National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-06-07
THE HOUsEkEErER'S DAUGHTER.

THE HOUsEkEErER'S DAUGHTER.
:" never did see such a sight in all m
life" quoth Mrs. Marley. elevating he
two rheum ltism-twisted old hands in til
AR " Dust on them beautiful yelve
carpets glass in the conservatory window
all broken; chickens scratching up all tn
geraniums on the front lawn, and the laz,
servants dawdling away their precou
time, while poor, dear Mr., Avenel anc
Harry don know any more whats goin,
on than it they were boarders. Says
Dear heart alive, Mr.. Avenel, this i
enough to make your poor wife turn il
her grave Saws hc-you know bis pleas
ant way Wei, | know it isn't JUS
right, Mrs Marley, but what can do
And | answers, says |, Get a house
keeper. Says be, 'Wherer Says |
Advertise. Says be, Mrs. Marley
you've Bit the nail on the head. I'll ad
ycrtise Tomorrow And that's how that
paragraph happened to be in the papers,"
Here Mrs. Marley stopped to catcl
breath, and nodded emphaically .. hel
auditor, a pale woman dressed i, 'eer
mourning, with the unbccoming . me
work OF a widows cap around her face.
"Aud do you think | should suit the
gentleman - the latter asked timldly.
" You can but try" was Mrs. Narley's
encouraging response. Mr. Aycncls as
easy as lamb, and not one O. them as i,
eyerlastinely checking of bills and count
ing pickel pennies, and Hairy's dreadful
rLasant tempered. Any way. if | was
you, Mrs. Iawkhurst, Id 60 and see"
And Mrs. flawkhurst, holding her pretty
little daughter by the hand, went up ac-
cordinely TO the handsome stone house on
the hill.
There she found Mr.. Avenel in state
OF temporary siege, for others besides her
sell had seen the tempting advertisement
ana made haste TO answer II. There We're
tat women and lean, tall women and short,
Scotch women and Germ ms, smiling,
sloyenly women aud trim, sharp -visaged
women; women who Lad seen better days,
and women who evidently hadn't.
Mrs. liawkhur>t looked around some
what discouraged by the formidable array
ofrjvals.
There's no hope for me- she III hit,
dcsparlngly, and was Just about ~ turn
away with timid Juliet clnging to her
hand, when Harry Avenel advanced.
" DID you wish to see my uncle, ma'mm
he asked, courteously.
II called about the housekecper's
situation meek ly murmuIned the widow.
And Harry showed her i'll at once.
The fat and the tall, the German and
the Scotch, the sour and the sweet. went.
Mr.. Ayenel decided to engage Mrs Hawk
hurstas his housekeeper, with permission
tokecp Juliet with her.
"She is all have SIR" said the house
keeper, apologetlcally, "and she will try
to be useful about the house"
Glow old is she ~ asked Mr.. Avenel.
Fifteen, SIR
"Well, let her stay said the widower
good humoredly. "She'll eat no more
than a chicken, and dare say sac can do
a great many odd things about the house"
Mrs. Hawkhurst proved herself an exec
utlve otliceress OF the greatest ability.
GRADUALLY tie "chaos and old night of
Ayenel place was reduced to system and
order. The wheels of housekeeping re-
yolved so softly that no one knew they
moved, yet these were the results. You
scarce ever saw the bousekeeper gliding
about the halls, yet the servants declared
she was omnpresent. Mr.. Avene found
himself actually the inhabitant of a home
once more as the years slowly passed
away.
lie was sitting on the piazza one day,
smoking his cigar, and watching the grace
iul movements of Juliet Hawkhurst, as
she was planting trailing vines in a mar
Die vase that occupied the center of the
lawn, when Mrs Marley came ont.
A nice evening, sill" said Mrs. Marley,
" Oh. there she is ~
" Who - M. Avcnel asked.
why, that foolish child, Juliet" an
sWercd the old lady sharply. l ha'nt no
patience with her, that ha'nt."
What has she been doing now ~ asked
the widowei with an amused face.
Why, she's refused Ben Nicholos'
eldest son, as likely and forehanded a
young feller as there is in the country"
Mr. Avenel started.
Ben Nichols ! Why, Mrs. Marley,
soc is only child"
She's seventeen next week." nodded
Mrs, Marley, "and high time she thought
o settling"
Mr.. Avenel looked across to where Juliet
stood in her pink gingham dress, the soft
summer winds stirring her curls, and her
cheeks as softly tinted as the standard
moss rose on the lawn. Seventeen, was
u possible that little Juliet Hawkhurst
iIld grown to be seventeen years old
on, relentless time, that would not |
stand still oh, cruel years, that went By
ana stole the fair brightness of childhood
away SO Ben Nichols had actually asked
Juliet Hawkhurst to be his wilc
wish you an Harry'd talk serious
70 her about it," went on Mrs. Marley.
liant likely she'll hev many more such
chances as that"
No; TO be sure not" said Mr.. Avenel,
abstractedly.
And o'coure she'd oughter think it
p