Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-05-12
TALES & SKETCH ES.
THE ONE-EYED SERVANT.
BY JEAN INGELow

Do you see those two pNtty cottages on
opposite side of the Common! How bright
their windows are. and how prettly the
vines trail over them ! A year ago one of
them was the dirticst and most forlorn- look
ing place you can imagine, and its mistress
the most uniidy woman.
She was once sitting at her cottage door
with her arms folded, as if she were deep in
thought, though TO look at her face, one
would not have supposed she was doing
more than idly watching the swallows as
they iloated about in the hot, clear air. Her
gown was torn and shabby, her shoes Gown
at heel; the little curtain in her easement,
which had once been fresh and white, had
great rent in it 1.,n "l..,--,h~r she looked
poor and torlOrn.
She sat sometime, gazing across the COM
mon, when all on sudden she heard little
noise, like stitching, near the ground. She
looked down, and sitting on the border,
under wal! flower bush, she saw the fun
niest little man possible, with a blue coat, a
yellow waistcoat and red boots he had got
o small shoe on his lap, and he was stitching
away at it with all his might.
Good morning, mistress !" said the little
man. "a very fine day. Why may you he
looking SO earnestly across the common ~
II was looking at my neighbor's cottage"
saiG the young woman.
What! Tom, the gardeners wife little
Polly, she used to be called and very
pretty cottage it is, too Looks thriving,
doesn't it Z" -f
''She was always lucky" said Bella, (for
that was the young wife's name } ''and her
husband is always good to her."
They were JOth good husbands at first"
interrupted The little cobbler, without stop
ping. Reach me my awl, mistress will
you, for you seem to have nothing to do; it
lies close Ivy your foot"
"Wcll, can't say but they were both very
good husbands at first" replied Bella, reach
ing the awl with sigh; "but mine mas
changed for the worse, and hers for the bet
ter and then, look how she thrives Only
to think of our both being married on the
same day and now Eve nothing, and she
has two pigs, and "a"
"And lot of flax that she spun in the
winter" interrupted the cobbler; "and
Sunday gown, as good greer stuff as ever
was seen, and, to my knowledge, hand
some silk handkerchief for an apron ; and
red waistcoat for her goodman, with three
rows of blue glass buttons, and fitch of
Of bacon in the chimney, and a rope of
onions" rs 20 ...t...T ..
"Oh, she's,a lucky woman" exclaimed
Bella.
"Ay, and a tea-tray, with Daniel in the
lions den upon it," continued the cobbler !;
"and fat baby in the cradle"
! "Oh, I'm sure Idont envy her that last"
said Bella, pettishly. "Pve little enough
for myself and my husband, letting alone
children" & -rEIs H- -..--..-r
"Why, mistress, isn't your husband in
work I" asked the cobbler.
"No; he's at the ale-house."
"Why, how's that he used to be very
! sober. Can't he get work n
"IIis last master wouldn't keep him, be-
cause he was so shabby"
| "Humphp' said the little man. Hes q
groom, is he not Well, as was saying,
your neighbor opposite thrives; but no
wonder2 Well, I've nothing to do with other
peoples secrets; but l could tell you, only
I'm busy, and must GO"
"Conld tell me uhat sn cried the young
wife. 80, good cobbler, don't go, for I've
nothing to do. Pray tell me phy it's no
wonder that she should thrive ~ lA in
"Well," said he, sits no business of mine,
you know, but, as | said before, it's no Won
der people thrive who have servant-a
hard-workiug ones too-who is always help
ing them.h - f-,.
/ ~ cctNuut icpcatcu DSiia H. hciSh'
Dor has servant No wonder, then, every
thing looks so neat about her; but l never
| saw this servant. i think you must be
mistaken besides, how could she afford to
pay her wages 7" r,,-a q.
iShe has q servant, say" repeated the
cobbler-"a one-eyed servant-out she pays
her no wages. to my certain knowledge. =
Well; good morning, mistress, l must Co."
\ hssDo stop one minute" cried Bella. urgent
lly-"where did she get this servant :"
/. s".oh, i don't know" said the cobbler,
.uses hers well, can tell you.
! ..And what does she do for her u y
"Dof for her : Why, all sorts of things-I
thiaki she's the cause of her prosperity To
.tiny Knowledge she never refuses to do any.
tthipg keeps Toms and Poli's clothes in
beautiful order and the baby's." ,,- -,''. = 20
--Alssr me ~ cad Bella, in an envious tone,
and holding up both-hsr hands "well, she