Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-29
.sHow csarrninsly you are looking, Nelly,n hi


said, moving degree nearer.
Now, don'S believe that person lives VIII
does not like q little fattery, given in the righ
manner, time and place, in spite of what wise
lings say, or may have said to the contrary
Our sex is said to be the most pleased with it
and in its name, plead guilty to the weakness
Freely do own thatI have liked it from M
pinafores; and, surely, under such circumstan
ces, it must have been agreeable. The compi
mentary speech, recorded above, was followed
by very awkward pause, during which tins
we blushed to the rims of our ears.
smelly" he continued, ssyou know have ne
sister. Sometimes am very lonely. My dea
and valued mother is becoming aged and ny
nature Graves \ younger an dearer compan'
ion."
Horridi At that moment an odor of burn
ing meat came most unpleasantly to my olfac.
ories. begged to be excused, and FASTENED in
to culinary quarters, to find the piece of beef
had so carefully prepared almost spoilt. Nervo.
nsly caught holder from the SHELF and in SC
dong, succeeded in knocking mas favorite cut,
glasspitcher, which fell with loud crash, break
ing into thousand fragments. Philip must have
heard it. Tn, this .1rsai-gebting, with a lover
in the parlor With flushed brow / went
back to the old sest. Philip smiled provoking
ly.
ssNelly,v he then added, II want wife,
Home will lack nothing, then, to render it the
dearest resting place this side of heaven.
know little girl who is as precious to me as
life~
"Oh!" Just then, disturbance in Bridget's
appearance, obliged me again to leave, had
carelessly left open the door; and dame grunter
had taken the liberty to enter and taste of the
pudding had set to cool.
1t was in no envable frame of mind that
hauled out the dining table, and laid the dishes.
As looked at the warm, heavy biscuits, unpal-
atabe meat aud burnt potatoes, my pride and
self-confdence vanished. should not have
cared SO much, lad not known what an excel
lent cook and good housekeeper Mrs. Dean was.
Besides, in the matter of the palate, Philip had
been an epicure from his cradle, and everybody
knows that men think more of their stomachs
than of their sweehearts. To add still more to
my trepidatioH, Philip regarded me curiously
when invited lin to dine. As he eyed the
Viands before him, | thought he was going to
say grace, by the sudden eiongation of bis Wis
age. poured some muddy coffee, and notwith-
standing my secret discontinue, took mali
cious pleasure in seeing him sip the beverage.
He was an inevitable coffee drinker, but, some
how, his cup did not lower much.
What rare fun should have had, if had not
been Dinahl We came to dessert at last, and
when handed linn the aaky crusted pic, q re-
lieved expression stole over his countenance,
which one tasting changed to perceptible gri-
mace. What could all my highest efforts
Alas | had forgotten to sweeten the apple.
Were vexatioEs never to cease! By chance,
/ caught glimpse of a reflection in the glass.
Was it mine? glanced downward. Shame of
Ham My faith in spotless-robed heroines,
was gone at once. ! was tri-colored ex-
hibition of red, white and black. Troubles
heaped themselves up strangely. / wanted to
throw myself on the carpet, and cry like very
child. | did nothing of the kind. Instead |
burst into laugh, as the whole scene came be-
fo.e me in its ridiculous light. / laughed when
he went away, though / knew he would never
finish the offer so unluckiIy begun.
Three weeks later he was united to Jenny
Wheeler. Soon, | attended a party at widow
Deans and had the happiness in overhearing
Philips indifferent remark to Fred. Lee, kind
of explanatory apology for the Irritation be-
tween Us "a dear little girl, but poor cook"
In time m1 parents returned and / was on
ly too glad e. pnt off a responsibility of which
was heartily tired. / shrewdly suspected
that my father Lad an eye on Philips Golfers,
for he was cross toward me three days after
hearing of the wedding.
Just as though | could have helped it. learns
ed two lessons, that young ladies may profit by.
First, it is different thing to play kitchen
maid, with mother for overseer and to play the
same without her. In the former case, If you
forget sugar, salsratus or the oven, she will
not. Secondly, never allow lover, whom you
wish to call husband, to declare his passion at
breakfast, dinner or supper time, especially if
you are forced to prepare the meals yourself. Be
too busy, be skittish, be anything, rather than
allow it.