Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-11-16
WATERTOWN WIS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 49, 1860

her whatever information she required as
to my means and character. added a
postscript to say that I particularly Oh
Jected to children, and would make it a
point with my housekceper to keep hers
behind her. If she liked the terms and
stipulations, / requested her to call at nv
counting room the ensuing morning.
1t would be idle for me to say that at
tended very closely to b e the
next forenoon. The housekeeping fe-
yer, the home longing had taken full pos
session of me. must confess, besides, to
no small amount Of curiosity as to the per-
sonal appearance Of N. l.. Smith. Not
too young, that wouldn't look well-no
toothless, wrinkled crone to sit opposite me
at my board, but pleasant cheerful wo-
man, young enough to make my home live
ly.
1t was about eleven o'clock when my
young man waited upon the lady in. Nv
previous favorable impressions were fully
confirmed by her appearance 1 did not
think her handsome, certainly not in the
style Of sister in law. She was small
woman, light footed, and slender, with
sunny pleasant face, which might have tes-
titled to thirtyfve summers, but no win
ters, surely; or, if she had met a storm
or chill, she had borne them with such
brave patience, that her face reflected only
the sunshine. Her brown hair was put
simply and smoothly away from her tran
gull face. Her mouth was not small, but
winning and smiling. When she spoke,
her low, pleasant tones endorsed the ex-
preston of her countenance.
Mr.. Bishop, I believe, the gentleman
who wrote this letter?
And she drew my epistle from her pock-
ct
The same, madam.
| came, sir, to say that I would accept
your proposition; if you still wish it, now
we have met.
| was about to say that I wished 1t more
than ever, since lad seen her, but fortu-
nately recollected in time, that compli-
melts to my housekeeper were no proper
part Of the programme, and very dexter
ously concluded my engagement in a mat
ter of fact and business way.
The next week she entered upon her du
ties. I had never known what it was to
be so comfortable My house was mod
ell Of convenience and simple elegance; at
least, my sister in law, when she went over
previous to Mrs. Smiths engagement, pro-
nounced it perfect. | had SOFT of home
feeling that | had not known before;
room enough for all my possessions a
place to welcome my friends to; very a
greeable companion in my housekeeper
when | chose to talk to her, an unobtru-
sive minister to my comfort when was ST.
lent.
True, Mrs, Bishop, found, whenever
she honored me with visit, that some
thing or other was not ordered as she man
aged it in poor Roberts time House
keepers, even the best of them, she was
wont to remark, require little looking af-
ter They can't be expected to take so
much interest in ones affairs, as ones
own relations. Her comments did net give
me much uneasiness.
went home one day little earlier than
usual. L thought a quiet chat with my
houseEeeper over the diningroom fire would
not be unpleasant I had begun already
to take altogether more interest in her
than | was prepared to acknowledge to N.Y.
self. I pictured, as l hurried home, the
table handsomely laid, and Mrs Smith, in
her neat, quiet dress, sitting by the fire,
with book, or work, waiting for the dinner
to be brought up. As I reached my own
door, however, | found it open, and three
children of varying ages, taking most af-
fectionate farewell of my housekeeper I
never cared enough for any one before to
experience such feeling as jealousy, but
| think no other word would adequately
express my feelings as [ walked into the
parlor and shut the door. Presently Mrs
Smith made her appearance.
| am very sorry, sir, she began.
Not at all, madam.
0, but I am. | remember your stipula-
tion about the children, perfectly. l sure
ly did not mean they should annoy you
I presumed you would have no objections
to their coming sometimes in your absence,
and | like to see them as often as I can,
but they shall not be here again at an hour
when you're likely to come home
She must have thought me an ungra-
cious boor. for I growled out,
No matter-no matter at ALL
I was in i'll humor. The pleasant an
ticipations with which hurried home had
not been realized. Moreover, | suspected
| was becoming too much interested in my
housekeeper to like to be reminded that
others had stronger claims upon her. That
evening I sat on one side of the bright fire
and Mrs Smith on the other. | abhor
furnaces-it is one of my whims. I loved,
when [ was boy, to make pictures in the
fire, and the habit and [ have grown old
together. We had sat silently some time |
was watching in two embers two little boats
sailing along lovingly, side by side. At
length asked,
What was Mr. Smith business, madam
A merchant. He was in dry goods firm
and able to give US every luxury until be
failed
So that was it. He had failed and died
and left her all those children to support
l looked into the fire again. The boats
had drifted far apart, and were sailing
down fame colored river
''He on the one side-she on the other"
| unused on, half sorrowfully until at
length said, speaking unconsciOusly out