The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-03-15

the many small Crummses comes te
the door, with her little cheeks anC
chin bearing unmistakable signs o.
pudding. She just peeps out to see
who it is, and then campers away. a;
if afraid of losing some of the good
things in the parlor For this want
pof respect to the lodge / hear hel
mamma rebuke her sternly and then
Crumms says, Never mind, mother
nobody is. naughty on Christmas
day Rounds of applause 1 go ur
i stairs, and PA proceeds with hi:
speech >.
Two o'clock. 1 ring the bell fol
some hot water, and Crumms answers
it in full walters dress, white tie,
dress coat, and low cut waistcoat
showing large amount of shirt front
with an elaborate frill: He walks in.
! to the room as if he is very proud oil
: himself, and is more waiter like in his
manner than usual.
Hot water to wash with, sir. Yes,
sir Disappears and reappears with
the jug, which he sets down on the
table
why, Crumms," I ask, where are
you goiEgT
Cut waiting, sir He pauses for
a minute, then becomes less majestic
and more confidential always go
ont waiting on Christmas day, he
adds, and 1 have been to the same
house for the last fourteen years.
The gentleman and lady are n couple
as came to the Crown at Newford that
year married Mrs. Crumms. We
were both at the hotel, you know, and
We're just leaving to come up are. -
The lady took great liking to Mrs
Crumms, and one day she said to
me so you and your vile are go
ing up to London. Crumms. Now
you must come and wait al, my house
when we want help. And l have
been there every Christmas day since
then-not missed one. 4 go on 9th
er days'-he says this quickly in an
offhand manner, as if the oiher days
were of no importance-'but they amt
regular
You go there and help wait, sup,
pose ? ......
well 1 do most of the waiting +;
all OF it, you may say he replies.-
They don't keep Il man. and there
were only the female servants. They
amt mach good, not like Mrs
Crumms. She could wait, she could.
She was wonderful handy. That's
what first made me look at heri'
And where do you go TO p in
quired.
'B .dtord Square Domville is the
gentleman name
On the SPUR OF the moment, just to
see what Crumms will say, l ask,
'Will you take lie with you to-day 2
You, sir! he replies, in surprise.
'Well-reallv, sir, | don't think Mr..
Domville wouid-though have known
him these fourteen years. I an
afraid he'd think it rather presnmptu-
us of me to Introduce a gentleman
into his house!
L suppose So l snswer; the idea
OF the waiter Introducing q friend as
a guest at the dinner being certainly
very absurd. But didn mean that.
Take me with you to wait
You you 60 out waitingr says
Crumms, holding his breath.
Yes; ifyou will take me-
well! L do not call that good
joke he gasps out. Lord. sir, what
al idea' Then dropping his waiter
like manner altogether, and bccom-
ing thoroughly human, he bursts out
laughing.
l had only intended TO chaff
Drumms. but it strikes me that going
out with him will be more lively than
spending Christmas day by myself,
and begin to hope that he will take
me.
Il dare say Mr. DomvilIe would
have no objection to an extra hand
l urge, 'an'l could go as friend o.
yours, who is just beginningan and wants
to lea n his business.
Lord, sir, pants Crumms again,
you amt serious
by Jove, l am, though, I saw. I
don't know what on earth to do with
mysell all day. L should like to go
out waiting ...
Crumms' laughter, which is very
prolonged and loud. and accom- panied
with great deal of coughing and
wheezin.-for he is rather Stout
brings his wife up tie stair and final
ly into my room She begs my par
don for the intrusion, and then turns
to her husband.
'Crunms,' she says, you mustn't
excite yourself Remember, you are
going out waiting
Yes, yes. my dear I remember
he n~wers, as soon as he recoyers his
breath. But here is Mr.. Herbert
wanting to 90 out whiting too
Mr.. Hcrbert1 says my landlady.
surprised in her turn.
Yes, Mr.. Herbert, repeats Crunms;
end his lau ughter bursts out again like
a smouldering fire.
l Immediately begin to enlist Mrs.
Crumms on my side. She is merry,
good natured woman, with rather a
partiality to wild young gents, as she
calls tn; M, and is fond of telling tales
about the young fellows round New
ford when she was at the Crown Ho-
tel. here isn't anything particular
ly wrong in my going out waiting
with Crumms, but his wife seems to
think there is, and it puts her in mind,
she says, Of Mrs. Somebody at her old
2 ac'.
Its just what he would do, sir she
continues; and l think you were
such quiet young gentleman. Mr.
Herbert. Law Crumms,' she ads,
turning to him, you wouldn't spoil Il
Il 81 Lilo thnt L l.