The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-08-05

she picked up that fifth cut actress man
Der remains to be seen"
! The professional part Of bis visit over,
the doctor stayed for a chat We were
warmly discussing the news of the day,
when-whew the door few open. and
in stalked Mary, and announced, with a
swing Of her arm
| The butcher, madam -
/ | saw the doctors eyes twinkle, but he
began to write in his memorandum book
with Intense gravity.
"Weil, Mary" I said, "be is not wait
ing?"
/ 1.-THE dinner waits - she replied =
"Shall prepare the viands as my own
Judgment shall direct, or will your incli-
nation dictate to me ?"
Cook them as you WILL" | said, "but
have 4 good dinner for Mr.. Harvey at
two o'clock"
"Between the strokes twill wait his
appetite" And with another sweeping
courtesy she left the room, the door, as
usual, after her exit standing wide open.
/ She was as good as her word. With
out any orders from me, she took it for
granted that Harry would dine Up stairs,
and set the table cut in my room. I was
beginning to let my keen sense Of the
ludicrous triumph over pain and weari-
ness, and | watched her, strangline the
laugh TIL she was down stairs. To see
her stab the potatoes. and behead the eel
+ cry was perfect treat, aud the air Of
martyr preparing poison with which she
poured cut the water, was perfect. Harry
was evidently prepared for fun, for he
watched her as keenly as | did.
Not one mouthful would she bring to
NE, ill she had made it dainty as could
be MASKING my potatoes with the move
ments Ct saint crushing vipers, and but,
tering my bread iD a manner that fairly
transformed the kuife into a dagger. Yet
F the moment she brought it to me, all the
affsctation dropped, and no mother could
have been more naturally tender Eyl-
dently, with ali her nonsense, she was
! kind hearted.
/ It took but one day to End that we had
secured perfect treasure Her cooking
was exquisite enough for the palate Of an
epicUre she was neat to 4 nicely, and I
soon found ner trustworthy. Her atten-
t!ons to myself we're touching in their
VatchtQl kindness. Sometimes, when the
pain was very severe, and l could only
lie suffering and helpless. her large hands
would smoothe my hair softly, and her
voice become almost musical in its low
murmuriDgs Of Poor child. Poor little
one :" I think her large strong frame
and consciousness Of physical superiority
to me in my tiny fern and helpless state,
reused all the motherly ' tenderness of her
nature, and she layished it upon me freely.
often questioned her about her for
mer places and discovered to my utter
apazement that she never was in the
atre, never saw or read play, aud was
entlrel ! innocent Of novel reading
/ had become used to her manner. and
no longer feared she was insane, when
one evening my gravity gave way utterly,
and for the first time | laughed in her
face. She had been arranging my bed
and self for the night, and was Just leav-
ing the room, holding in one hand au
empty pitcher, aud IN the other my wrap
per. Suddenly drunken man in the
street called ont, with a yell that really
was startling, though by 10 means mys-
terious- Like fash, Mary struck an
attitude. One foot advanced, her BODY
thrown slightly forward, the pitcher held
out, and the wrapper waved sloft, she
cried out in a voice of perfect terror
Gracious hearings What hideous
screams j. those :"
Gravity was gone. I fairly screamed
with laughter. and her motioniess attitude
and wondering face, OILY increased the
fun.
Go down, Miss Mary, or you will XIII
ne" [ gasped at last.
Apparently unconscious Of the cause
of nay merrimeDt. she went slowly from
the room, waving, alternately, the pitcher
and the wrapper.
To see her brandish dust-brush would
strike terror 10 the heart OF the most
daring spider; and no words of mine can
describe the frantic energy with which
sac punches pillows, or the grim salts
faction on her face at the expiring ago
MES of spot of dirt she rubs out Of ez-
istence. The funniest part Of all is her
perfectly stohd unconsclousness Of doing
anything out of the way
Barry found cut the explanation. She
has lived for ten years with a retired
actress and actor who wished to bury the
knowledge Of their past life, and VINO new
er mention the stage. Retaining 10 pri- /
vate life the attitudes and tones Of their
old profession. they have made it kind
Of sport to buriesaue the passions theF SO