The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-24

ter turning il over carefully in my mind. Of
fered Selma CODY feather-bcd and fifty shil-
lings TO be OF the bargain. You will hardly
believe Ii. but II Is nevertheless true-she was
fool enough to refuse.
After that il was an over with me, Of course.
I got the new coat rs cheap as could, and I
went through all the rest Of Il as cheap as
could. We were not happy couple, and not q
half dorep Of the other. How Il was don't
understand. but we always seemed to begetting,
with the best Of motives, in one another's way.
When wanted TO 70 up stairs, there was my
wife coming down or when my wife wanted to
90 down, there was coming up. That IS mar
ried life, according to my experience Of II.
AMER Ave years Of misunderstanding on the
stairs, IL pleased an sll-wise Providence TO re-
lieve US Of each other by taking my wife. l
was left with my little girl Penelope, and with
no other child. Shortly afterward Sir John
died, and my lady was left with her little girl
siiss Rachel, and no other child. have writ
ten 10 very poor purpose Of my lady IL you re
quire to be told that my little Penelope was
taken care Of under my good mistress's own
eye, and was sent 10 school, and taught, and
made sharp girl, and promoted, when old
enough, TO be Miss Rachel's own maid.
As for me. / went on with my business as
baiif, year after year. up TO Christmas, l8i7,
when there came change in my life, On that
day my lady invited herself to 4 cup Of tea
alone with me in my cottage. She remarked
page-boy in the time OF the old lord, had been
more than fifty years in her service, and she
put into my hands beautiful waistcoat Of wool
that she had worked herself, to keep me warm
in the litter winter weather.
received this magnificent present quite at a
loss to find words to thank my mistress with for
the honor she had done me. To my great as
tonishment, il turned out, however, that the
waistcoat was not an honor, but a bribe. My
lady had discovered that was getting old be-
fore had discovered it myself, and she had
come to my cottage to whecdle me (if 1 may
use such an exprcssion) into giving up my hard
out-Of-door work as bailiH, and taking my ease
for the rest Of my days as steward in the house.
made as good fight OF il against the indig-
nifty Of taking my ease as I could. But my
mistress knew the weak side Of me she put Il
as favor to herself The dispute between us
ended, after that, in my wiping my eyes, like an
old fool, with my new woolen waistcoat, and
saying | would think about il.
The perturbation in my mind, in regard 10
thinking about il. being truly dreadful after
my lady had gone away, applied the remedy
have never yet found to fail me in cases Of doubt
and emergency. smoked a pipe and took a
turn at Robinson Crusoe. Before had occu.
pied myself with that extraordinary book FIVE
minutes | came on comforting BIT lpagc one
hundred and fifty-eight), as follows "To-day
we love what Tomorrow we hate" l saw my
way clear directly. To-day l was all for con-
tinuing to be firm-bailiff; tomorrow, on the au-
thority OF Robinson Crusoe, should be all the
other way. Take myself tomorrow while in
to-morrow's humor, and the thing was done.
My mind being relieved in this manner, went
to sleep that night in the character Of Lady
yerinder's hrm-bai!if, and woke up the next
morning in the character Of Lady verinda's
house-steward. All quite comfortable, ani all
through Robinson Crusoe
My daughter Penelope had just looked over
my shoulder 10 see what | have done so far.
She remarks that il is beautifully written, and
every word Of Il true. But she points out one
objection. She says, what l have done 10 far
isn't in the least what was wanted to do.
am asked to tell the story Of the Diamond, AMI,
instead Of that, have been telling the story Of
my own SELF Curious, and quite beyond me to
account for. l wonder whether the gentlemen
who make business and living out OF writ
ing books ever find their own selves getting in
the way Of their subjects like me. II they do,
can feel for them. In the meantime. here is
another false start, and more waste Of good
writing-paper. What's to be done now. Nothing
that know Of, except for you to keep your teu,-
per. and for me TO begin II all over again for the
third time.