Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-11


to step upon the carpet in the parlors.
thought of the rag one which you arl
made with so much labor, and were SO
pleased with when we got it down in the
front room. Uncle rang bell; and mu-
4 latto girl came 10 the door.
"Show Miss Wilmot TO her room; and
thelp Ter to anything she wants." he said.
I Miss Angeline looked a: me from head to
foot, and was about to giggle; but, catch
I ing her masters eye. she suddenly grew
tmore polite. "Step dis way. il you please"
she said. And as | followed her, uncle
ltold me that, by the time had rested few
noments, and washed the dust from my
face and hands, tea you'd be ready.
1 My chamber was almost as nice as the
parlor-the most beautiful curtains, and
carpet, and chairs, and great mirror, and
so many little things on the toilet-tabie
which did not know ths use of. The col
ored girl 4tood IN the centre of the room,
and watched me as took off my bonnet
and gloves, and then made a show of put
ting them away for me; but could see very
well that she thought me very great Gu
rios;ty. | began to feel that luas worse
ignoramus than had supposed; but | did
not choose to be laughed at by a servant;
SO sat down, and looked at her moment
quite steadily, and then told her she might
leave; did not need her services at pres
ent.
"Well, ring when you do, mum. | sup
pose you know dat, by pulling dis here Cir
cumfluous knob, you cause de ringing TO d.
vert my attention from de regions | may
be occupyin' - And, with superb cour-
tesy, she backed out of the door, which she
could not get through with one effort. she
was 60 puffed and swelled cut with that
mysterious arrangement which had attract
ed my attention in the cars, and which
naw saw could not be life -preserver.
| brushed the dust off me, and bathed my
face and hands. and smoothed nv curs,
taking pains to have them very nice, be-
cause knew uncle Liked them. | could
see my whole figure in the mirror; and
mus: confess was not quite SO contented
with my old black silk as | was when left
home. The girl had on better one, and a
dozen little fxings besides, that should
have thought good enough for a party
However, there was no help for il; and
was glad that Uncle Eben was an old bach
elor. and had no 6nnifed wife and daugh-
ters to be mortified at their country cousin.
81 will stay altogether in the house, |
thought, "und not put him to the blush by
my ignorance of city fashions. he will
like me just as am" Comiorted by this
conclusion, went down into the parl lors,
and found him awaiting me, sitting in
great velvet t-cushioned chair. He pulled
me into his lap, just as if was still little
girl. Little Dai<y's curls are as bright as
ever, and her eyes and her cheeks he said,
p.nching my face pntl Lam sures it must
have been rosy enough. THAT comes of
milking the cows, and running in the mead
ows, and living on peaches and cream, l
suppose; hey, little girl!"
81 suppose it does, uncle. Just look a,
my hands, how brown they are. But why
do you call me little! | an seventeen,
now"
You ought TO have heard him laugh! l
grew quite confused, and was afraid he
would think me foolish.
'.You are, are you! And Pm not to call
you my little puss. or my little daisy, or my
little Lucy any more! You hare grown tall
: since | saw you. But you are not so very
large yet. Bless you, you are not young
lady, | hope! l bate young ladies'. lfyou
had hoop on. now, could not have you
in my lap, nor yet near enough to you to
kiss you."
"What is hoop, uncle!''
'Bless my soul! hoop, Why, it's
prodigious circle, an immense balloon
bones-crinoline--as skeleton--a what not
-s-in short. petticoat of new fashion
Don't you take the magazinesi I'll show
you what it is, tomorrow, when we go out
! to walk. I'll show you crinoline in per-
fectloG."
> "Was that hoop that made your SER
want look so like big yellow pumpkin with
little black stem, unclel"
"Yes, my dear The encroachments of
> the other sex upon our rights are getting
intolerabe. Yesterday, | happened to get
" squeezed in between two ladies in an ON
hibus; and only small part of my nose was
: visible. was afra id | would never come
J to light again; but one of the fair ones de-
parted, and 1 emerged to view much to the
surprise of an I'D lady who was sitting o3-
, posite. 'Sakes aliver she exclaimed; was
: you in therep Aud then the men laughed
but the women did not blush. They dc
: not know how, now-a-days.''
laughed, too, at Uncle Eben's story,
> and at his railing at ihe-w 5men; and then
we went into his library, where he had or
= dered the tea to be served; and we had a
: lcozy supper all to ourselves, with only one
II waiter. who did not embarress me much
II believe nv dear mothes has taught me
{ the principles upon which poiteness is
. founded; and, for the rest, used my wits
: and my eyes, when there was anything
new.
:" | had delightful evening. Uncle offer
- ed to take me 10 the opera, or to see the
= Ravels; but | was too tired 10 care to gt
. out the first night; So he showed me Owe
his house, and played the piano for me, tolt
= me the names and subjects of the beautlu
pictures on the walls, and did all he could t
amuse me. do think he is the best olC
: bachelor uncle in the world, mother; dom
! you'll
Before left him for my room, he told m,
q that he had invitations out for party, t
u' come off the very next evening. He said h
=" had asked me TO come at this time on pur
- pose to have me present; and he had mad
it fancy dress party in order 10 have M
IL play the character which he had -cb 70
me. 1t was the first since his a nc
had come back from the watf es
~ and he meant to have it very fl
It "Oh, uncleI' cried, in dismay, II shal
=, never be able TO meet SO many people
And have no dress that is fit. Indeed
= = ind ed, must keep hidden in my rcom!"
~ "You must do nothing of the kind. You
u 4