Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-03


know only that she was young married lady
of remarkable prOpriety, and had two really
beautiful children, twin boys, around whom
the whole familys affection, and much Of its
pride was gathered.
"Thc letters from Calcutta were full Of them
their sayings, their doings, and their gene
raj progress. They were the theme to which
Mrs. jackson returned from the two leading
subjects have mentioned-the topic to which
the lawyer came down from his official dgni-
ty, and on which the captain condcscended
to unbcnd his mind. The twins were now in
their fourth year, but the old people had not
seen them since their first summer. The
distance between Agra and Calcutta made the
visit Of the Judges lady to her parents rather
rare. However, in the third quarter of my
acquaintance with the Jacksons, it was pub
licly announced that Mrs. Lester was coming
with the dear children, and was engaged to
paint their portraits.
Like most families Of distinction in Brit
ish India, the Jacksons kept a considerable
rctinue. The acquisitions of caste, which al
ways limit the HindOo's labor, and the indo:
lcncc supcrinduced by tropical climate, con-
tribute to augment the number Of these house
hold troops. My friends had servants of all
SVI 10 AiIu oCILCSy Dut uHuOHk LncIIl LLltTC was
none in more esteem and trust than native
girl who acted as Mrs. Jackson's own mald
and held besides sundry important offices,
such as the charge Of the household linen and
the dealing out of the spices. They called
her Zellc and when her good mistress was
in hurry it became Sally sometimes, but
believe her proper name was Zcllaya. She
was a Pariah-at least she did not object to
do or touch anything; but her appearance
had something of high caste in it, for that
peculiar institution of India has the advan-
tagc Of making the classes known without
the help of dress or cquipagc.
"Zcllc had the tall, slender figure, the
features of that fine mould which might be
termed the classical of ofIIndostan-thc upright
carriage and elastic grace, the long, shining
hair and pure olive complexion, which distin-
guiSt the Brahmin>s- daughter. She WAS
young, tool think no more than seventeen.
lSy-thc-way, that is not counted extreme youth
in the cast; but there was a cold glitter in her
black eye, which, in spite Of SO much beauty,
would not have charmed, me. thought
Captain jackson had come to different con-
clusion. The near ncighborhood of his gar
rison made him almost a resident with his
parents, and my frequent visits, in the double
"
enabled me to observe that Zcllc' s dress, which
was tasteful compromise between the cos
tunes Of Europe and India, was always more
studied, and her black hair moro carefully
braided, when the captain was at home. Of
course, it was by accident; but | once espied
something very like an assignation in the
garden, though, from circumstances too mi
mute to be SO long remembered, believe that
the siege did not advance as rapidly as the
gallant captain could have wished; and Mrs.
jackson had mighty opinion Of her maid.
1t was not easy to make an impression OH the
heart of that very respectable lady; but Zellc
had achieved it, for the girl was clever and
handy. Twas told she could mend, clear starch,
mark and cut out as we'll as any maid from
England; that she never had been known to
tell tib, black or white; might be trusted
with anybody's wardrobe or jewcl-caSc, and
gave no trouble on the score of caste. Mrs.
jackson also said that the girl was sincerely
attached to her family; and with good reason
for they had been great bencfactors to her
and all her relations; and the good woman
was accustomed to relate how ZellcS life, as
well as that Of her four sisters, had been saved
III their infancy by the attorney generals in
reference with that peculiar institution which,
in some parts of llindostan saves the higher
castcs the trouble Of providing trousScau and
wedding fcaStS; how her mother had been
prevented from becoming suttee by Mrs
Jackson's cousin, then in the Agra mission
though the poor creature was ScOrncd for it
by her heather people, and somehow fell into
the Jumna afterwards" how her three
brothers got advice and assistance from every
branch of the Jacksons to take up honest
trades, when the company dispossessed them
OF some land to which they had no right in
law; how, i'll Consequence, one had place in
the custom house, one had become II soldier
III the captains regiment, and one small
merchant at Agra. Mrs. jackson always
wound up that recital of benefits by stating
that Zclle had been three years at the school
for native girls; that she could read English
as well as llindoStancc; that she had never
refused a tract, and the missionaries had great
hopes of her.
Mrs. Testers visit had been expected to
take place in that cool and pleasant season of
the Indian year which the English residents
persist in calling the winter, because it eX-
tends from October to March, and their Christ
mas dinners come off in the midst of it. In
tcrvening between the time of rain and the
fierce heat, it seems the natural season for
travelling; but by those many casualties
which besct the goings forth of ladies-who
will take everything with them as we'll as
maids and childrcn-the Judges spouse, for
he himself, good man, staid at home in hot
Calcutta, found it impossible to set out as
early as she had intended; but, as she Travelled
in the most expeditions manner, by boat and
palanquin, it was hoped the family would
reach Agra before tho regular deluge set in.
Meantime, my commission to paint the chill
drcn had widcncd into a family group. Some
body had suggested that the moment of arri-
val would be the most striking scene; and as
it was necessary to witness the ceremony be-
fore transferring it to canvas, was bound to
be at the Jackson's bungalow in good time on
the day the visitors were expected. Having
English patrons to deal with, was punctual
MSS. Lester and company were due early in
the afternoon, and the house was on the qui
rire for hours; but there was no arrival. To-
wards evening, the rain, which had fallen in
occasional showers for some days, as it does
at the beginning of its season, came down in
good earnest, with fag-cnd of thunder
storm, which we heard raging far to the south
ward, and the Jacksons cOmfortcd themselves
with the hope that the travellers had taken
refuge in some tomb or ruin, of which there
was no lack on the way, and would come on