The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-06
THE oNE-EYED SERVANT.
A Story told to a Child.
BY JEAN INGELoW.

can imagine, anu It's inIstiesS tile uOSC untiuy.
She was once sitting at her cottage, with her
arms folded as if she were in deep thought,
though to look at her face, one would not
have supposed she was doing more than idly
watching the swallows as they foated about
in the hot, clear air. Her gown was torn and
shabby, her shoes down at the heels; the little
curtain in her easement, which had once been
white and fresh, had great rent in it; and
altogether she looked poor and iOrlorn.
She safe sometime, gazing across the COM
mon, when all of sudden she heard little
noise, like stitching near the ground. She
looked down, and sitting on the border, I'M
der Wall-hoWer bush she saw the funniest
little man possible, with blue coat, a yellow
waistcoat, and red boots; he had got small
shoe on his lap, and he was stitching away at
il with all his might.
aGood morning, mistressp said the little
man. "a very fine day. Why may you be
looking SO earnestly across the common?'
81 was looking at my neighbours COTTAGE"
said the young woman.
se"What2 Tom, the gardeners wife? little
Polly she used to be called; and very pretty
cottage it is too! Looks thriving, doesn't p
"She was always lucky" said Bella, (for
that was the young woman's name1; and her
husband is always good to her." GsF8D
"They were both good husbands at first,'
interrupted the little cobber without stop
ping "Reach me my awl, mistress, will you,
you seem to have nothing to do; it lies close
by your foot"
swell, can't say but they were both very
good husbands at first" replied Bella, reaching
the awl with sigh; "but mine has changed
for the worse, and hers for the better; and
then how she thrives. Only to think of our
both being married on the same day; and now
I have nothing, and she has two pigs and "a"
"And lot of fax that she had spun in the
winter interrupted the cobbler; sand a Sum
day gown, as good green stuff as ever was
seen, and, to my knowledge, handsome
silk handkerchief for an apron, and red
waistcoat for her good man, with three rows
of blue glass buttons, and fitch of bacon in
the chimney, and rope of onions" a
"Ohl she is a lucky woman" exclaimed
Bella.
@Ah, and tea-tray with Daniel in the Lions
Den upon it," continued the cobbler; "and a
fat baby in the CRADLE"
1Ohl Pm sure don't envy her the last"
said Bella pettishly. 81 have little enough for
myself and husband, letting alone children"
"Why, mistress, isn't your husband in work p
asked the cobbler.
ooh, he's at the ale-house."
@Why, how's that? he used to be very So
Der. Can't he get work?"
"His last master wouldn't keep him, because
he was so shabby"
"Humphp' said the little man. "He's a
groom, is he not? Well, as was saying, your
neighbor opposite thrives wonderfully; but no
wonderl Well, I've nothing to do with other
peoples secrets, but could tell you, only Pm
busy, and must CO."
"Could tell me aohat ?"cried the young wife.
90, good cebbler, don't go, for Pve nothing to
do. Pray tell me achy it's no wonder she
should thriye?"
"Well," said he, sits no business of mine,
you know, but as said before, it's no wonder
people thrive who have servant hard
working one, too-who is always helping
them" ssf is7it
ga servantp repeated Bella, @my neighbor
has servantl No wonder, then, everything
looks so neat about her; but I never saw this
servanti / think you must be mistaken; be-
sides how could she afford to pay her RACES %
"She has servant, say," repeated the cob
bler-"a one-eyed servant-but she pays her
no wages, to my certain knowledge. Well,
good morning, mistress, must CO."
- "Do stay one minute" cried Bella, urgently,
"where did she get this servant~
"Oh, don't know" said the cobbler; ser
wants are plentiful enough, and Polly uses hers
well, can tell you.',
"And what does she do for her?"
"Do for her? Why all sorts of things-I
think she's the cause of her prosperity. To
my knowledge she never refuses to do anything,
keeps Toms and Polly's clothes in beautiful
order, and the baby's."
"Dear meE said Bella in envious tone,
and holding up both hands; "wel, she is
lucky woman, and always said SO. She takes
6 cd care shall never see her servant. What
sort of servant is she, and how came she TO
have only one eyew
sit runs in her family" replied the cobbler,
stitching busiy; ''they are all so--one eye
apiece; yet they make very good use Of it, and
Polly's servant has four cousins who
are bind-stone blind; no eyes at all
fhaxr halp
seen them in the cottage myself, and that's
how Polly gets good deal of her money They
work for her, and she takes what they make
TO market, and buys all those handsome
things" ~
"Only think" said Bella, almost ready to
cry with vexation, sand I've not got soul to
do anything for me; how hard it Isl and she
took up her apron to wipe away her tears.
The cobbler looked attentively at her.
"Well, you are to be pitied certainly" he said,
"and If / were not in such hurry
20, do 60 on, pray-were you going to say
you could help me? have heard your peo-
pie are fond of curds and whey, and fresh
gooseberry syllabub. Now, if you would help
me, trust me that there should be the most
beautiful curds and whey set every night for
you on the hearth; and nobody should ever
look when you went and came.
"Why you see,' said the cobbler, hesitating,
"my people are extremely particular about
In short about cleanliness, mistress and your
house is not what one would call very clean.
. No offence, hope?" st's1A ( /
Bella blushed deeply. "Well, but it should
be always clean if you would-every day of
my HE would wash the floor, and sand it,
and the hearth should be whitewashed as
white as snow, and the windows cleaned"
wen, said the cobber, seeming to consid-
er, "well then should not wonder if could
meet with one-eyed servant for YOU. like
your neighbors; but it may be several DAYS
before eat; and mind, mistress, Tn to have
dish of curds."
eyes, and some whipped cream, too" replied
Bella, full of joy.
The cobbler took up his tools, wrapped them
in his leather apron, walked behind the wall
flower, and disappeared. s.-.---.--.
Bella was so delighted she could not sleep
that night for joy. Her husband scarcely knew
the house, she had made it so bright and clean;
and by night she had washed the curtain, and
cleaned the window, rubbed the fire-irons,
sa1ded the floor, and set great jug OF haw-
thorn IN blossom, on the hearth.
The next morning Bella kept sharp look
out, both for the tiny cobbler and on her neigh
boris house to see whether she could possibly
catch glimpse of the one-eyed servant. But
no-nothing could she see but her neighbor
sitting IN her rocking chair, with her baby on
er knee, working.
az i"oo "hon sue was quite tired she heard the
voice Of the cobbler outside She ran to the
door and cried out
= 80 do, pray come in, sir, only look at NV
housew ~ 10y
"Really," said the cobbler looking around
81 declare l should hardly have known 1.-THE
sun can shine brightly now through the clear
glass; and what a sweet smell of Hawthorne
"Well, my one-eyed servant? ?" asked Bella
you remember, hope, that I can't pay her
any waoes-haye Won met with any one that
will come ?"
"Alls right" replied the little man, nodding.
"1've got her with me-"
SCOT her with you ?" repeated Bella, looking
round, II see nobody" .
"Look, here she tsp said the cobbler, hold
up something in his hand.
Would you believe it, the one-eyed servant