The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-19
CHRISTMAS STORY
FOR 1867.
NO THOROUG UGHFARE.
CHARLES DICKENS AND WILKIE co Lin
IoOpttnued from our ,ast tssue.l
ENTER TIE HoUsEKEEPER.

u
carpet, and dark mahogany furniture, all Of
which had seen service and polish under Pebble
Eon Nephew. Toe great sideboard had assisted
at many business dinners given by Pebbleson
Nephew to their connection on the principle OF
throwing sprats overheard TO catch whales;
and Pebbleson Nephew's comprehensive three
sided plate-warmer made TO fit the whole front
OF the large fireplace, kept watch beneath Ii
over sarcophagus-shaped celaret that had in
its time held many a dozen of Pebbleson
Nephew's wine. But the little rubicund old
bachelor with pig tail, whose portrait was over
the sideboard land who could easily be ident-
ned as decidedly Pebbleson and decidedly not
Nephew, had retired into another sarcophagus,
and the plate-warmer had grown as cold as he.
30 the golden and black gritiins that supported
the candelabra, with black balls in their mouths
at the end OF gilded chains looked as II in their
old age they had lost all heart for playing at
pail, and were doletully exhibiting their chains
IN the Missionary line OF inquiry-whether they
had not earned emancipation by this time, and
were not eriffins and brothers?
Such Columbus of morning was the sum-
mer morning. that it discovered Cripple Corner.
The light and warmth pierced III at the open
windows, and irIadated the picture of lady
haneing over the chimney-pie the only other
MY mother at 6ve-and-twenty," said Mr.
Wilding to himself, as his eyes enthusiastically
followed the light to the portraits face, II hang
up here, in order that visitors may admire my
mother in the bloom of her youth and beauty.
My mother at fifty hang in the seclusion of my
own chamber, as remembrance sacred to me.
These latter words he addressed to a clerk
who had tapped at the door, and no looked in.
yes, sir. / merely wished to mention that
It's gone ten, sir and that there are several
females in the countng-house."
Dear me ~ said the wine merchant, deepen
ing In the pink OF his complexion and whitening
In the white; "are there several? So many as
several? had better begin before there are
more. Pll see them one by one, Jarvis, in the
order Of their arrival.r
Hastily intrenchine himself in his easy chair,
behind q N nESta hou
first placed chair on the other side of the table
opposite his own seat, Mr.. Widing entered on
his task with considerable trepidation.
He ran the guantlet that must be run on any
such occasion. There were the usual species of
profoundly unsympathetic women, and the usual
species OF much too sympathetic women. There
were buccaneering widows who came to seize
him, and who griped umbrellas under their
arms, as If each umbrella were he, and each
griper had got him. There were towering
maiden ladies who had seen better days and
vic came armed with clerical testimonials to
their theology Is If he were Saint Peter with
his keys. There were gentle imf.1'den ladles who
came to marry him. There were professional
housekeepers, like non n-commissioned officers
who put him through his domestic exercise,
Instead of submitting themselves TO catechism.
There were anguid invalids to whom salary was
not so much an object as the comforts of pri-
Vate hospital. There were sensitive creatures
who burst into tears on beng addressed, and
had to be restored with glasses of cold water.
There were some respondents who came two
together,-a highly promising one and wholly
unpromising one,-of whom the promising one
answered all questions charmingly, until it
would at last appear that she was not candi-
date at all, but only the friend of the unproms-
ing one, who had glowered in absolute silence
and apparent injury.
At last, when the good wine merchants simple
heart was failing him, there entered an appli-
cant quite different from all the rest. A woman,
perhaps fifty, but looking younger, with race
remarkable for placid cheertuiness, ana d
manner no less remarkable for its quiet express
10 - .ff faVfn
dress could have been changed TO her adVan-
tage. Nothing in the noiseless selt'possesslon
of her manner could have been changed to her
advantage Nothing could have been in better
unison with both than her voice when she
answered the question, What name shall l
have the pleasure Of noting DOWN. with the
words, "My name is Sarah GoldstraW. Mrs.
Goldstraw. My husband has been dead many
years, and We had no family"
Half dozen questions had scarcely extracted
as much to the purpose from any one else. The
voice dweit SO agreea6ly on Mr.. WiIding;s ear,
as he made his note that he was rather long
about 1t. When he looked up again, Mrs. Gold
straw's glance had naturally gone round the
room, and now returned to him from the
Chimney-piece. Its expression was one of
frank readiness to be questioned, and to answer
straight.
ttons?" said the modest wine merchant.
''oh, surely, sir Or | should have no busi-
ness here"
.'Haye you filed the station of housekeeper
'Only once. l have lived with the same
widow lady for twelve years ever since lost
my husband. She was an invalid, and is lately
dead, which is the occasion OF my no " wearing
black"
81 do not doubt that she has left you the
best credentials" said Mr.. Wildmg.
81 hope may say the very best thought 1t
would save trouble, sir, If wrote down the
name and address of her representatives, and
brought it with me"-laying card on the
table.
"YOU singularly remind me, Mrs. Col istraw, u
said Wilding, taking the card beside him, "of q
manner and tone of voice that was once ac
quanted with. Not of an indyidual-I feel sure
OF that, though cannot recall what it is have
IN my mind-but of general bearing. ought
10 add 1T was kind and pleasant one"
she smiled, as she rejOned-"At least, am
very glad OF that, sir."
eas," said the wine merchant, thOughtfuly
IJPeauhg ms last phrase, with a momentarN
slahce s G at MS future housekeeper, "t was a kline
@ anu PledSaht d ;a one. But that is the most car
naAe VI IL memory is sometimes like a half
IoIgoueh cream. | don't know how II may
appear 10 you, Mrs. Goldstraw, but SO il appears
Probably 1t appeared to Mrs Goldstraw in q
similar light, for she quietly assented 10 the
proposition. Mr.. Wilding then offered IN nnI
himself at once in communication with tbe ,ion
tlemen named upon the card-a firm of nrocfor
in Doctors Commons. To this Mrs. Galdstre u
thankfully assented. Doctors Commons po
bility of Mrs. Goldstraw's looking in again, sa,
in three hours time. Mrs. Goldstraw readil'
undertook to do so. In fine, the result of MI
Wllding's inquiries being eminentlY satisfactory
Mrs. Goldstraw was that afternoon engaged 10
her own perfectly fair terms) to come to'mol
row aud set up her rest as hOusekeeper /
Cripple Corner.