Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-11-04


stoockins, an shirts, an rings, an iverythin'
he could ley his hans on, an run away at last
wi the missis's jewl-box. They're all alaike,
them furriners. 1t rooms i tn blood"
"Well," said Mrs. Sharp, with the air of q
person who held liberal views, but who knew
where to draw the line, "I'm not a-going to
defend the furriners, for I've as good reason to
know what they are as most folks, AN nobody'il
lver hear me say but what they re next door to
the heathens, and the hile they eat wi their
yctuals is enough to turn any Christian stom-
ach But for all that-an' fer all as the trouble
in respect o washin' an managin has fell upo'
me through the journey-I can't say but what
! think as my Lady an Sir Cristifer's done a
right thing by a hinncrnt child as doesn't know
its right ham from its left, i bringing it where
It'll learn to speak summat better nor gibberish,
and be brought mp + the true religion. For as
for them furrin churches as Sir Cristifer is so
unaccountablc mad after, wi picturs O. men an
women a-showin' therselves just for all the
world as God made em, think, for my part,
as its welly sin to 60 into ,em."
"You're likely to have more foreigners, how
ever said Mr.. Warren, who liked to provoke
the gardener, " for Sir Christopher has engaged
some Italian workmen to help in the alterations
in the house."
"Olterations '' exclaimed Mrs. Bellamy in
alarm. "What alterations?
"Why," answered Mr.. Warren, 60 Sir Chris
topher, as understand, is going to make a
new clean thing of the old Manor-house, both
inside and out. And he's got portfolios full of
plans and pictures coming. 1t is to be easel
with stone, in the Gothic style-pretty near like
the churches, you know-as far as can make
out and the ceilings are to be beyond anything
as has been seen in the country. Sir Christie
piers been giving a deal of study to it."
"Dear heart alve!' said Mrs. Bellamy,
I'VE shall be pisened wi lime an plaster, an
hev the house full O. workmen colloguing wi
the maids, an meckin' no end O. mischief"
"That ye may lay your life on, Mrs. Bel
lamy," said Mr.. Bates. " Howiver, Ill moot
denay that the Goothic stayle's prithy anoof,
an it's wonderful how near them stone -carvers
cuts oot the shapes O the pine apples, an sham
rucks, and rooses. dare sey Sir Cristhlferll
meek a naice thing O. the Manor, an there
woont be many gentlemen's houses i the COON
thry as'll COON up tot, wi such garden an
pleasure-groons an wall-fruit as King George
maght be prood on"
Well, | can't think as th' house tan be bet
ter nor it is, Gothic or no Gothic" said Mrs.
Bellamy; " an I've done the pickln' an pre-
servin IN it fourteen year Michaelmas was a
three weeks. What does my lady say to't? "
"My lady knows better than cross Sir Cristi-
tifer on what he's set his mind on said Mr..
Bellamy, who objected to the criminal tone of
the conversation. :" Sir Cristiferll hev his own
way, that you may tex your OATH An i the
right ont too. He's a gentleman born, ans
got the money. But come, Mester Bates, fill
your glass, an we'll drink health an happiness
to his honor an my lady, an then you shall
give us a sung. Sir Cristifer doesn t come home
from Italy livery night
This demonstrable position was accepted
without hesitation as ground for a toast bu
Mr.. Bates, apparently thinking that his sons
was not an equally reasonable sequence, ignored
the second part of Mr., Bellamy's proposal. 81
Mrs Sharp, who had been heard to say that sh'
had no thoughts at all of marrying Mr.. Bates
though he was a sensable. fresh-colored maj
as many woman 'ud snap at for husband,
enforced Mr.. Bellamy's appeal.
"Come, Mr.. Bates, let us hear Roy's Wife.
I'd rather hear a good old sung like that, no
all the fine Italian toodin'"
Mr. Bates, urged thus datteringly, stuck hi
thumbs into the armheles OF his waistcoat
q threw himself back in his chair with his hea
in that position in which he could look dirctl
f towards the zenith, and struck up remarkabl
O staccato rendering of "Roy's Wife of Aldiva
q loch." This melody may certainly be take
j. with excessive iteration, but that was rrecisel
q its highest recommendation to the present al
4 dience, who found it all the easier to swell til
chorus. Nor did it at all diminish their plea
ure that the only particular concerning Roy
Wife" which Mr.. Bates enunciation allowe
. them to gather, was that she " chated " him.
whether in the matter of garden stuff or
:, some other commodity, or why her nameshoulo
in consequence, be repeatedly reiterated wit
= exultation, remaining an agreeable mystery.
O Mr.. Bates's song formed the climax of tt
! evenings good-felowship, and the party SOC
e after dispersed Bellamy, perhaps,
$ dream of quick lime flying among her prcscr
4 ing pans, or of love sick housemaids reckless
= unswcpt corners-and Mrs Sharp to sink in
pleasant visions of independent housekeeping
Mr.. Bates's cottage, with no bells to answe
= and with fruit and vegetables od tbitum
Caterina soon conquered all prejudices again
is her foreign blood ; for what preiudices W
is hold out against helplessness and broken pratt
is she became the pet of the household, tlrusti'
ii Sir Christophers favorite bloodhound of th
n day, Mrs. Bellamys two canari-s, and N
T. Batess largest Dorking hen, into merely 81
re ondary position. The consequence was that
the space of a summer day she went tbrou
y, great cycle of experiences, commencing wi
r the somewhat acidulated goodwill of Nj
lie Sharps nursery discipline. Then came
grave luxury of her ladyships sittingroo
$, and, perhaps, the dignity of ride on
a. Christopher's knee, sometimes followed by
r. visit with him to the stables, where Cateri
or soon learned to hear without crying the bayi
II of the chained bloodhounds, and to say, W