The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-18

little wood bridge, from which he could
see across the village common and through
the tall elms to the gray church and the
pleasant rectary hard by, a lighted window
OF which broke through the thickening
twilight gloom like an early evening star.
1t fares to me, Butcher" said the
clerk, addressing his confdant, "that
there's a kind O. twist in things generally.
We're getting out of order, Butcher, we
are; or we're growing old, my man, and l
doubt that's just another word for foolish.
What are you blinking at that light for,
my man. You weren't! say you were.
Don't | know you? Wouldn't you be off
if you heard her voice, and hurry to lick
her hand, and give your worthless old car
case for mat for her pretty feet? Ay,
know And | don't wonder at it either.
Blame me if 1 wouldn't almost change
places with you, Butcher, for the chance
OF her smile and the touch of her pretty
fondin' hand But that's where the twist
is, Butcher. What ha' we to do with pret-
ty faces and soft hands Our business is
to keep the warmin down, and not to med
die with high game. And after all, we
may be making kinder fools of ourselves,
too. Mister Addison may ha' been to
blame, and pretty pink face and soft white
hands haven't much to do with workin'
folk generally. But she's not idle, is she,
Butcher? The angels in heaven are busy
enough; but they dosen't ruffle their plum
age or soil their white shinin' robes. Lord
love you! / mind she nursed my old
mother, the poor old body wouldn't take
bite or sup Of anything she didn't make
up for her. And she was the neatest hand
at mutton broth l ever see, and could
give that flavor to cold-water cruel that all
the brandy in the world couldn't equal.
"Don't tell my sister, Jacob" said Mis-
ter Addison to me, and 1 see his poor white
face writhe, ''don't tell Miss Lucie, Jacob"
But lord love you, Butcher, if we don't,
some one will. Butcher, you brute, how
can you lie snorin' there while the beau
tiful face. is wet with tears, and the pretty
white hands are prayin' help? And yet
you're right, L dare say. Shoulders are
made to bear their own burden, and it's
kinder tempting Providence to overload
them. We shouldn't be where we are.
Butcher, eh if we'd minded every tear
full face and sad heart? But there must
be something in the season, after all, al
though 1T is so contrary, that makes me
fare so soft, l wouldn't ha' it known to
| Glevering for the world Think of the
warmin comm for to know of it, Butcher,
\ or the tenants when we go collectine of our
rents. But we'll take our chance of that
and I'll tell you what, my lad, bein' in the
cool of the evening, We'll Just take kind
er permiscuous stroll up to the Rectory
and see Skippens upon it. You're ready
enough for that, eh? Whatever troubles
there may be in the Rectory parlor, there's
alters warm fire and a fat bone in the
kitchen for ye. Halloa, my man why,
what's the matter now ?"
For Butcher, who had been lying with
his ear to the ground, started up with
vicious growl, and every bristly muscle
taut for action, as dapper little man,
dressed in black, with jaunty step, ap-
preached them.
"Good evening my man." he said, eye
ing Butcher askew; "this is Glevering
Green, I believe ?"
"The clerk, much impressed with Butch
er's manner, answered shortly and suspi-
ciously, yes"
"And that is Glevering Church, and that
the Rectory ?"
" 1t wouldn't be manners to contradict
you, said the clerk, more shortly; "but
I've half mind"
"There's way across the fields isn't
there Contound that dog of yours he'll
do me mischief. Call the cur off. will
youp s.lt
" He ANITA cur" said Jacob, curtly.-
g You won't find better bit of blood in
the country"
But I've no. wish he should try the
quality of mine" said the man in BLACK,
as quickly. "Is he dangerous ?'' =
TO warmin-yes." pa
"Ohp 1a.
Sand his judgments generally to be re-
lied on, is Butchers"
"That's flattering."
"Of course he's wrong sometimes. and
may be now. You do not like an idle man,
sir"
"Why, no-or I shouldn't be here"
Nor an army man, nor newspaper
writer?"
Scarcely. am lawyer"
ga lawyer | humbly beg your pardon
/ JOu oib AoOi5 Nildb are YOU
ing on? Ware ferret lad ware ferretp
and the old dogs growl subsided into low
watchful mutter.
Now, upon my SOUL" said the lawyer,
laughing heartily, "you're quite humor-
ist. Ware ferret, indeed L like that
You're going my way, are you? shall
be proud of your company, sir. After YOU
and your injudicious friend, if you please.
Ware ferret, isseed By Jove, this fell
lows impudence is stupendous p
X X X
As Miss Lucie Addison's confidential
maid, and it may almost be said compan.
ion, 1t was not surprising that Skippens
should contract some little of her mistress
grace and beauty. 1t was this reflection.
indeed, of Lucie's charms, and not any
personal qualities of Skippens, that Mr.
Purchas allowed himself to admire in that
young person. In his warmest moments
in the Rectory kitchen, Jacob had ALWAYS
taken care as yet to qualify his attentions
thus, and not to commit himself to anv
closer or more nersonal raIat;o,,e iii L =