"
Dame Nodlekins took no notice of the rebuff
but went on with her, work, and continued t
scold me at intervals for indleness and skippins
stitches; though. on the whole, she was prout
of me as her pupil and, between us, it is impos
sible to say how many pairs of stockings ant
socks we made whole in the course of the year
We resided near our cousin Deborah, and mid
way between her house and ours was the fine
mansion inhabited by the Passymounts; ant
many ON evening when | was invited to take
tea at Dame Nodlekin's and to bring my work
bag in my hand as a matter of course, and to sit
with her for long hours without speaking, intent
ON our needles, the silence unbroken save by the
ticking of the eight-day clock, confess the
sounds of music and the lighted rooms, as pass
ed by the Passymount's house, filled my young
heart with something like regret-not envy no
hope never indulged that. The PaSsymount;
did not ask any of us to their festive gatherings
save at rare intervals and then We did not Otter
go Cor we were proud in our humble way, and
had enough to do to procure stutt-frocks for the
little ones, without spending money on flnery fol
the Passymount's parties. But | had danced
there once or twice in white muslin frock
which my dear mother had ironed with her own
hands, and Dame Nodlekins had delightfully."-
darned, when met with an accident running at,
ter the children; and loved that dear old white
muslin frock ever since, and have it now laio
up in lavender, because passed such happy
bright evenings when wore it; and | did not
feel bit that looked shabby, for my partner
Harry Lloyd, picked up a fresh rose i had worn
in my hair, and would not restore it to me, say
ing something very foolish, of course, as young
men will do to foolish young girls who like to
hear flattery. And when went by the Passy.
mounts house, on my way to drink tea with
Dame Nodlekins, and to sit poring over needle
work in silence, it was only natural, think, to
look up at their windows with a sigh; for
knew there would be dancing and merry making
within, and Harry Lloyd would be there. Peo-
ple said that Harry Lloyd was counting Arabela
Passvmount; but knew that was false; because
Harry had wished to marry me, and his father
would not consent that his son should marry 8
n portionless girl; and my father would not lis.
fen to Harry, but went off in such a rage as
never saw him in before, at the bare idea of his
daughter entering any family unwished for-as
trntb to tell, Harry had been silly enough tC
nress me to marry him, without asking anybody''
consent Old Mr.. Lloyd and my father were
very civil to each other; but when Harry found
that would neither see him in private nor re-
-ceye any of his letters, he chose to behave him
self like an injured person, and as if we had all
deeply offended him. Yet did not believe he
was counting Miss Arabella Passymount, though
could fancy Harry dancing and laughing with.
in, as, leaning ON my fathers arm, we walked
homewards down the dark street, across which 8
ray of light cleaned, streaming from the win
dows of our rich but unkind relatives.