Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-02-04

Ter some cOg1tatlOn. Il want certail
information, and If any man can Civ,
me it, my friend Mr.. Edwin can. II
stroll down to his place this very even
ing.
Mr.. Edwin was, literally and truly
the oldest inhabitant of Normanford
being over ninety years of age. II,
had been master of the Foundation
School for half century. but had re
tired. years ago, on a small annuity
and now lived with his sister. maider
lady of seventy, in little cottage OF
the outskirts Of the town. How Johr
English came to know the ex-school
master, was in this wise. He was one
morning visited at his lodgings BY Q
little old fashioned lady with yer,
white hair. and very black eyes, who
introduced herself as Miss Edwin. and
then went on to say that she had come
TO ask whether Mr.. English would do
her the favor Of taking photograph.
ic likeness Of her brother. who was the
oldest inhabitant of Normanford. and
confined TO his house by an iniirmity
OF the feet. Her brother had one son.
who had emigrated to Australia many
years ago. Father and son would new
cr meet again in this world. and the
| portrait was wanted as n souvenir TO
send to that new home across the sea.
She. Miss Edwin. was quite aware that
portrait-painting was not in Mr.. En-
giish's ordinary line Of business but
under the circumstances. he would.
I perhaps and the little white-hair-
cd old lady put her two hands togeth-
or. and looked up so entrcatingly in
his face, that John hal no heart to re-
fuse her request. John called on Mr..
Edwin the same afternoon, and found
him to be little withered gentleman,
very sprigh,ly and cheerful. despite
his great age and the ailment which
confined him to the house. The
portrait wa. duly taken. a. well as
one Of Miss Edwin, and the two duly
despatched to the antipode.; but
JOINS visits 10 the little cottage did
not cease with this he had grown to
like the society of the old gentleman
and his sister. liking which wa
cordially recipro Gated and he not
untreqnently ,trolled down for an
honr after his days work was over.
for the sake of pleasant chat with
the Nestor Of the little town.
Mr.. Edwin, with his sister bv
way Of supplement or addcndum.
might be considered as living chron-
icle of the savings and doings of
Nornintord for the last half cen'u-
ry; and John English could no, have
found any ono more likely to supply
hun with the information he needed.
With the proprtiatory offering OF
packet OF genuine Kendall Brown in
his pock t-for Mr.. Edwin was a
great snuf-taker-thc young photo
grapher went down to the cottage on
the evening Of the day on which he
had received the letter from his friend
at Nice. Ii was not difficult To
bring the conversation round 10 the
required point, for the ex -schoolmas-
ter was always ready and willing to
talk about any person or thing that
referred in any way to his beloved
town.
Yes, said Mr.. Edwin, in reply
TO question of Johns, as he bal
anced pinch Of his favourite mix
tnrc between finger and thumb. the
landlady Of the Hand and Dagqer
has certainly been resident Of Nor
maniord for many years.-For how
many years! Let me consider. -
Why, tor two--and-twenty years, this
past summer. She came TO Belair
with Lady Spencelaugh-with the
present Lady Spencelangh, tha, is
who is Sir Phil g second wife,
his first lady having died in India,
poor creature few years after mar
riage. Martha Winch was a young
unmarried woman at that time, and a
great favorite with her Ladyship.-
After time she married Job Winch,
apudding headed fellow, who originally
was hostler at the very hotel Of which
he afterwards became landlord. |
remember it was currently reported
at tie time that it was her Ladyship's
money which put the newly married
couple into the Hand and Dagger !;
and through all these years, Mrs.
Winch has never quite broken off her
connection with Belair; she still goes
frequently to see Lady Spencelaugh.
How do you account said John,
for the existance Of SO strong a tie
between two people SO different in So
cial position as Lady Spencelaugh and
Mrs. Winch?
All l can tell you with regard to
that is from heresay. and not from OBJ
servation,' replied the schoolmaster.
Lady Spencelaugh is the daughter OF
poor Yorkshire squire. When young
her health was very delicate and her
father, with the view of improving it,
sent her to be brought up in the house
Of small farmer, one of his tenants
who resided somewhere in that wild
stretch Of country between Ingleton
and Hawes, in the Northwest Riding.
Mrs. Winch that is now, was the
daughter Of this farmer and the two
girls, living under one roof for five OF
six years, became firmly attached to
one another and not all the chances
and changes Of after-life have beer