The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-07-07
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to conceal my situation from him un-
til it became moro agreeable. One
afternoon / went to visit a neighbor
in the village and by mere accident
picked up Richmond paper contain-
ing an advertisement for governess
With o lightened heart I returned
home and applied for the situation.
In short time favorable reply was
received. My preparations we're soon
made and y fortnight afterwards l
was slowly driven up the avenue lead
ing to my new home. .''''
Beuna Vista, the beautifully embel-
lished residence of Mrs. Howard, q
widow lady of immense wealth, was
situated in one Of the most picturesque
portions Of the Old Dominion. The
mansion was large and irregular in
shape but Of the most graceful pro-
portions. Both nature. and art had
been bountifpl in their gifts. The
exquisite beauty of everything l be.
held, enraptured me beyond measure
andrI felt almost as if I could glow
and rhadsodize as I had done in days
gone by. 1t seemed to me scene
of enohantmept. could scarcely
persuade myself to believe that any
thing short of Aladdin's magical
lamp could have transformed a piece
of ground into such q fairy grotto.
Flowers of every variety adorned tho
yard ; evergreeps of every description
were grouped hi,her and thither, add
ing greatly to the attraction Of the
place; oanaries and mockiug-bi,ds,
singing iu'cages, made me dream of
the sweet-voiced nightingale foun-
tains played merrily and gold. and
silver 6sh leaped joJously in marble
basins. The house was situated on an
elnineucc at the foot of which gurgled
silver river, fringed with willows
aud water-lilies. The slope was GOV.
eyed With fragrant, clover, and sum.
mer- houses and frames covered with
clipgiug vines: dotted the ground in
the earth, from the house to the river
and at the Bottom lay asmall pleas
ure-boat, secured 6y a chair to a large
willow Tie SCOPE was as beautiful
as a a"poet's dream, of:hes s&n., I fell
into a,Pleasant rsgsfie, YhfSh Was soon
interrupted BY the stopping Of the
carriage and the sound Of voices. The
lady Of the mansion advanced to meet
NE us descended %>fhe-steps aud in-'
stinctiyely | felt a chill creep over
me. She vas the proudest, most re-
gal-looking woman ! had ever behold |;
her words were brief and cold and I
knew then that would be considered
nothing more than servant in her
house. I was shown to my apartment
and bade to prepare for tea. At the
table | was introduced to a naughty,
dark-broWed gentleman Of thirty years
who, in my Imagination, bore a
striking resemblance to Lord lyron's
LARA. He was Philip Howard, the
son and heir. Next, was presented
to. Miss Leslie, q beautiful and queen
ly girl of twenty-five; her wondrous
likeness TO my dead father, whose
miniature, together with that of my
mother, 7 had always worn around my
neck, astonished and startled me ex-
ceedingly, aud I did not remove my
gaze from her countenanoe until a
superciliousS elevation of her eyebrows
reminded me that I was impertinent.
Last in order, came NY little pupil,
Rosas a golden haired, blue eyed
child, like myself, on orphan. She
was the grand daughter Of Mrs. How
ard and subsequently, found her to
be an affectionate and docile little
girl, easily managed and prompt to
learn. Rosa was disposed to be com. IN
municative and ere I had been man many
days installed as goyerness,, told me
chat Miss Josephine Leslie had been
her grand fathers ward, that after
his death she continued to reside with
his widow, also that she was her un.
ole Philips fianoe. Mrs. Howard
paid me very little attention. / dis
charged my duties faithfully and she
had no grounds for complaint. Miss