The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-03-10


slid Biddy.
Ia vain we're all remonstrances with
the rognish aud wilfnl girl. She per.
sisted in being Biddy, even to him, and
maintained a distance between them
very different from that between him
and Barbie in her own proper self
Annoyed, provoked, ehagrined, almost
angry, the advent Of his father forced
him to retire from the kitchen for fear
Of bctrayiug Barbie's secret which he
would not have done for a great deal
1t was several hours before he could
return to the house, his father having.
upon one prctext or another, detained
him.
When at last they entered tagether,
kitchen and sitting room, both Of which
had been in most uutidy state when
they left there, had undergone such
remarkable rcnovating process that old
Joel drew back ut first, thinking he had
set foot in somebody else s house instead
Of his own. Supper was smoking on the
table; such n supper as old Joel, at
least, had not seen in months. To
crown all, Mrs. Shellenbarger was sit
ting, propped up with pillows, 10 u
great easy chair, aud looking wonder
ous y c2ntented, and with rcason-the
poor lady had not had a woman's hand
about her before, since her illness.
They lived IN such an isolated, inhospi.
table manner, that very few of their
ncighbors even that knew Mrs Shellen.
barger did not visit her as usual. Bid
dy, as she called herself, had tidied the
poor lady up in wonderful manner.
Joel Shelleubarger sat down to the
dainty spread table, and made most
hearty aud keenly relished meal, glanc-
ing askance at Biddy meanwhile. An.
son strange to say, ate very little, and he
watched Biddy askance too.
Thiswa onlythe beginning ofreforms
this darling girl instituted. First,
however, as much for her own peace Of
mind as MISUNDERSTANDING that mother
and son were fast friends and always of
one opinion-she told her secret to
Mrs. ShelIenbarger, and fairly wheedled
the good lady into approval. 1t is true
that she shook her head at first, and
looked wonderously shocked. IL was
so charming to have those little soft
hands kuttering about her, aud to see
such brightness and comfort spring up
around, that she could not for her own
sake, help countenancius, as much as
silence could, Blddy's mysterious pres,
ence.
| haven't time to give particulars, but
having made good beginning, with a
true Irish facility, Bidiy established
herself in very short time, completely
in the good graees Of the old man. He
had lurking likeness for neatuess and
good order, aud Mrs. Shellenbarger,
poor woman, wasn't very tidy house
Keeper. Under the new reign, order
grew out of chaos the house seemed
in holiday garb all the time, and an at.
mospherc Of social eheefulness pervaded
everywhere. One morning, Biddy had
said something about leaving, the day
before, the old man ended a grumbing
complaint Of Anson with ~ never see
no good come of eddlcation yet If it
hadn't beeu for that college business,
you might have taken likin' to sen.
siolG S'r,' aud she to you
lie glanced at Diddy as he spoke.
one turned scarlet and came near drop
ping .he aus she was holding. 1t was not
thc nrst time Anson mad heard such
ins,Guations, and he rather enjoyed
blady trepldation.
see here' father, he said, rogulshly,
luS' PICK me out wiie, ana see what
VIII come OF 1t
ne only siri know oi, worth hav-
inSwouidn haveyou, l dare say-would
you biddy joel SAID, grumblingiy,
out suddenly turning to the girl.
pr;n;, ~ ,F,., @ Laah s naG'ouS,y'- pIh:,
a, osonto,;v;n1,onI II ri ni,o'e io'et
ali th;s ,;mo uo W." ~; a'stauoe
vonso now uoL;no aa.~a.a s "ls re'
R;d5v ro,I;oa bas s.an1;,s"s pos. 49, euor''
- .a'.1 .,'tI ~ oO1ru ,e usou 'cuses tosay,
sbnra cir IL ;sn,, UesaS'ou. ,Da""Is u, IN,
ortber bav;na ,ny man Tt IN r. nay AZ !, - 0s =
RidJv S;il yon " rno,n m IN u, ~, SsNeu:
w." ~ .nuiy hc saiu
u,.7, ms manu-
!, " III 'ha' now, said biddy, prompt.
Y putting her hand IN his, while old
1oel came near choking himself with
amazement, IL was too late to recede,
however whether he had really wished
such thing or not, as they soon made
nun understand. lie went out of doors
presently, privately plnching himself to