Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-02-19

1
was to be on his probation for three
months, to try how he suited me. At the
end of that time, if all went well, the
engagement was to be permanent. l am
one of those old-fashioned persons
who have dislike to changing their SER
wants. Most of mine were Of long stand
| ing cook eleven years, bouscmaid near
ily eight, Jane, kitched.maid, three, and
the page four Briefly, the Reverend DR..
Folder, and his wife and daughter. sailed
from Southampton, and Mortimer came
down to The Grove.
"Wel, Miss Primwortl," said the vi.
car, II was not far wrong when | recon-
mended you to advertise. Public press,
air we breathe. Nothing equal to it in
our century. And l don't mind saying
am very much pleased with your new
butler. l watched him at church on
Sunday, and | never saw more attentive
parishoner, nor heard better bass sing.
er. On my word, Miss Primworth, you
have got prize, as servants 60"
So | thought. In that matter | agree
ed with our vicar, Mr.. Flinders, the in
cumbent Of our poor and struggling par
ish of St. Nicholas s-extra- -Muros. Mr..
Flinders had sincere admiration fer the
newspapers feeling at which l had often
smiled; not that am Goth enough to
undervauc the press, but that | do not
rate advertisements quite SO highly as my
clcrgical friend does. But in this case
was compelled to own that Mortimer left
nothing to be desired. Such good SER
want, as he was quiet, active, unobtru-
sivc, deeply respectful. | never saw
such butler, never although l have Wis.
tied at some fine houses in my day--EIk-
erton Towers and Proppleby Grange, for
instance but neither the Earl nor Sir
Jasper had such well-trained servants as
Mortimer The mans manners were fault
less there was a suppression Of self ia
all he did, and yet you could read in his
eye the subducd sagacity Of every snsi-
bic person. lie polished the spoons to a.
brilliancy that [ must confess poor Jen-
kins never attaiucl to. He was punctu-
al, kind, humble, and a most constant and
wel-behaved member Of the congregation
at our little church of st. Nicholas with
out the Walls. And he certainly was a
very good singer.
1t is no small proof Of Motmer's qual-
iicatiens that he got into the good grace
Of Us all, above and below stairs. Be-
sides myself, who am not over fond OF
new faces, there was Mrs Wilks the cook
always hard and cold with strangers, and
Ellen the houscmail, who IS little tart
in manner and who did not agree perfectly
even with jenkins. But in an Incredible
short space Of time Motimer was on the
best Of terms with them all. He amused
them down stairs, | belive. as grave as he
was when on duty;but at any rate, his kind
ness and civility won their hearts, and
cook and Ellen told me seperatly what a
very nice, wcIl-behavea man aua faitatu!
servant--they'd 90 TO bail for twas
Mr.. Motimer. Tho only live thing about
the house that did not take t, tho new
comer was surly old Neptune, the yard
dog. who growled and snarod suspicious
lv at the butler, ard would scarcely per-
nit Motlmer to come within reach Of his
chain. Motimer bore this unreasonable
ebulliton of hostility very meekly. In
little time, he said, softly, the dog would
know MIN better. Poor Nep' But l
must not anticipate coming events.
Motimer came to us on Friday, and on
the Monday following, Farmer Saltash,
Of Baltree, had his parlor window shut
ters cut through, and lost silver punch
bowl, teapot. some spoons and forks,
and about eighteen pounds in canvas
bag, that had been put away ready to pay
wages at the weeks end. The Chester
ton police declared that the job of cutting
circular aperture in the shutters had
been so neetly done, that it was evident
that expert London "cracksmcn'-that
was the strange word technical, suppose
had been employed. Nor had any noise
been made for, ii there had Alr. Saltash
and his four SONS, and the two men who
slept on the premises, with double-barrel
led guns and pitchlorks, would soon have
routed the intruders. However, this bur-
larry gave us new shock, and most of
us householders took extra precautions
In this | found Mortimer n Jealous ally.
1t was his suggestion that the bolts OF
both doors. front and back, were old and
rusty, and ill-fastened, and that new ones
had better be put on instead Of them
And so anxious was Mortimer to secure
the house, that he went himself to Ches-
tcrton to consult the ironmonscr on the
subject.
| may rs well mention that | was par
itcuIar about having tho keys Of both
outer doors brought to mo every night
after evening family prayers, and of keep
ing them in my room till breakfast time.
My papa, the General, had done SO; in-
deed, | believe when Governor of some
fortress, it had been etiquette for him to
cause all the keys to be brought to him
nightly, and he had preserved the prac-
tice in private life and it was my habit
too. had full confidence in every men,
Der Of my establishment, but accidents
will happen.
Now when Mortimer was superintend-
ing the workmen who put tho new bolts
on the doors, CHANGED to pass by, on my
way to call on Mrs. Flinders and l thot'
the locksmith a very ill-looking fellow.
1t was not merely that his face was smut
ted. | have seen very honest-looking
(, ,,ersons with faces still more begrimed