Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-06-19


muse myself, in de garden, or lean over dc
wagons, and get tings cheap. But it comes
very hard upon my poor woman dere;" ano
J Cato cast tender humane glance at his
wife, who, having just finished her oysters
: was turning them into plate.
} NY uncle looked at me from the corner
of his eye, to see if had observed the old
. mans.
In moment Dinah stood before us with
a tray, on which were two plates, each con-
tanning six of the largest and finest oysters
[ ever saw. A little table was placed be-
tween us, on which were snow white cloth,
bread, pickles, mustard, pepper and salt.
She turned aside to look at Cato but oh
what delighted eye the affectionate hus-
band cast on her! He fairly rubbed his
hands with Joy at this mark of attention to
us.
s'Dat's it. Dinah, dat's it; now why
didn't tink Of dis, too? But she is al
ways before hand with me, massa bachelor
Andover tink women are always 'cutcr
dan men in such tings but when it comes
to open oysters, den we beat 'em! Yah
yah ~
said he, when the poor soul ia haste to hand
my uncle glass of water, knocked over the
mustard-cup, the contents of which run on
| his boots ''never mind it, old woman, mas
sa don't care, for can soon polish him up
again, and Tll buy you another mustard
cup"
sHere is dollar toward it," said my un-
Gle.
''And here are two" said I, for not cast
ing an angry look at your wife, when she
knocked the cup over.
''He never looked mad at me" said honest
Dinah. 'Lacky!-why, young massa, Cato
never looked mad at ME once in his life, as
[ can recommember.
"Well, who would have thought it %
said my uncle, as we left the cellar. II
must own that | tried hard, at the first 60
ing off, to provoke his eye to do its accus-
toned duty. But look-look there"
Little Dawson came smirking along, with
Miss Parsells hanging to his arm when
just as he approached us her bonnet caught
in the struggling branch Of wild-plum
tree, which stood IN group Of trees neas
the edge of the commons The ribbon gave
way, and the bonnet was jerked from her
head. Oh, how assiduous the fellow was,
in extricating it from the branch! How
devotedly he pinned the ribbon fast, and
how tenderly he tied the bonnet on again !!
Then he laughed good humoredly at the
Joke, and at her embarrassment, and he
drew her arm in his SO gently, as they NOV
ed away.
''He is engaged to her-he has her ="
said my uncle; ''but remember this scene,
Leo and mark his behavior twelvemonth
hence. Here comes our little beauty"
1t was indeed my dear Flora, blooming
with goodness, health, and lovelmess
forgot little Davison-I forgot the whole
world-as [ sprang to her side.
'.she is beautiful and happy said uncle
Andoyer, as [ told him Of my engagement,
which I did as soon as we left the dear girl
at Oak Valley: ''put off your marriage as
long as you can. And . if you had told me of
your love for her, [ should have tried to
persuade you to let her alone. She is too
good, too innocent, for the married eye."
"What do you think that my eye will
ever try to qucll that bright, beaming glance
Of hers 2"
Yes, Leo, that it will. Old Cato has
the only eye that does not carry savage
authority in it .''
Well, the short of the story is, that, af-
ter little coaxing, my dear aunt and uncle
consented to our marriage; and it so hap
pened that a few months after, as I was
walking one fine afternoon with my lovely
companion on my arm, and my uncle at her
slde-for he became very fond of her-we
saw Dawson and his wife, late Miss Par
sells, in the walk where we had encounter.
ed them before. Instead of her bonnet it was
his hat that was knocked off by the branch,
dare say the same branch, of the wild
plum. But the tone was altered now.
''You would come this way" said he,
looking fercely at his wife, as he replaced
his hat on his head; ''you are always do.
ing something or other to make me look
ridiculous. Your own foolish hat was drag.
ged from your own foolish head in this very
spot"
"Do you hear ?"' said my uncle.
Il do" said I.
"Did you see the look he gave her %
''To be sure did and how meekly she
bore it,
.'Flora, my love, how you swing about p
said |, not thinking that it was my atten-
tion to Davison's maneuvres that prevent.
ed her from keeping the path. -s'Don't
gaze on those people So" said I, castiag the
married eye on poor Flora, who was only
following my example. My uncle was q
: little in advance of us, and turned his head
in time to catch the look
''Leo, write this all down." said bache,
lor Andoyer, 'for the good of the female
sex"
Il will, " said I looking abashed; Flora,
dearest, forgive me-