North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-06-06
gelert ,gtury.
THE ONE EYED SERVANT.
BY JEAN INGELOW.

a
! Do you see those two pretty cottages on
opposite sides Of the commoa! How
bright their windows are, and how prettily
the vines trail over tLen 4 year ago one
of them WAS the .dirtiest place You can i'm
agine, and its mistress the most untidy wo-
She was once sitting at her cottage door
with her arms fo,led, as,if she was deep
in thought !; though t.. lock athcr face, one
would not have supposed she was doing
more than idly watching the swallows as
they Aoated about in the hot, clear air
Her gown was torE and shabby, her shoes
down at-the heel; the little curtain in her
easement, which had once been fresh and
white, had a great rent in it; and alto
gethcr, she looked poor and forlorn. ..-s.
She sat some time gazing across the
common, when all on a sudden she heard a
little noise, like STITCHING, near the ground
She looked down, and sitting on the border
under a wall. bush, she saw the finn.
niest little man possible, with a blue coat.
yellow waist-eoat, and red boots: he had
a small shoe on ,his lap, and he was stitch
ing away at it with all bis might. .- -...
"Good morning, mistress p said the lit
tie man. "a very fine day. Why NAV
yon be looking so earnestly across the COM
mon2' ss f..r.s .4 rt.-.
s'"l was looking a: nv neighbors cot
tage," said the young woman. ar... ...-..
What! Tom the gardner's wife Lit
tie Polly. she used to be called; and very
pretty cottage it is, too. Looks Is thriving
doesn't it?, JiJ1 har ser ,.-
; "She was always lucky" said Bella, -(fr
that was the wife,s namel: ''and her bus
band is always good to herr uGs
p ''Ther were both good husbands at first"
interrupted the ccbbler, without stopping.
"Reach me my awl, mistress, will you, for
you seem to have nothing to do 1t lies
close by your foot" aat .. tg- .t.s aG
[ "Well l-can't say but thew were both
very good husbands at first" replied Bella,
reaching the awl with sigh; "but mine
has changed for the worse,but hers for the
better, and then, look how she thrives
Only to think of our both being married
on the same day; and pow i've. nothing,
and she has two pigs, and a. v I ..
Il" And a lot of fax that 9she spur in the
winter" Interrupted the cobbler: g And a
Sunday gown, as good green stuff as ever
seen, and, to nv knowledge, handsome
silk handkerchief for an apron; and a red
waistcoat for her goodman, with three rows
of blue glass buttons, and a'flitch of bacon
in the chimney, and a rope Of onions"
"Oh, she's lucky woman!" exclaimed
Bella. 81 ..-.7 ..rst.ss or.
Az, and tea tray, with Daniel in the
Lions den upon it." continued the cobbler;
/" and, a fat baby in the cradle" '..- Z
/" Oh, Pm sure ]. don't envy her that last =
sald Bella, pettishlv.f "Pve little enough
for myself and my husband, letting alone
chlldren.15ed Esd 81 .sl.gsg az. a.e~s..s :
If Why, mistress, isn't your husband in
WORK. sisus uasrrI tr.ss4t a.. .,.f 5T
" No, he's at. the salehouse." -..... ->
Fov" Why, how's that ? He used to. be
very sober. Cant he, Get work ?" 8,
I1b q Hls'iasE master wouldn't keep him, be
| canse hewas SO shabby -, - l'
III "Hupph y said the little man, "He's