Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-03
EVENING STAR.
DAME N0DLEKINss WoRK-BoX.

1 tuo Sdy, prosperous
mounts, did not think It worth while to trou.
BILE themselves about an old spinster cousin of
theirs ana ours, generally known as Dame
Nodleklns, though her visiting cards /desis!
mated their owner as Miss Deborah s. NJ.
Nodlekins." The Passymounts were aware
| OF the fact, that our cousins comfortable an
nuity was only life one; and, therefore,
| 1t seemed highly improbable that Dame No
dieKlns would have ought to bequeath on her
decease, save personalities, which were of
small comparative value, as she was liberal
| almsg1ver, and in q moderate way enjoyed
every luxury. The garniture of Dame No.
bleklns house, indeed, was faded and an
tlque; the spinet was cracked ; the linen was
well darned; the plate scanty, and worn thin
with use and furnishing; and the books, torn
| and dusty, might easily be counted on q oou-
pie Of shelves. Dame Nodlekins had neither
diamonds nor pearls, nor trinkets of any de-
| scription; her days were passed in a dreamy
state of tranquility stitching, stitching forever,
| with her beloved huge work box at her elbow
That wanted no plenishing; that was abun-
dantly fitted up with worsted, cotton, tape,
buttons, bodkins, needles, and such multi
plicity of reels and balls, that to enumerats
them would be a tedious task. Dame Nodle-
kins particularly excelled and prided herself
on her darning; carpets, house-linen, stock
ings, all bore unimpeachable testimony to
| this branch of industry. Holes and thin
| places were hailed with delight by Dame
Noddlekins 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
companion to her rs dogs or 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.
The contents of that wonderful work-box
would have furnished a small shop. AS a
child, always regarded it with a species of
awe and veneratiOn; and without daring to
lay finger on tho treasures il contained, my
prying eyes greedily devoured it9 mysteries,
when the raised edge revealed its mountains
OF cotton, and forests of pins and needles.
And 1 have no doubt that Dame Nodlekins
first regarded me with favor, in consequence
OF being asked by my mother to give me a
lesson in darning-a most necessary accom-
plishment in our family-as l was the eldest
Of many brothers and sisters, and, though
very happy among ourselves, the circum-
stances of our dear parents rendered the
strictest industry and frugality absolutely in
dispensable in order TO make 6 both ends
meet However, it was a wholesome, honest
poverty, and we did not envy our gay rela-
tions, the Passymounts though, as we all
grew up, it was impossible on Strengthened
means to educate US completely as eur fond
father and mother would have aspired to do,
had they possessed the ample means OF these
relatives. There were three Misses Passy-
mount, and one Master Passymount. The
young ladies cultivated various accomplish
ments, such as drawing, dancing, playing on
the harp and piano, and talking, dressing, and
flirting; but as to the one accomplishments
the one accomplishment needful for women"
as Dame Nodlekins called it-they, the dash
ing, rich Misses Passymount, knew nothing Of it.
Nay, Miss Laura Passymount blushed and
Miss Arabells Uttered, when Dame Nodlekins
asked them if they could darn a stocking, and
even offered to give them lesson on hearing
their disdainful confession of utter ignorance
Our stockings do not require darning, cousin
Nodlekins," said Miss Passymount, tossing
her head eve are not accustomed to the
thing at alive have been differently brought
up;' and Miss Passymount looked to my
mother and myself-for we were present at
this conversation-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 re-
buff, but went on with her work, and con-
tinued to scold me at intervals for idleness
and skipping stitches; though, on the whole,
she was proud of me as her pupil and, be.
pairs of stockings and socks we made whole
in the course of the year. We resided 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 L was invited to take tea at
Dame Noblekins's g, and to bring my work bag
in my hand as a matter of course, and to sit
with her for long hours without speaking, in
tent on our needles, the silence unbroken save
by the ticking of the eight-day clock, con-
fess the sounds of music and the lighted rooms
as passed by the Passymount's house, filed
my young heart with something like regret
not envy; no, 1 hope L never INDUCED that
The Passymounts did not ask any of US to
their festive gatherings, save at rare inter-
vals and then we did not often 60; for we
were proud in our humble way, and had
enough to do to procure stuff frocks for the
little ones, without spending modey on fnery
for the Passymounts parties. But l had
danced there once or twice in q white muslin
frock, which my dear mother had ironed with
her own hands, and Dame Nodlekins had de-
lightfully darned, when 1 met with an acci-
dent running after the children; and loved
that dear old white muslin frock ever since,
and 1 have it now laid up in lavender, be-
cause I passed such happy bright evenings
when wore it; and l did not feel bit that
| looked shabby, when my partner, HAIRY
Lloyd, picked up fresh rose 1 had worn in
my hair, and would not restore IL 10 me, say
ing something very foolish, of course, as young
men will do to foolish young girls who like to
hear fattery. And when 1 went by the Pas
symount's house, on my way to drink tea with
Dame Nodlekins, and to sit poring over nee
dlework in silence, it was only natural, L
think, to look up at their windows with a sigh;
for knew there would be dancing and mer-
ry making within, and Harry Lloyd would
be there. People said that Harry Lloyd was
courting Arabella Passymount; but I knew
that was false; because Harry had wished to
marry me, and his father would not consent
that his SON should marry portionless girl;
and my father would not listen to Harry, but
went of in such rage as never saw him in
before, at the bare idea of his daughter en-
tering any family unwished for-as, truth to
tell, Harry had been silly enough to press me
to marry him, without asking anybody's CON- |
sent. Old Mr.. Lloyd and my father were very |
civil to each other but when Harry found |
that l would neither see him in private nor re- |
ceive any of his letters, he chose to behave |
himself like an injured person, as if We had |
deeply offended him. Yet did not believe |
hax Ill De-,