The Portland daily press., 1866-04-02
Miscellany. 2
From Dickens GAN the Year Round"
BETS MATCH MAKING.


The only time ever tried matchmaking III
INV life was when was seventeen, and then
so hurnt nv fingers over the business that TOOK
care never to NEEDLE with 1t again. was Nv
ING ut the time with my stepmother on her farm
near Ballymena. My father was dead, and my
stenmother did not like, me. She had placed
me for a time with milliner in the town, but
fn1ing it expensive supporting .le apart from
her had taken me away again. She was think
ing of a second marriage, though did not know
II at-the time. But this did know--that she
had written to some distant friends of nv
father in America, who had unwillingly con-
scented to take me off her hands. Afet
i don't think it would have been half as hard
for me to have made up my mind to die; for I
was shy little thing, without bit Of courage
to deal with strangers, and my heart was fit to
burst at the thought of leaving the very few
friends whom had to love, and my own little
corner OF. the world, where the trees and the
roads knew me. But felt it would have to be
done, and lay awake all night after the letter
arrived, trying to think how ! should ever pc
brave enough to say goodbye to my dear friend
Oracle Byrne, and to Gracie's lover, DonneH
MDonnell. IN .-ff5 - frFt tlss
Oracle was the cleverest of all Miss Dorans
apprentices She was an orphan without
friend to look after her, and she was the love
lest girl in the country. People SAID sne was
proud and vain: but could never tnink she
was either She and loved one another dear
ly,though I cannot think what attracted her TO
poor little plain me- She had plenpy OF ADMIR-
ers, and she queened it finely amongst them;
but the only one to whom would have given
her with ali NV heart was D0nnell M'Donnell
And, oh, dear he was the very one whom she
would not look at. r. .,.s .t--- .-a .
Donnell and were great friends, and had
promised to do all could to help him with
Oracle. He was young and strong, and as bon
ny man as could be seen. He had fine farm,
all his own, some three miles across the coun-
try from my stepmother's place. Ii Oracle
would but marry him, she would live like .
lady, and drive into BalIymena on her own
jaunting-car. But she was always saying that
she would go away to London, and be great
"Wcstend" milliner.s This terrified me badly,
seeing that Londonis1such wicked place.
My stepmother was always crying out that
Gsacie would come TO a sorroWfnl end, which
made me VIVID ;and as Hay awake that wretehed
night thought q greatleai about what might
happen to her if she went away to London, by
herself, and she so handsome and not having q
friend at all. And wished with all my strength
that she would marry Donnell MDonnell be-
fore went away to America, which would ease
my mind about him. For l felt the greatest
pity in the world for kind big Donnell's disap-
pOintment G BIZ 80 a5L44g0T0
My stepmother was provoked at my sad face
nextday, and called me ungrateful But when
cried bitterly she got little kinder, and in the
evening allowed me to- go into Ballymena to
see my friend Oracle. 70 So towards sundown
when the snow was getting red upon the feneesj
l. WIdppcQ my SHAWL duuab illC dnQ scb Uu tOF
thetown, sobbing loudly to ease my heart, all
along the lonely road, where there was no, one
to hear me but the rObins, The Drown trees
against the dnsky red sky the white swelling
lines of the fields, the dark chimaeys of the
town on before me We're all blent in dismal
mhze, when who should leap over stile and
stand beside me, but Gracies great lover, DON
nell told him my eyes were only watering
with the cold, and he turned and walked along
side of me for good way, while we talked Of
(s-ania of 10 w with
her and said she was playing fast and loose
with him, and making him the sport of the
town and country. took Gracie's part, and
80 we went on till we came to the last white
psopie. Then told him Twas going away. and
he looked so vexed that nearly cried again.
felt so glad to see him sorry. .tslli.ss
We'll, little Bet" said he, "we must give
you good dance over in yon big farmhouse
of ours before you go. And, in the meantime
"Tll see to your business, Donnell," said I,
smiling. "Never fear but I'll do your business
to the last" - i4ll 81 hls ,al1y9lf s.E.rs
Then he shook my 70 hands till he nearly
squeezed them into jelly, and left me. .r,..7. 4
When went into Miss Doran's it was past
the work hour, and the girls were. putting ON
their bonnets to go away; Oracle was only sit
ting close to candle, putting flowers ON ball
dress for one of the country ladies' She having
the'nicest taste, had always the honor Of giving
work. She looked very tired ebut oil, so hand
some, with herpale cheek against, the yellow
light, and her dark head leaning over mass OF
white and rose-cOlor tulle. ---H''
&c "A bud lierey said she, "and a spray there,
and then Il have done. You'll come home with
me and Sleep That GROSS stePmother OF yours
won't see you again Tonight"
"Dotit talk THAT way, Oracle, said ]; Nbut 1
came intending to stay And the work being
finished, we went home to our lodgings M
i. "A lovely bunch of flowers was lying on her
table, and she laughed, and blushed, and looked
beautiful whenshe saw it, =, 80 -.
Who is that from, Oracle ?" said /. ,"@Don-
nell ?'' as 20 a 1. ls "a ~ ~, ..-l-.''!s
mo, indeed" said she, tossing her head. But
l was sure that was a fb, for she looked as
happy as possible, lying resting herself in her
armchair beside the fire, while set out the
tea-things. She looking so glad, and the shabby
room looking SO snug, and our little tea-drink-
ing being so cozy, could not bear to tell her
the bad news now, and began to set about DON
nells business. e IS
"Gracie," said /, II wish you would marry
Donnell SOON"
"Soon?" said she, opening her eyes, and
him - r5,dIs a
"But yon know, Gracie," said !, getting hot
about it, that you ought to marry him. He
says-that is, i know-you have made him the
laughing stock of the country, and--"r \
very fine!" cried she. "And so he has been
Complaining to you, has he 2"
Il did not say that" said I; "but oh, Oracle,
know you like some one. saw you smiling
over a letter the other day, just the way you /
are smiling now" II |
+ "'And what if / do?" said she, laughing and
tossing her head; shat does not prove that it |
must be Donnell."
There is no one else as good" said eagerly. |
ut could not be any one else" ~ 80 |
Pom my wOrds' said she, staring at me, II |
think you had better go and marry him your |
self" - .a
II. Oh, Oracle |" said / starting up and |
sitting down again, and beginning to cry, |
wanted to tell you that am going To Amer |
iea." ~ -a.5
You may be sure we talked no more about
Donneu that night"
Donnen did not fail to keep his word about
giving me feast before left the country. He
invited three pipers to play and half the coun.
try side to dance Oracle and I met at the |
cross roads, and walked over to the farm togeth-
'er, she bringing troop of beanx with her from |
The farm is dear old place, with orchard /
trees growing up around the house, and it look
ed so homely that night. Donnen's mother met |
us at the door, and unpinned our shawls in her |
own room. Oracle looked beautiful in pretty |
new dress and bright ribbons DonnelPs moth |
er .stroked my hair with her hand, and stuck q
bit of holly in the front of the black frock. She
kept me with her, after Oracle had gone down
stairs, holding my hand ana asked me about
and warm, andqshe was SO kind and mother
ly, after what had been accustomed to at
home, that my heart got so sore could scarcely
bear it. aae Htgg
We had great tea-drinking in the parlor, and
then we went out to the kitchen, and the pipers
fell to work, and Oracle was amiable as pos
siblet to Donnell. But just in the middle of
our dancing the latch OF the back door was
lifted, and Squire Hannah walked in in his top |
boots. +-@ -l ~ 1l1 |
II want to speak to you on business, M'Don-
nell," he said; but 1 will not disturb you 4
now"
will you do us the honor of joining u.s. sir?"
said Donnell. Squire Hannah needed no second |
invitation. He soon made his bow before Ora |
Gle, and Donnell saw no more of her smiles that |
night She danced with the squire till it was |
time to go home, and then, after she had set |
out for town, escorted by him and her other |
beaux, DonnelIs mother kissed me, and Dom |
nell drew my arm through his and walked home |
with me across the snowy fields to nv step- |
mothers house, He was abusing Oracle all |
way, and / was, as usual, taking her part