Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-09-09
It was long since he had been in such

1t was long since he had been in such
tiny, unpretending room as that where
he now sat, accepting the cup of fragrant
tea from Amy Wilford's dextrous little
hand. Yet every thing was so bright, so
neat, SO exquisitely tasteful-the fire
glowcd so redly, and the rosebuds in the
vases gave such a refined grace to the
little blue tea service and the com.
mon painted waiter, that he felt at once
that he was in the atmosphere Of home.
He never missed the silver urn. or the
gold handed china of his own stately ta-
BILE never noticed that his feet did not
rest among the ve,vety crimson shades
of his own Wilton carpet nor pcrceiv-
ed the wide difference between Amy
linen collar and shilling delainc, aad tho
Honitons and brocado that his fashion,
able helpmate wore but he knew there
was some charm here which Was lacking
at his own hearth-stone.
1t was a genuine old-fashioned "tea
hot biscuits. amber preserves, delicate
pink shadings of dried beef, and cake
that would make even a dyspcptic smack
his lips. NJ ynard could rot help CON.
plimenting the eatables. He didn get
any such at the restaurant where he
unched. and his wlfe's Irish kitchen
crops had an altogether different idea ot
/ things.
"Oh," said Amy, laughing, L made
them myself.
"Did you = He looked at her hall
amused 1 did not know ladies ever
employed themselves nowa-I1ys.
II am a capital cook, said Amy
I'VE are obliged to study economy some
what. and so | am my own house maid
Then you don't belong to the rose
leaf sort of ladies. who think it horrible
to touch their white fingers to cooking
utensiI :"
no, indeed she said, opening her
blue eyes in astonlshm mt at keeps
me healthy and happy; and as CHARLES
has to work hard in the store all day, it
is only fair that should do my part"
Many are foo ISL enough to think such
things below them he sad almost vita
a sigh.
II don't she said smiling Il think
nothing below me that helps TO maxi
my husband happier, or to ofizAte4 my
home
1t was a simple litt.e saving, but May-
nard poadercl upon it loas W., il
the secret of household bliss:
He looked at her little targe Of well
selected ho. ks the guitar and pie ot
music in the corner-the exquisite arav
ings on the wall. which Nlitord told
him were Amy's ovn-the PINE cone
! temples ana moss baskets and llttle wom-
anly trltics She had amused herself with
the bits Of enhroidcry-thc stand of ge-
raaiums and heIiotrope-even the piled
up work BASKET and thought within
+ himself how trac woman graeaS aud
glor.i 5 everything on which her hand
may rest.
Finally she came In from the kitchen
/ beyond, the vhl'e apron changed for a
timer one OF black silk, aud sat down by
/ the table TO work, every row and tncn
+ Joining In the conversation with zast and
+ spirit that seemed the HE OF :he vince
How proud Niliord was OF her. How
he appealed TO her jndIm Mt on every
occasion and how ioudIy his EYES rest
ed on he. blooming face. She WAS not
doing crochet work; She was not EN-
broiderlns weh-lihc muslin; and a. the
shining needle cleaned IN and ont
among the interlac.ns warp a~d woo:.
Maynard thought he had rever seen a
prettier or more graceful empl oyment.
For Amy brought ST r.t and soul to
her homely work that would have made
the coarsest fabric bright with the tint
of Persian looms.
And when at length Maynard took
his leave, the reflection, "N nat happy
fellow Wilford is.' was accompmed
with something very much Ike sigh
His home was different, far.
He break tasted alone the neXt nor
ning--his wife had been out late At a
bali, and seldom ro'e until eleven o CT ok.
The coffee was cold and muddy, even in
the frosted silver urn; the toast was
burned ana ,he s,oNN 'o"''''' '.'' Ia" ;
the t're smou'ae'eu away u'uVl 'r..l7 't' "l',''
mutations OF ashes' ana he fe'" 'ie MOI
n'ns paper a'one: "''n no ot' '5h' '''7 o''
posite to snare ms interest I. IN e'e' 7 ia,
Sraph. ne button was oN ais "i'S'o".''
out no matter lara mus "o' ao us
turoed-he could Just pm II over i 'ot Ia en'
M y *