The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-09
4 6torp Of Eff in lonoou
MOTHERS FIRST L0DGnR.

W men my mOtncr anu tOOh NO. -
of the High-strcct, Aiskrigg (of which
the ground floor is shop subIet to the
butcher), we found that, after portion
ing off'a tidy parlor, a room for ourselves,
and cupboard for the maid, there yet
remained two nice front rooms, one just
over the shop window, the other right
above that, which, as l said to my mother,
were just the thing for ledger.
"Our income isn't large, MOTHER
l said ga little help of this sort would
be most desirable And it is one of the
best situations in the place, just opposite
the Post-office and the bakers. If peo-
pie wish for country air, the back win.
dows look right down on the churchyard
Besides, its genteel-looking house
the side passage and green door make il
very private: and the people coming and
going to the shop below give cheerful
appearance. am sure if we bought q
bit of drugget, and put in the chiifoniel
that belonged to my aunt, the horsehail
sofa, the round table, and that picture OF
you in your green satinet, we should
have our choice of dodgers any day.
My mother looked up sharply from hel
knitting; so sharply that she jerked a
stitch over her pin, and made mess
with her stocking, that kept me bother
ing over it for the next half hour. g
won't have no young men, can tell you
Patty, she said, decidedly, =" No young
men," 1t wouldn't be right, on any ac.
count. You're an unmarried woman
Patty, and people might talk. l dom
know that l approve Of the idea in any
wise. But as you say, it would help the
rent, and this move of ours has made ;
hole in the last quarter. We ght lool
out for single lady, OR widow"
My mother took out her red silk pocket.
handk erchief (Which had been my fathers
and she used it in remembrance of him
and wiped the moisture from her weak
eyes. The sunlight was glancing into
the room over the green blinds-a lin,
of yellow along the faded carpet, white
star on the polished back of the nahog.
any armchair, falling on my mothers
face and dazzling her eyes, then losing
itself amongst the gilt bindings in the
bookcase.
got up, pulled down the blind, an(
unravelled the knitting; my mother
watching with her elbows resting on hel
apron, and her shaking head supported
between her two hands and the red hand.
kerchief. For few minutes we sa
silent: l taking up the stitches ant
struggling my shoulder at the notion o
awidow lady, and my mother, as it seem.
ed pursuing the same strain of thought
for, all of sudden she raised her head
stretched out her large jointed fingers
to tidy the anti Macassar on the arm.
chair, and said emphatically, "I won't
have no men, Patty" didn't argue tho
subject; that wasn't my way. just
got up, took the cups and saucers from
the corner cupboard, and put on the ket-
tie. The clock had struck the half hour
my mother was always cross as she goi
hungry, and l called Betsy from the
kitchen, and sent her next door to the
grcen-grocers for quarter ofa pound Of
butter. d" You might go across to the
bakers too," l whispered, when l got her
into the passage, "and ask if they've
any frcsh-baked tat rascals. Your
missus is very fond Of fat rascals. Betsy
ran off with couple of plates, and was
presently at the parlor door again, toe
much out Of breath to talk, but with sue
ccssful purchases. took the things to