The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-04-04

dren; as if people really cared for
US, you know. But l think I've
found out why 'Tilda wouldn't
stay; it's because you're wild.
over"
Because what?"
"Why, you see, papa, she says il
makes remarks. 'Tilda is o young
woman, and Miss Peters says you
are likely to marry again. Oh,
tell me, dear papa, that you cer-
tainly will notl'
"You foolish child!" replied I,
laughing; though at the same time
could have wept 10 think Of my
darling's head being filled with
such nonsense-"I have no inten
tion of marrying any one, certain
ly not my kitchen girl; SO dismiss
such q foolish idea"
AS spoke / looked at the por.
trait of my departed Elizabeth
hanging over the piano and sighed
For two years that woman had
been "dust and daisies" but had 1
ever ceased to regret her? Had l
ever thought Of filing the vacant
place at my fireside by any other
Ipresence? Too we'll | knew the
matchless worth of her / had lost,
Now commenced a vigorous
search for a domestic. Twas proud
ly informed that no foreigners
were to be found in that virtuous
region, and 1 was sure of good
American help. To the detriment
of my early vegetables Ispent days
in visiting about the country, like
a distracted knight of chivalry, do
mandiug of every one met where
l could find o fair Dulcinea to be
queen Of the rolling pin.
Meanwhile my poor little Caddy
did her blundering best. The chill
dren were kept from absolute rags
though every time l looked at
them a rent appeared or a button
disappeared. We had what were
called breakfast, dinner and sup
por, and tried to swallow the will
for the deed; but one cant digest
mistakes.
Matilda had been gone two
weeks, and still no successor, only
conditional promises from three
or four quarters. Presently they
began to drop in one by one.---
First, Arabella Jones, who had been
waiting I believe, to- finish head
dress. The most of her l can say
is, that she curled her hair, and
the multitudinous ringlets were a
daily triumph of mind over mat
ter. Oe her other characteristics /
am not qualified to speak, as she
staid only one day. She was fol-
lowed by a sad Mrs. Winkle, who
had survived two or three hus-
bands, wore a black breast. t.pin like
small tombstone, had a memorial
snuff box, made low.spirited bread,
and punctuated her remarks with
deep signs.
So funereal was her appearance,
so depressing her influence, that we
seemed to be dwelling in a sarco-
phagus; and l was not sorry to
learn from the communicative
neighbors that she couldn't make
up her mind 10 stay, didn't think
it looked well, Mr.. Pratt "being o
widower so, and such a very So
ciable man."
| tried to recall what | had new
er said to the bereaved Mrs. Win
klc which would stigmatize mo as
a very sociable man; but could re-
member nothing / might not have
uttcrered with propiiety in a
graveyard. So l concluded her
needless apprehensions arose en-
tirely from my "being widower
So
The next was lady who loved
romance, and wrote many splen-
did things. But "she wouldd't do
for me" on account otSher propen-
sity for giving teaspoons to the
pig and dropping pins and fish
bones into the gravy. ! would
have overlooked an occasional dis
cloth in the pudding, but when it
came to choking my children all
the father arose within me, and,
at the risk of wounding the feel
Iings of the poetess, | advised her
to seek some more congenial en-
ployment.
"Alasl" thougot I, 20 foreigner
would not come amiss. Much as
the villagers pride themselves on
good American help. l would be
thankful to set my two eyes on
capable Irish girl who is not above
her business.
One day the unhappy Caddy in.
formed mo that Miss Peters from
her observatory had seen the chick
ems entering the kitchen, the mop
reposing on q wheel barrow, and
the two youngest children rolling
the sieve for hoop. Under such
circumstances it seemed TO Miss
Peters that "a head was needed"
She wondered if in oil my expert
ments | had ever tried to engage
tho daughters of Widow Wilcox ?
"Widow Wilcox?" The name
sounded familiar, though during
our short stay in the village | had
not to my knowledge met such a
person or any of her daughters.
/ called on Mrs Peters for more
definite information, which I found
her very ready to give. She was
, lady of some fifty single sum.
mers, with q cold eye like thick
; blue ice, and face which looked
as if it had been stepped in the
, vina1ar of crnahod honea