The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-06-20
THE GOVERNESS' SECRET.
T AM QUITE sure" said my wife, "that
II 4bn' baet ,,loD will hn fo advnrtiSn -

II AM QUITE sure, " said my wife, "that
l. the.best plan will be to advertise"
81 have no objection" / replied, if
you think answering advertisements is of
no USE"
If we advertise we can make our own
terms, and shall have variety to choose
from. See," said she, "this is the kind of
thing l should like:
"'WANTED, in quiet and highly re-
spectacle family, residing in the country,
young lady competent to undertake the
entire education of three little girls. Salary
liberal. Comfortable home. Address A.
b., New Rochelle"
"Now," resumed my wife, in compla-
cent tone of voice, after reading this para
graph aloud, 81 think that is the very
thing only those who like quiet and the
country will answer"
Will the reader believe that within two
days after the insertion of our advertise
ment in the Times we had no less than one
hundred and seventy replies How to wade
through them was complete puzzle to u.s.
The "reduced ladies' we destroyed at once,
resolved to have a well-trained governess,
or none at all. How were we to choose, be-
tween the orphan daughters of clergymen,
the children of once opulent bankers, of
barristers long since deceased, or of doc
tors who had never been successful?
"Qh Harry" sighed my wife, 60 am al
,,,,,,, ,,,o nl,,o,t;eo5 nj oil rrbara
must be one hundred and sixty-nine people
disappointed it makes me quite sad to
think of them. Only fancy what hopes
have followed each one of these letters ~
l shared my wife's feelings, and felt re-
gret something like remorse as I rang the
bell, and ordered John to remove the torn
fragments of one hundred and sixty of these
hope-laden epistles.
"GOvernesses must be more plentiful
than footmen," heard him remark to the
butler who passed him in the hall
reserved ten of the letters attracted by
the writing and general style. One
amongst these particularly pleased me it
was written in a clear, ladylike hand, firm
and legible, the letters well-rounded, moth
ing angular or affected, neither flourishes
nor out-of-the-way curves. | liked the
clear good sense shown in every line. There
was no long dissertation on family matters,
no pathos of having to earn her bread as
she best could. The letter contained moth
ing but a simple statement of her capabili-
ties, her terms, and references. liked the
sensible, business-like sentences. We
therefore decided upon answering this let
ter and, on receiving satisfactory replies
from the referees, we finally engaged Miss
Person.
My family had lived at New Rochelle for
many years. The property had descended
from father to son and few held more
honorable position in the county than we
Fernes. We were not famous for great
riches or great deeds but heaven be thank
ed, dishonor had never come near us,
was the only child of my parents, and
they both died before attained my rhajori-
ty married when ] was twenty-one, and
believe it would have been impossible to
have found two people in this world hap
pier than my wife and myself.
We had three children, aged respectively
six, eight, and ten. We had not cared to
trouble them much about lessons and
books but they were growing older now
and as my wife determined they should
never go to school, but should have gov
erress at home, I, like well-trained hus-
band, submitted with resignation.
never knew kinder-hearted woman
than my wife; 1t was her distinguishing
Characteristic. 1t amused me TO see the
preparations made for our governess, and
the pretty rooms that were arranged for her
use.
The nearest railway station was more
than FIVE miles distant from our house 50
At the appointed time the carriage waa sent