The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-11-08

| nOuse- keeper lett.
4 lit is SO strange she disiikes this
village" said Caddy. 81 think it s
beautiful, for everybody takes such
an interest in us, papa. never &c
out but I am asked all sorts of ques
tions about you and the children as
liz people really cared for US, you
know. But / think I've found ou,
why Tilda wouldn't stay: it's be-
cause you're q widower."
because what2"
"Why, you see, papa. she says i,
makes remarks. Tilda is a young
woman and Miss Peters says you
are likely to marry again. Oh tell
me dear papa, that you certainly will
lnot!' -
t.You foolish child !" replied I,
Laughing though at the same time l
could have wept to think of my dar-
ling's head being filled with such
nonsense--'1 have no intention OF
marrying any one, certainly not my
kitchen girl; SO dismiss such fool
ish idea"
AS I spoke looked at the portrait
of my departed Elizabeth hanging
over the piano, and sighed. For
two years that woman had been
"dust and daises," but had ever
ceased to regret her? Had ever
thought of filling the vacant place at
my freside by any other presence
Too well knew the matchless worth
of her I had lost.
Now commenced vigorous search
for a domestic. I was proudly in
formed that no foreigners were to be
found in that virtuous region, and ]
was sure Of good American help
ITO the detriment OF Ey early veget-
fables, / spent days in riding about
the country, like distracted llnigh,
of chivalry, demanding OF every one
met where could find fair Dull
ciDea 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 1 looked at them
a rent appeared or a button disap-
lpeared. We had vhst we called
breakfast, dinner and supper, and
tried toswallox the will for the deed;
but one can't digest mistakes.
Matilda had been gone two weeks,
and still no successor, only condi-
tional promises from three or four
quarters. Presently they began to
drop in one by one First, ArabeIla
Jones, who had been waiting, be-
lieve, to finish head dress. The
most can say of her is, that she
curled her hair, and the multitude
nous ringlets were a daily triumph
Of mind over matter. Of her other
characteristics I am not qualified to
speak, SIS she stayed only one day.
She was followed by the sad Mrs.
Winkle, who had survived two or
three husbands, wore a black breast
pin like small tombstone, had a
memorial snuff. box, made low spir
tied bread, and punctuated her re
marks with deep sighs.
So tunereal was her appearance, so
depressing her influence, that we
seemed to be dwelling in a sarco
phagus and was not sorry to learn
from the. communicates H>istse=--
that she couldn't make up her mind
to stay, didn't think it looked well,
Mr.. Pratt "being a widower SO, and
such very sociable man."
/ tried to recall what l had said to
lthe bereaved Mrs. Wrinkle which
would stigmatize me as very soci
able man; but could remember moth
ing I might have not have uttered
with propriety in yard. So
I concluded her needless apprshen-
lsions arose entirely from my "being
a widower So"
The next was lady who loved ro
nance. and wrote many splendid
things. But "she wouldn't do fol
] me-" on account of her propensity
for giving teaspoons to the pig, ant
dropping pins and fish bones into the
gravy. ! would have overlooked al
occasional dischcloth in the pudding
but when it came to choking my
children all the father arose within
me, and at the risk of wounding the
feelings of the poetess, i advised hel
to seek some more congenial employ
ment.
eAlas ~ thought I, ga foreigneI
would not come amiss. Much as thu
villagers pride themselves on good
American help, l would be Thankful
to set my two eyes on capable Irisl
girl who is not above her business.
One day the unhappy Caddy in
formed me that Miss Peters from hel
observatory had seen the chicken:
entering the kitchen, the mop repo
sing on a wheel barrow, and the tw'
youngest children rolling the siev,
for q hoop. Under such circumstan
.ces it seemed to Miss Peters that y
head was needed" She wopderet
|, if in all nv experiments / had eve
tried to engage the daughter of Wild
ow Wilcox -
Widow Wilcox2 Theusne sound
ed familiar, though during our shor
stay in the village hsd not to m,
knowledge met such person or an!
of her daughters.
: / called on Miss Peters for more
, definite information, which I foun'
her very ready to give. She was
, lady Of some fifty single Summers
Nth . cold eye like thick blue ice
I md q fhce which looked a. il it hat
Been seepsd in the vinegar OF crush
, ed hopes.
{ The Widow Wilcox lived, she said
. on the Low Farm .that was" "Yo
. turned of from the Academy, AM
kept on about half mile till yo1
lcame to q leather colored house an
, lgreen blinds and laylock bushes he
fore the front windows. Mehetabe
was as faculized girl as there was i
Piccadilly; her folks were good liv
ers, and she could cook as nice victr
n als as Queen Victory"
By anxious inquiry I learned tbs
[she did not wear eurls, neither too
lsnuf nor sighed between her ser
: licences, and was not so literary as t
o endsnger either teaspoons or juvenil
4 windpipes. There was but one oil
. LECTION, Miss Peters assured me
q / Mehetabel hadn't been used to livin
O cut much, and might feel above i