Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-16
HOW I LOST MY LOVER.
BY NELL PITTsINGER.

Be careful of the fire, Nelly was the last i- junction of thousand that my parents gave me as they started of on visit to some relatives residing eastward, beyond the White Mountains They were to remain absent about a fortnight j; and I va to be commanGel-in chief of rows of shining milk pans, pots, kettles, and household affairs in general and in particular.
 Farmers wives know that this is post of of considerable importance, one of hard duty and constant watchfulness. l was 50 thorough ly convinced of my competency as housewife that l was sorely irritated when my good moth- CT implied doubts of it, by her countless and re- peated charges.
 Now. thought, I am in my glory as I sat down to recover the breath and patience l had lost in racing after collars gloves pins and neck ties ; and in order to prepare for commencing operations which I resolved should astonish my unbeeving pasents, and show them what a treasure of daughter they unwlttingly posses sed. ] glanced around. The rooms were in Woe ful confusion. Band boxes, boots, coats, pants, and cast off shirts, were scattered over the floor and chairs; cobwchs hung from the ceilings and windows on the tabia lay huge pile of un-
 washed dishes and the half opened doors re- vealed tunbled beds and mussy toilet stands. This accumulation of disorder would have driven Lord Chesterfield distracted ard no wonder
 that the mirror opposite reflected a heated and i impatient face. l was no longer to be daunted howevrr, for had a notion to try what pair of spry feet and hands could accomplish. At that instant the old clock in the sitting-room
 peeled forth one, two, three, four, five the morn ing was yet young, and arose with quick step and light heard. Broom, brush, dishcloths, and
 perseverlng labor got the mastery; and short
 Iy surveyed with proud satisfaction, the beautiful order had brought about. Something still was 1 al, lrip,r ,oI hot from it's accustomed nail, with eager footsteps sought my flower garden. Selecting choice roses pansies and verbenas, l transferred them to our cosy parlor very angels of fragrance and beauty.
 Nor was this all. 1 determined to get dinner that would shed honor upon me 50 barring my arms Was soon deep in Aunt Dinah's myste
 ries thought-Eusy, and, as the sequel will show thought wandering.
 Through the tender care of a novelist he
 roins retains the immaculate whiteness of her robes even though she should wade through i iidd puddle. He knows it would never do to introduce her washing, with bedraggled and be- spattered skirts it would sound unromantc.
 We'll, was once simple enough to believe all his fbs, and inclined to initiate his lady Ange las in dress so 1 donned my daintIest white i muslin. While stood before the glass, could
 not help feeling good deal of natural, femenine SSSo
 my figure was rather too short, and it's propor- ton was of too healthy fullness for elegance !; and, according to the American type of beauty, my cheek was of too rich a color but 1 was pretty-there was no gainsaying it. My short, thick curls, and bright black eyes were attract | i've; and knew that was a vain puss then, a
 petted, half-speilt only daughter, and heiress to broad acres. You'll ask for whom were all these
 preparations? Certainly not for lone me.
 Who ever heard of a girl of eighteen work ing and puttering at such rate, when she does not expect beau? You see, l knew, intuitive- that Philip Dean would come-you know Phil | ip? There had been little kindness growing up between us two from mere babyhood. He had carried my dinner basket night and morn ing, during all our school days, and always in sisted that was much handsomer than rival belle sweet Jennie Wheeler Besides he won my girlish gratitude, by working out for me the long, hard sums in the old arithmetic-no won der he was undisputed owner of 9 large share of my affections.
 Since had donned large frocks, I had been almost invariably his companion to all the sing ing schools, picnics sleigh rides, and boating excursions 1t was his general rule to spend two evenings of the week at our house; yet, with all this attention, he had never spoken a word of love- Somehow, had presentiment, (yOu GirlS understand tHS,) tilaC a decidfatloH would soon be made I was not mistaken. It was not long ere heard step on the gravelled walk that could belong to no other but himself.
 Looking backward over train of years it seem- ed strange what flutter, futter, the was about my heart. Phillips cheery good morning in no wise tended to ,alay my perturbation. His hazel eyes had never appeared so handsome and impassionate before nor had he been half so entertaining I was proud of him. We sat near each other; 50 near that he toyed with my hand. It was way Phillip had, and l thought nothing of it.
 How charmingly you are looking, Nelly he said, moving degree nearer.
 1 Now, don't believe that person lives who
 does not like little fattery, given in the right
 manner, time and place, in spite of what wise lings say, or may have said to the contrary. Our
 sex is said to be most pleased with it; and in
 its name, plead guilty to the weakness. Free | ly do own that have liked it from my piana-
 fores and surely, under such circumstances, it
 must have been agreeable. The complimentary
 speech, recorded above, was followed by very
 awkward pause. during which time we blushed | tn fhe rims of our ears