Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-26

apparently unaware Of 1t, she would not
awaken him to sense Of it Besides, they
had stood to her no long in the relation Of pa
rents, that she had no right to bring in q
stranger to sit in judgment upon them.
So it was with rather heavy heart that
she arranged their future menage with Doctor
Brown; unable TO profit by her aunt's expert
cnce and wisdom. But Margaret herself was
a prudent and sensible gill. Although accus-
toned to q degree of comfort in her uncles
house that almost amounted to luxury, she
could resOlutely dispense with It when Occa-
sion required. d.-Mh hen Doctor Brown started
for London to seek and prepare the new home,
she enjOined him not to make any but the
most necessary preparations for her reception.
She would herself superintcnd all that was
wanting when she came. lie had some old
furniture stored up in warehouse which had
been his mothers. lie proposed selling it,
and buying new in its place. Margaret per
suaded him not to do this but to make II go
NJ far as it could. The household Of the new.
ly married couple was to consist Of Scotch
woman long connected with the Frazer family,
who was to be sole female servant; and Of
man whom Doctor Brown picked up in Lon
don, soon after ne had fixed on = house,
man named Crawford, who had lived for many
years with gentleman now gone abroad, but
who gave him the most excellent character, in
reply to Doctor Browns inquiries. This gen.
tleman had employed Crawford in o number
Of ways; so that in fact he was kind Of Jack.
] oI. all. trades -and-DOct0r- -BFown,-in- every
letter TO Margaret had some new accomplish
I mcnt of his servants to relate, which nc did
with the more fulneSS and Zcst, because Mar
garet had slightly questioned the wisdom Of
starting in life with q nan-servant but had
yielded to Doctor Browns arguments Of the
necessity Of keeping up respectable appear.
ancc making a decent show, &c, to any one
who might be inclined to consult him, but be
daunted by the appearance Of old Christie out
Of the kitchen, and unwilling to leave any
message to one who spoke such unintelligiblc
English. Crawford was so good a carpenter
that he could put up shelves, adjust faulty
hinges, mend locks, and even went the length
Of constructing box out Of some old boards
that had once formed packing-case. Craw-
ford one day, when his master was too busy
to 90 out for his dinner, improvised an Omlette
as good as any Doctor Brown had ever tasted
in Paris, when he was studying there. In
short Crawford was kind Of admirable Crich-
ton in his way, and Margaret was quite con-
vinced that Doctor Brown was right in his de-
! ciSion that they must have nan.ServaDt;-
even before she was respectfully greeted by
Crawford as he opened the door to the newly
married couple, when they came to their new
home after their short wedding tour.
Doctor Brown was rather afraid lest Marg-
aret should think the house bare and chcerlcss
in its half furnished state for he had Obcyed
her inunctions and bought as little furniture
as might be, in addition to the few things he
L,,,l :rkn covv Vic
ing room (h0w grand it sounded y was COM
plctey arranged, ready for stray patients; and
it was we'll calculated to make good impress
sion on them. There was Turkey carpet on
the floor, that had been his mothers and was
Just sufficiently worn to give it the air Of re-
Spectability which handsome pieces Of iurni-
ture have when they look as If they had not
Just been bought for the occasion, but are in
some degree hereditary. The same appear.
ance pcrvaded the room; the library table
(bought secondhand, it must be cOnfessed),
the bureau that had been his mOthcr'S-thc
leather chair (as hereditary as the library ta-
ble) the shelves Crawford had put up for Doc.
tor Browns medical books, good engraving
or two on the walls, gave altogether so pleas
ant an aspect to the apartment that both Doc
tor aud Mrs. Brown thought, for that evening
at any rate, that poverty was just as comfort
able us riches. Crawford had venturcd to take
the liberty Of placing few flowers about the
room, as his humble way Of welcoming his
mistress late autumn flowers, blending the
idea Of summer with that Of winter suggested
by the bright little fire in the CRATE. Christie
sent tn dcliriouS scOnes for tea, and Mrs Fra.
ger had made up for her want Of geniality as
well as she could by store ofmarmalGde and
mutton hams; Doctor Brown could not be
easy even in this comfort until he Ind shown
Margaret, almost with grOan, how many
rOoms were as yet unfurDished, how much
remained to be done. But she laughed at bis
alarm lest she should b. disappointed in her
new home, declared that she should like moth
ing better than planning and contriving that
what her own talent for upholstery and Craw.
Eord's for iOinerv the rooms should be furnish
cd us IL by magic, and no bis-the usual con
sequences Of cOmf"rt-be forthcoming. But
with the morning and daylight Doctor Browns
anxiety returned. lie saw and felt every
crack in the ceiling, every spot OIL the paper
not fur himself bui for Margaret. lie was con
stantly IN his own mind, As il seemed, com
pairing the home he had brought her to, Ia
the one she had left. He seemed constantly
afrail lest she had repentcd, or would repent
having married him. This morbid restless
ness, was the only drawback to their great
happiness and, to do away with it, Margaret
was led into expenses much beyond her or
isinal intention. She bought this article ir
preference to that because her husband If hC
went shopping with her, seemed so miserable
If he suspected that she denied herself thu
) slightest wish ON the score Of economy. Sk;
learnt to avoid taking him out with I,cr wher
she went TO make her purchases, as it was ,
very simple thing to her to choose the leas
expensive thing even though it were the ug
lest when she was by herself, but not
simple painless thing TO her to harden he
, heart to his look Of modification when sh,
quietly said to the Shopman that she coulc
not afford this or that. On coming out Of
shop after one Of these occasions, no haC
Said:-
40! Margaret. ought not to have marie,
I. you. You must forgive mel have so loveC
you" e..
; "Forgive you. Jamcs!" said she. "Fo
' making me so happy What should max,
you think ] care so much for red IN preference
TO maroon! Don't speak so again, please"
40 Margaret! but don't forget how l asI
} you to forgive me-"
Crawford was everything that he had prom
Used to be, and more than could be desired
: He was Margaret's right hand in oil her littl
t household plans in q way which irritatet
6 Christie not little. This Geud between Chris
. tie and Crawford Was indeed the greatest dis
{ comfort in the household Crawford was 81
lently triumphant in his favor upstairs, il