Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-03-01
THE ONE EYED SERVANT
BY JEAN INGELow.

DO you see tnoSe two pretty cot
tages on opposite sides of the com
mon? How bright their windows
are, and how pretty the vines trail
over them. A year ago one of them
was the dirtiest and most furlorn
looking place You can imagine, and
it, mistress the most untidy woman
She vas once sitting at her cottage
door, with her arms folded. as if she
were in deep thought. though to look
at her face one would not have sup
posed she was doing more than idly
Watching the swallows as they tloated
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 fresh and white, had a great
rent IN It; and altogether she looked
poor and forlorn.
She sat some time, gazing across
the common. where all of a sudden
she heard little noise, like stitching
near the ground She looked down.
and sitting on the border under a
wall flower bush, she saw the funniest
little man possible, with blue coat,
a yellow waist coat, and red boots;
he had got a,small shoe on his lap,
and he was stitching away at it with
all hir might S.,.
"Good morning, mistressr' said
the little man. "A very fine day.
Why may you be looking so earnest.
ly across the common?"
Il was looking at my neighbor' S
cottage said the young woman.
What! Tom, the gardner's wife?-
little Polly, she nsed to be called;
and very pretty cottage it is, too!
Looks thriving dosen't it2'
"She was always lucky said
Bella flor that was the young wife s
name, land her husband is always
good to her" They were both good
husbands at first" interrupted the lit
tie cCbler without stopping. Reach
me my awl, mistress, will you, for
you seem to have nothing to do, it
lies close by your foot "
Nv ell, can't say but they were
both very good husbands at first, "
replied Bella, reaching the awl with
a sigh: "but mine has changed for
the worse and hers for the better;
and then, look how she thIives. Only
to think of our both being married
the same day; and now I've nothing,
and she has two pigs and "a"
"And a lot of flax that she spun in
the winter, interrupted the cobbler;
land Sunday gown, as good green
stuff as ever was seen, and, to my
knowledge, a handsome silk hand
kerchief for an apron; and a red
waistcoat for her 4ood man, with
three rows OF blue glass buttons, and
a fitch OF bacon in The chimney, and
a rope of onions
20, she's lucky womanr' ex-
claimed Bella
"Ay, and tea tray, with Daniel In
the lions den upon it," continued
the cohbier; land fat baby in the
cradle
~, Pm sure 1 don'i envy her that
last said Bella, petishly. Il We
little enough for myself and husband;
letting alon e children.
Why, mistress, isn't your hus
band at work." asked the cobbler-
mo; he's at the ale house,"
"Wny, how's that? he used to be
very sober. Can't he get work."
'-lIis last master wouldn't keep
him, because he was shabby" s--5 Z
..Hamph!' said the little man
Gle eroom, is he not? Well as
1 was ssying, your neighbor opposite
tlilfvcs nonderfully; but no wonder.
Wei, I've nothing to do with other
peoples secrets; but l could tell you,
only I'm busy, and must 60"
~Cpuid tell me what?" cried the
young wife.
20, good cobbler, don't go, for
I've 4othing to do. Pray tell me
WIS it's no wonder that she should
thEIy9s