Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-25
MISCELLAN n Y.
From Chambers Journal, Jan. II.

From Chambers journal, Jan. IL.
The Story OF an Engaged Young Person.
1t seemed very long journey that we poor
parliamentary passengers were taking, IN TINS
early November weather all the way from Lon
don TO Liverpool. The stoppages were frequent
enough, but of such short duration that we had
scarcely time to get ourselves warmed at the
crowded gate before the inexorable bell rung for
Us to start again, and off we went with shrek
into the binding fog. 1t was positively too dark
to read with any comfort even If one was so IN
different to the biting air as to lend one OF his
hands to hold the book up; weput both OF them
in our pockets instead, or more usually sat upon
them to keep them warm. 1t was only when
the guard came from time to time to look at
our tickets, and trod upon our feet that we be-
Gan to feel we had them, so dead they were with
cold.
'Sir," observed q comical- looking tailor to this
official, "your seats are TOO narrow to be sat up
ON after my cross-legged fashion; so please be
careful for although my toes are frozen they
will not bear" ,,
This produced laugh, and then arose little
talk, principally about how miserable we We're,
and then, as poor people use, we began to tell
what our business was upon at Llverpool; where-
upon it seemed that half the carriageful at least
were emigrants. Each had his say; and every
tale, however roughly told, had more or less IN
terest, because it was real and human, so that
we quite forgot our WEAKNESS and cold for lit
tie time. Then since this had answered so well,
the sprghtly tailor proposed that one of the par
ty should tell us regular story, OF his own life
ii he chose, but not only of his present circum-
stances, but of what had led to them-which
was an idea we all received quite rapturously,
expecting the tailor himself to begin. But he
said no: we must draw lots for that. So pro-
ducing some long slips Of measuring paper, he
wrote word on one, and shook them altogeth-
er in q hat,and sent it round. There was great
deal of secret trepidation among the men, but
for a long time nobody pulled out the fatal lot !;
at last Il burst of laughter from those about one
of the corner seats announced that the victim
had been selected, and that from among the
ladies.
She was certainly the plainest of the female
passengers Her nose turned up and her mouth
had scarcely any turn at all her hair was red,
and so were the rims of her eyes; and kRr eyes
themselves were far from being good ones; but
there was certain piquancy and sprightliness
about her, too as though she had been French
| lady's maid rather than an English one. She
looked as if she could put her hand and her we'll
rounded arm to anything and had been very
good tempered and obgng throughout the jour
| ney. 1t was underStood-it had been expressed,
indeed already, rather triumphantly by the young
! lady herSelf-that she was an engaged young
person, going out to Australia to be married ;
that there was somebody waiting upon the
other hemisphere with outstretched hands, yearn-
! ing to receive her as his bride. She would be q
capital wife for settler without doubt,although
perhaps in England we should have called her
rather settler for a wife. She seemed to know
very well, indeed, what we were all likely to
think about this matter; but she didn't care.
1t had been little better looking-She began
her story with this-l might never have got q
husband,o or at least not the money to marry him
upon, which is the same thing. The unsuitable
ness of my face to what | may be allowed to
call very toerable figure, has been literally the
means Of bestowing happiness, as hope, upon
Joseph, and Of putting &40O into my own pocket.
And this was how it all came about; my late
mistress, who was very kind to Inc, and had in
tended, poor thing-for she told me SOTO leave
me comfortably provided for, took me over with
her, seven years ago.to Paris. She was widow
lady, fond of gay life and brilliant amusements ;
and that place suited her so well, that she made
it her home, and |, but little 10TH remained there
too. Joseph and l kept company together before
that time, but he was not so foolish as to wish
me to give up my expectations for the sake of a
hurried marriage; he said, that he would wait
patiently, dear fellow, although the great salt
sea was to roll between us, and there could be
no chance of his getting letter more than once
day. lie was mason's assistant in London,
and very hardly worked, it seemed, for he HIM
self was not able to reply near so often; how
ever. of course was not bird, so that could
not be in two places at once, so made the best
of it, and was as happy as confidential lady'S
maid, under such circumstances, could hope to be.
One evening had been preparing my mis-
tress. who was very splendid dresser, for the
opera: my only fellow servant was on leave of
absence for some days; and except the porter in
the COURTYARD, there was nobody when the car
riace had driven off that night, in the whole
house save myself; therefore, having nothing
better-or at least nicer-to do, and being in
my mistress's bedroom among her beautiful
robes and ornaments, it was hardly to be expec-
ted, that should resist such an opportunity of
irving them on. The room, beside being charm
ingly hung with mirrors, had delicious full
length swinging glass, and before this | amused
myself for good long while. | beheld how
Mademoiselle Elizabeth Martin-that is my pres
ent name, but dear Joseph's is Andrews-how-
she looked in bareges, in silks in muslins, for
the morning and how lace and satin, aud how
sleeves, with pearls, became her for evening
wear f; finally, equipping myself in a particular