Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-06-07


Those white hands not only made the
bread at home. but did it, on occasion, in
the houses of others. Probably Miss Me
hetahel, with all her refinement. had in
her composition n tincture of the strong
minded. Aud why, asked myself, should
not n lady do kitchen work for distracted
families as well as write poetry for thank
less editors 1t is the mind that dignlfies
the employment. Act we'll thy part.
here all the honor lies. -
Fortifying myself with these reflections
began with the meckncss Of Tom Pinch
to describe the desolation aud anarchy Of
my home.. told Miss Wilcox | bad al
ways supposed children We're as easily
trained as pea vines, and not liable to send
out tendrils in any perversc or incOnven-
lent directions, but found myself utterly
mistake Now there was no King in Is
racl. and every child did that which was
right in his own eyes,
She seemed sorry for me. / went on to
describe the Incompetent servants we II d
had, and the state of complete despair ut
which had arrived. Presently IoDserved
she was smiling. not dcrisiv,ly. but because
the details which 1 related were so rrcsist-
IDLY amusing.
Encouraged by her manifest sympathy
will you believe | was mad enough to ask
Miss Wilcox to come and do my house
work? Woe to the insane impulse which
prompted me! Woe to the malicious Miss
Peters who had sent me hitlier on purpose
to make game of me, and the same time to
humiliate the high bred 'Mittie.'
My dear young lady said clearing my
throat with Il now or never resolution, it
is true l have seen you but a short time,
yet you seem already like an Old acquain
tancc and even before | came here this
evening knew you by reputation.
Here Ihesitated. Miss Wilcox was evil
IDENTIFY wondering what meant to say
next. l wondered myself. Il will put it
on the score OF humanity, thought |.
AS | was about to say, my dear Miss
Wilcox, will you, whom justly deem the
-thc-vc:y person most fitted for the posi-
tion-wil you-with your woman's heart,
seeing me as am-as IA supplant, as
may say. at your mercy, will you take pity
on me- and-
Here paused for want of word which
should be sufficiently inotiensive and at
the same time convey my meaning. look
ed at Miss Wilcox, who seemed to be brac'
ing herself to meet some kind of a shock.
How coudI, though the @cntlest cour-
ttcsy, ask this exquisite young lady to be my
cook and chamber-maid? But it was nee
cessary to proceed.
i hardly know what you will think of
me. said |, with Il ghastly smile, for seem
to be etonruc-tied, OF partially so, bat IL
if you would condescend. as | said before
| to take pity on Il poor bcreavcd man. With
IA helpless little family, motherlcss. as you
may say, feel know-that your pres
ence at my ircsidc would make me hippi-
er. would make -
| Mis- " iltnX lnol el tatpI
'-M. Pratt, replied She, seeing had
come to II long dash, you have taken me
entirely by surprise. 1t is true you are
not unknown to me by reputation, and
remember your Wife
All, yes : exclaimed |, resolved to make
an appeal to the better feelings of Miss
Wilcox, who WAS. feared abe ut to sip
through my fingers. And my santed
Elizabeth, ii she could look down upon us,
would, an sure, bless YOU foi trying to
soften the lot OF Il struggling man. Only
say yes. my kind friend and-uamc the day.
| was intending to say, set your owi
price. but the mention of wages to the
exquisite young lady before NE seemed
absolutely impcrtlnent. In my embarras
mcnt quite forgot that had not yet sta
ted what wished her to do for "a strug
Cling man. But my tmconnectcd word,
had evidently conveyed to her some sort OF
meaning. for she had become very pale
and was leaning against chair Tor sup
port. She saw was awaiting an answer
Mr.. Pratt. " said she in IA trcmulous
voice "allow me to say that | regard youl
proposition as Il little i!l-t.med. Why thi,
desperate haste? thank You for the hon
or you do me. but at least allow me Il littlt
time TO become acquainted with you.-
You cannot expect me to bestow my aec
tion upon an utter stranger, who has moi
even protessed any regard for me-"
Imagine the situaiion 1t came over mt
like lightning, flash upon flash. Here hat
been stammeriag and suffering pro
posal to this girl. At any rate, she though
so. What should | do? What could do
The perplcxity may have been ludicrous
but | am sure it was very. very embarras
: ing. How could | tell her that what she
: had mistaken for an otter of marriage was
, only a request tor her services III my
, hitchen2
No, if l had to burn at the stake
couldn't do it. \ man Of cXpcdicn,S nigh
have crcpt out of such a noose-not L.
Moreover. dida't feel half so wrctchcd a
should have expected. My heart gave
double beat--hat fright, half joy. TIL
fact that had, by pare accident. taken
false step and could not reirace it, struc
l me then and ihere as Il special providence
5 | had done it with my eyes shut, but. i
! Cupd's name. what better could | hav
4 done with my eyes open: Here was II 81
perior woman. acknowledged even by til
! cnvous Miss Peters to be \ capital honSe c
Wife, and to my knowledge II charlnin.
companion. What more could | ask i'll
wife? | thought very fast, but the more
thought the more certain | was that ha
only anticipated matters little; for
. was already in love, and must inevtabl