The Portland daily press., 1867-04-13
selected story.


Sometimes. in obituary notices, the news
,aneTs rive us the cause OF death. Why not
tbe cause of marriage? We should be vastly
more entertained. For instance:
.. After lingering Irritation, Joo Smith to Kate
an things come round to him who will but
watt
Or
SIN fit of pique the disappointed Washihs''"
Gay to the stupid Miss White H., -
"'Beware of desperate steps. The darkest Jay
And so forth. oss;bIe
Now propose to give as DrieAy ., Ifi,tance
the rise and progress OF my ac9u was in
with the second Mrs. ~ anu WHY
duced 10 make her my Wlie. .
Thad tbou@ht | should never marry again
When + boarded with my family at Mrs, Gil
49, + ,a,nar.ed to my landlady, with deep
faaiing that. in case l should be absent in
- 81 FIRE / hoped she would not forget 10
yis;r INV room and take from the wall my
,r;sa,a nortrait. | felt that could calmly mari
with small portion of my wardrobe but the
likeness ofmy sainted Elizabeth could ney
er spare. where go thou goest," said I !.
and never while have my senses shall the
canvas which represents the sweet features Of
my lost darling be converted by a second wife
into a firn-board."
had been tor years wholesale grocer in
good and regular standing. and should no
doubt have continued in the same business
up to the present time il had not been sat
isfied THAI my four children were suffering
for country air and freedom. L am not
rlch man, but have competency; and de-
cided to retire from the city TO the town OF
Pi,cadiiiy, and devote my energies to the cul-
tivation of garden seeds.
Piccadilly is small but thriving village
with a salubrious climate, and apopulatlon OF
some fifteen hundred souls. For years had
heard Of the superior intelligence and morali-
ty of Piccadilly. My lamented Elizabeth had
been partially educated at its Academy, which
still hourished there behind four Lombardy,
poplars.
;rapa" said Caroline, my eldest, girl Of
fourteen, the week after my arrival, Tilda is
homeslch, and says that she must leave U.S."
Matilda was our housekeeper, who had
lived with us for ten years, anu thoroughly
understood the ways of her mistress, the de-
ceased Mrs. Pratt. At the intelligence that
she had gwen warning was so much startled
that spilled my coffee into my bosom; but
seeing Caddy in tears, l controlled myself,
and said, stolcally;
No doubt, my dear, we shall continue to
live without Tilds. can only say she is very
foolish girl, and we must find some one else
who will do better"
Then left the table and went into my gar
den :; for twas time to transplant the early
tomatoes.
TiIda asked my pardon that uoon with red
eyes, buG with her carpet bag dangling from
her arm. 'She was fit to die with grief at
leaving the dear Children she said ''but
STAY she could not, and would not, with the
whole village peeping into her pantry. She
wasn't used to country folks, and wouldn't
stand and be told she put too much cream in
to her doughnuts. And that woman that sat
in the cupalo would be the death OF her
yet"
| afterwards ascertained that Matilda refer
red to Miss Peters, worthy lady who lived
opposite and watched us from her sitting
room window, which, as atforiing the facili-
ties ofan observatory, Matilda had likened
cupola.
There was no help for it, and our house
keeper left.
'It is so strange she dslikes this village"
said Caddy. Il think it is beautiful; for ev-
erybody takes such an interest in us, papa.
never go out without being asked all sorts OF
questions about you and the children; as il
people really cared for us, you know. But 1
think I've found out why 'Tilda wouldn't
stay; IFS because you're widower.'
because what?"
"Why, you see, papa, she says it makes re-
marks. Tilda is young woman; and Miss
Peters says you are likely to marry again.
On tell me, dear papa, that you certainly will
notw
You foolish child" replied i. laughing
though at the same time L could have went TO
think Of my darlings head being ii lied with
such nonsense-"I have no intention OF mar
rying any one, certainly not my kitchen girl.
Su dismiss such foolish ldea.'
As she spoke | looked at the portrait of nv
departed Elizabeth hanging over the piano,
and sighed. For two years that Woman had
been dust and daisies, but had ever ceased
to regret her? Had L ever thought OF filing
the vacant place at my iireSide by any other
presence? 100 well knew the matchless
worth OF her had lost.
Now L commenced vigorous search for a
domestic. l was proudly informed that no
foreigners were to be found in that yirtuous
region, and L was sure of good American
help. To the detriment of my early veeeta-
bes spent days in riding about the country,
like distracted knight OF chivalry, demand
ing OF every one l met where [ could find "a
TAR Dulcinea to be queen Of the rolling pin
Meanwhile my poor little Caddy did her
laundering best. The children were kept
from absolute rags, though every time looked
at them a rent appeared or button dsap-
peared. We had what were called breakfast,
dinner and supper, and tried to swallow the
viii Tor the deed; but one can't digest mis-
takes.
Matilda had been gone two weeks, and still
no successor, only conditional promises from
three or Jour quarters Presently they beoan
to drop in one by one. First, Arabella Jones
who had been waiting, I believe, to finish q
head dress. The most L can saw of her is
that she curled her hair, and the multitude
nous ringlets were daily triumph OF mind
over matter. OF her other characteristics |
am not qualified to speak, as she staid only
one day. She was followed by sad Mrs.
Winkle, who had survived two or three hus-
bands, wore black breast-pin like small
tombstone, had memorial snuff-box, made
low-spirited bread, and punctuated her re-
marks with deep sishs
SO iunereal was her appearance, so depress-
ing her influence, that we seemed to be dwell
ing in sarcophagus; and l was not sorry to
learn from the communicative neiohbors that
she couldn't make up her mind to STAY, did
MT think 1t looked very well, Mr.. Pratt being
widower so, and such very socable man."
L tried to recall what had ever said to the
bereaved Mrs. Winke which would stigma
tie me as very sociable man; but could re
member nothing l might not have uttered
with propriety in graveyard. So conclud-
ed her needless apprehensions arose entirely
from my 'being widower So"
The next was lady who loved romance
and wrote many splendid things. But "she
wouldn't do for me" on account of her pro-
pansity for giving teaspoons to the pig, and
dropping fish bones into the gravy. 1 would
nave ofCliOuhcu OCCdSiODal ulSu ClOUu III
the pudding. but when it came TO choking nv
children all the father arose within me, and
at the risk OF wounding the feelings Of the
poetess, advised ner 10 seek some more con-
genial employment. -....
Aias" thought |, "a foreigner would not
come amiss. Much as the villagers pride
themselves on good American help, would
be thankful to set my two eyes on a capable
IIish girl who is not above her business
One day the unhappy Caddy informed me
that Miss Peters from her observatory had
seen the chickens entering the kitchen, the
mop reposing on a wheeLbaTow, 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 all my experience 1 had
ever tried to engage the daughter of v idow
Wilcox. ts
>, idow Wilcox ?" the name sounded ia
miliar, though during our short stay in the
village had not to my knowledge met such
person or any of her daughters.
1 called on Miss Peters for more definite in
formation, which found her very ready to
give. She was lady of some fifty single