Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-01

to sense of her real position at Beechwood-
Old Mrs. Howell. who had been bousekeeper
there since the last Mrs. Donaldson bad ar
rived as bride, suddenly appeared IN .Ber-
tha's room one morning, jingiug her basket
of keys in her excitement. and pumping
down into chair without waiting for an in
vitation; piece of disrespect of which the
formal, cldfashioned lady had never been
guilty before.
a can't stand it any longer, Miss Bertha,
it's no use." exclaimed the good woman.
quivering with indignation; II can't play
second fiddle to nobody"
What is the matter, Mrs Howell?" queried
the young wife. looking up with establishment
from the book which she was reading. g
why" said the old lady, "there is you,
the mistressef the bonse, that never gives an
order bat gust like lamb, while madam, she
goes, debating about, just as if Beechwood
was her'sp' ~ .e4
II really do not know what you mean,
Mrs Howell. have seen nothing of the kind
in my mother. was the reply.
Mrs Howell was more indignant than ever
on finding that her young mistress did not
appear to advocate her cause. She had held
undisputed sway in Beechwood too long to
stand calmly by and see another interfere
with her rights.
WHY continued the old housekeeper,
'frOm the very day you were married and
she was left in the house, she has been do
mineerfng and debating to us just as if we
were a pack of slaves. Just now she came
while was putting up my strawberries that's
as beautiful and clear as crystal, and told me
that preserves done in that way wouldn't
keep. Just as if didn't know! She says
she will do the rest of the preserving herself.
Well, she may; but if she's going to be house
keeper, iii leave, and she may take the
keys"
Mrs. Hewell." said Bertha, in tone in
tended to be serve; but poor child, ii was all
she could say, for domestic difficulties were
such new things for her to manage. Mrs
Howell. however, was in too full tide of in
jures to be so easily stopped by Bertha's
half timid reproof, SO she went on with in
creasing excitement:
'.And there's Jane, the housemaid, that's
been under my training ever since she was
as high AS my knee, madam looks after her,
and takes a hairpin and goes around the edges
OF the carpets to see if they are clean in the
corners; bnt she don't find dirt, | know, for
I'll back Jane against the whole nation for
t;diness. William says that he expects that
next She II 20 out and show him how to har-
ness the horses or wash the carriage; and
John, too, he says she knows more about
forcing the dollhouse vegetables than he
does.7
Mrs. Howell stopped here for want of
breath. or il is most probable that Bertha
would have found a separate grievance in
each separate department of the establish
ment
81 think Mrs HOWELL said the young
mistress, that you have all been so accustom-
ed to having no one to interfere with you,
that You must have mistaken my mothers
manners. She is naturally distant to every
one. and you have misapprehended her. 1
suppose she thought was young and mex
perienced. and has kindly intended to relieve
me as much as possible. Take your keys,
however, and have no fear of any one usurp-
ing your place"
Bertha said this apparently very calmly but
in reality with her anger rising every moment.
She now saw that she held the position of
guest rather than of mistress at BeechwOod.
aud she was determined to regain her place.
An appeal to her husband she knew was out
of the question, for she loved him too much
TO be willing to disgust him with womans
quarrels, and would be either against his
wife or his mother that he must give judg
ment.
Poor child Mrs. Howell had played the
Eve in the little Paradise in which Bertha
had been living, and made her taste of the
tree of knowledge much against her wishes.
That very day some guests We're to dine at
Beechwood, and its young mistress soon
decided upon her line of conduct. AS they
entered the dining room, Bertha quietly
stepped up to the head of the table, laid her
hand upon the back of the chair which Mrs.
Hamilton was already approaching, and said
in low tone: Il am Obliged to you, mother,
but will take this seat for the future"
Mrs. Hamilton made no remonstrance, but
her eyes flashed. and a white circle spread
her mouth. She withdrew little to one side,
and stood with kind ofcOnspicuOus humility
till all were seated.
Till that moment Cecil had noticed moth
ing of this quiet warfare. A look of annoy
ance and reproach which did not escape the
anxious eyes of his wife, was cast upon her
as he asked his mother TO be seated.
IL really did not know where to sit, as l
had not my accustomed place." was the
reply.
A feeling of constraint and uneasiness
passed over the guests, as they all felt that
they had been the usurping party. Poor
Bertha s face flushed painful crimson as she
said in half apologize; half-laughing tone;
Ladies and gentlemen, you see me for the
first time at the head of my own table, for
mamma has been kind enough to relieve me of
this duty heretofore, and we are not yet
accustomed to our change of places"
The tact and pleasant manner of the young
wife soon made all as comfortable as they
had been before, and Cecil Hamilton secretly
thought she had never appeared to so much
advantage before.
Never once during the rest of the day did
Mrs. Hamilton address her daughter-in-law,
and only answered in the shortest possible
manner if Bertha spoke to her. making the
poor thing as uncomfortable as possible. As
they stood on the piazza together in the
evening, bidding adieu to the departing
guests. Bertha said in a conciliatory tone:
"Are You not afraid of taking cold without
your shawl, mother? will get it for you"
ado not trouble yourself. Mrs Hamilton
do not take kindness upon sufferance," was
the reply.
The daughters eye filled with tears, and
her hand trembled "a she twitched off sprig
of jessamine to hide her emotion.
Cecil walked up and down the piazza with
his hands in his pockets. wbistling dis
consulate air in false tune, plying his wife,
whom he dearly loved. yet feeling as if his
mother was really in some unaccountable
way the injured party. In truth. Mrs. Hamil-
ton had knaek of always making people
feel this, in spite of their better Judgment,
and Bertha was beginning to think that she
only must be in fault, when her mother
approached her and said; II should not so
far forget my dignity as to allude to the
insult which / received to day. were il not TO
request that hereafter. for your own sake,
you will select time when there are no
guests in the house to make display OF your
authority.
The tears which before were dimming Ber-
tha's eyes, were dried up by the flash OF
indignation which shot from them as she re-
piled:
Il did not mean to insult you. madam!
have too much respect for myself to forget
what is due to those connected with me; but
as the mistress of Beechwood. felt that it
was a duty l owed TO my guests as well as to
myself, to appear hereafter in that character.
] am obliged for the charge which you have
hitherto taken of my affairs, but will relieve
you of 1t for the future.p EA
The tone this time was anything but con-
ciliatory, and with defiant air Bertha enter
ed the house, and retired TO her own ROOM
She awaited her husbands coming with some
anxiety, not knowing, from his manner on
the piazza, whether TO expect sympathy or
reproach. His presence did not relieve her
much. The whistline still continued in