Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-01-30
THE oNE-EYED SERVANT.
a STORY TOLD TO A CHILD.
BY JEAN INeELow.

place you can imagine, and its mistress the
most untidY 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 down at the
heels; the little curtain in her easement,
which had once been fresh and white, had n
great rent in it; and altogether she looked
poor and fororn
She sat some time, gazing across the conf
mon, when all of sudden she heard little
noise, like stitching, near the ground She
looked down, and sitting ON the border, under
a wall-iower bush, she saw the funniest little
man possible, with blue coat, yellow
waistcoat, and red boots; he had got small
shoe on his lap, and he was stitching away
at it with all his might.
GOOD morning, mistressln said the little
man. "a very fine day. Why may you be
looking SO earnestly across the commonsn
81 was looking at my neighbor's cottage, ="
said the young woman,
"Whatl Tom, the gardener wilc?-littlc
Polly she used to be called; and very pretty
cottage it is tool Looks thriving, does MT
itY"
"She was always lucky" said Bella (ior
that was the young wifc's name); "and her
husband is always good to her."
'Ihey were both good husbands at first, 4"
interrupted the little cobbler, without stop
ping. "Rcach me my awl, mistress, will
you, for you seem to have nothing to do; il
lies close by your foot"
"Well, l can't say but they were both very
good husbands at first, replied Bella, reach
ing the awl with a sigh; "but mine has
changed for the worse and hers for the bet.
ter; and then, look how she thrivos. Only
to think of our both being married on the
same day and now l We nothing, and she
has two pigs and a."
AND lot of flax that she spun in the
winter, Interrupted the cobbler; "and Il
sunday gown, as good green stuff as ever
was seen, and, to my knowledge, a handsome
SILK handkerchief for an apron; and a red
"alstcoat Tor her goodman, with three rows
OF blue glass buttons, and fitch of bacon in
the chimney, and a rope of onions"
~, she's a lucky woman!n exclaimed
Bella.
"Ay, and tea-tray, with Daniel in the
mons den upon it, I" continued the cobbler;
and fat baby in the cradle"
10, I'm sure don't envy her that last, ="
said Bella, pcttishly. "I'vo little enough for
myself and my husband, letting alone chill
dren."
Why, mistress, isn't your husband in
work." asked the cobbler.
mo; he's at the ale house,"
why, how's thatg he used to be very
sober. Can't lie get work."
Ills last master would MT keep him, be-
cause he was so shabby"
"Humphln said the little man 'IIe is n
groom, is he notg Well, as | was saying,
your neighbor opposite thrives wonderfully;
but no wonderl Well, I've nothing to do
with other peoples secrets; but couM tell
you, only I'm busy, and must CO."
Gould tell me achat7'r cried the young
wife. 20, good cobblcr, don't go, for I've
nothing to do. Pray tell me aohy it's no
wonder that she should thIiyc?'
well, " said he, ''irs no business of mine.
you know, but as said before, it's no won
der people thrive who have sefvant-a hard
working one, too-who is always helping
them"
"A seryant!' repeated Be1la-"my neigh
Dor has servant No wonder, then, every
thlng looks so neat about her; hut never
saw this servant. think you must be mis-
taken; besides. how could she afford to pay
her wagcs?"
she has servant, 1 say repeated the
coDDier-"a one-eyed servant-but she pays
ler no wages, to my certain knowledge
Wen, good morning mistress, must go''
DO stop one minutc,'' cried Bella. mr.
gently-"wherc did she get this seryanlY"
"oh, | don't know" said the cobbler;
servants are plentiful enough, and Polly
uses hers wel, L can tell you"
And what docs she do for herY''
do ior her? Why, all sorts of things
think.she's the cause of her prosperity. To
my knowledge, she never refuses to do any.
thing, Keeps Toms and Pollys clothes in
beautiful order, and the baby's."
Dear mep said Bella, in an cnvious tone,
and holding up both her hands. "Well,
she Is a lucky woman, and l always said so.
She takes good care 1 shall never see her
servant. What sort of servant is she, and
now came she to have only one cyc?'
ut runs in her family" replied the cob.
bier, stitching busily; 'they are all so-one
eye apiece; yet they make very good use
OF it, and Polly's servant has four cousins
who are blind-stone blind; no eyes at all;
and they sometimes come and help her. I've
seen them in the cottage myself, and that's
now Polly gets good deal of her money.
lhey work for her, and she takes what they
make to market, and buys all those hand
some things.''
"only think" said Bella, almost ready TO
cry with vexation, "and I've not got soul
to do anything for me; how hard it ISL and
sho took up her apron TO wipe away her
tears.
Inc cobblcr looked attentively at her.
"Weli, you are TO be pitied certainly. - be
said, ''ahd If Iwcrc not in such hurry
20, do go on, pray-were you going to
say you could help me2 have heard that
your people arc fond of curds and whey.
ana fresh goosebcrry syllabub. Now, if you
would help me, trust me Chat there should be
inc most beautiful curds and whey set every
night for you on the hearth; and nobody
should ever look when you went and came y
why, you see" said the cobbler, hesi-