The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-03-17

stop the cab at the corner of the street
leading to the square, and walk on to
the house.
1t is big house with large hall.
There are three servants going about
with trays and piles of plates, busy lay
ing out the table They stare at me as
| stand by the side Of Crumms, and he
introduces me as young friend who
wants to see a little genteel waiting, and
whom he has made bold enough to
bring. Then, as if that settled the mat
ter, he goes off into business, and asks
several questions as to the number and
names Of the guests. | notice that the
servants all treat him with great respect,
and he, in return, is condescending and
polite to them. With me, when they
are in the room, he assumes an authori-
tative air, and all the time he is very
grave, and looks as if the cares of his
position were too much for him. He
smiles once, when we are alone, as
hand him a Jelly; and then, his muscles
being relaxed, his old fit Of laughing
suddenly broke out again. He cannot
laugh loud. but laughs inwardly, and
shakes so tremendously that the Jelly
rolls and trembles to an alarming de
gree; and it is only by the means Of
promptly taking it under my own pro
e ction, that save it from being shaken
on the the floor.
go Lor' ! to think Of you being here,
he mutters; and the next instant is gra-
witty itself, as Mrs. Domville's voice is
heard on the stairs.
She is a middle-aged lady, and speaks
in friendly manner to Crumms, and is
particular in his inquiries after his wife
and children. He points me out as
young friend of his, who has come to
help him; and Mrs. Domville seems
quite satisfied, and goes up stairs again
to the drawing-room.
Four o'clock.-The dinner is ready and
all the guests have arrived. Crumms
stations me behind the door, and goes
himself to the head of the table, and |
watch the people as they come into the
room and take their places.
They are mostly middle-aged, like
their host and hostess, and evidently
old friends for several nod to Crumms,
and one gentleman is quite hearty in his
greeting, and says it would not seem
like a Christmas dinner without him.
Mr. Domville laughs, and asks after
Mrs. Crumms but Crumms refuses TO be
thawed, and replies in tone as if such
trihing questions interfered with the
responsibility.
So far everything has gone right. Then
comes slight mishap. Just as every
body is seated and silent, and Mr.. Dom
vile going to say grace, Crumms gives
me a signal, and step forward quietly
to close the door The movement at
tracts the attention of young lady,
who is sitting with her back to me, and
she turns round. She evidently has not
noticed me before, and her laughing
gray eyes scan me with surprise. My
face is a new one to her among the many
well-known faces round the table.
suppose she thinks | am guest who
has arrived late and just come into the
room, and, seeing me standing there and
no one taking any notice of me, she
says, court eOusly:
isn't there chair for you?" Then
turning round to Mrs. Domville, 80,
aunt here is a gentleman left outside
in the cold"
Mr. Domville, instead of saying grace,
looks up, stares, and half rises from his
chair, while the company all turn toward
me. 1t is certainly an embarrassing
moments but Mrs. Domville comes to
the rescue, and says quietly, " 1t is quite
right, Helen" The young lady looks a
little confused. and Crumms, in his
nervousness, spoils everything by rush
ing up to her and calling out:
"He's come to help me wait, Miss
Linton"
My fair champion thereupon bushes
very deeply, and begs my pardon seve.
raj of the guests have simultaneous
twitchings of the mouth Crumms looks
half angry, half apologetically, at me !;
and at last Mr.. Domville, in a husky
voice, says grace, while Miss Linton
bends her head very low and hides her
face. The next minute Crumms, serious
and imperturbable as ever, removes the
cover off the soup, and dinner begins.
believe acquitted myself creditably.
Crumms declared that did wonderfully
well, and is inclined to think, believe,
that | have wasted natural talent by not
being a waiter. At any rate, don't spill
anything over anybody's dress, or knock
anybody on the head. carefully watch
Crumms FIR his ignals, and, thanks to
having been at dinner before, though
not in the capacity of waiter, l have
some idea of what ought to be done, and
so remove the right covers, and hand
round such dishes as ought to be handed
at the proper time. The difficulty have
is to keep my countenance, particularly
when hand anything to Miss Linton
She is so bright-looking, and it is such
fun to see the sparkle in her eyes, and
the way they drop if they meet mine
and a little repressed smile steal over
her lips, that it taxes my powers to the
utmost to keep from laughing | feel
that should very much like to change
places with the young fellow sitting 10y
! her side. He does not seem to have
much to say for himself, and he exam
ines every dish, as it is handed to him
through an eye-glass. His inspection is
so long, and his nose is so close, that
have a growing inclination each time tc
bob the dish up in his face. For more
than half the dinner he is silent, then
he talks little politics-staunch Con
servatism-and Miss Linton Immediately
cnunciates the strongest radical princi
pies, upholds woman's suffrage, and