The Portland daily press., 1872-11-09

Miss Matilda came to Greenland for a long
summer visit. She is an amiable girl; but
so petted and spoiled that she's good for moth
lng-undeveloped in mind and body. She
looked very gay in the evenings, attired in
latest importations But she was ALWAYS late
at breakfast; she didn't dare to ride horse
back; she couldn't take walk without stop-
ping to rest on every stone; and once, when
l asked her if she had read the account of
the battle of Sedan, she looked up in her
childish way, and said: No, Mr. Foster.
Newspapers are so tiresome.' Bless me!
what should l have done with such a
baby?'
"A year ago this summer was very much
confined at the store; and, when August
came, instead of spending the whole month
at home, l thought / would have little
change, and so went down for fortnight to
the Cliff House, on - Beach. It's quiet,
pleasant resort, and you II always ma from
| fifty to one hundred people there during the
| season. The landlord is good fallow, and
| distant relative of mine. l thought he looked
| dulried when 1 went in, and after'a few min
utes he took me one side and said:
''Tom you've come at an unlucky time
had very good cook, that got from Bos-
ton, at twenty dollars week; but she's a
high tempered woman. Last evening she
qurfeed with her assistants, this morning
she's packing her trunk to leave by the next
train. In two or three days l can probably
get another one down in her place; but what
we're to do meanwhile don't know
"But Norton,' said l, isn't there some one
near by or in the house who can take t?''
:" L DOUBT it, he replied. I've halt doz-
en- girls from the vicinity doing upstairs
work-one of them from your town. the best
waiter in the dining room. But 1 suppose
a of ait har no froiI of fba
sponsibility or think it beneath them to turn
cook; though they would have plenty of help,
and earn twenty dollars where they now get
three
'sWho's here from Greenland?' asked
for knew something of almost every one in
the place.
MARY Lyford."
'sMary Lyford? A black-eyed, lishtfooted
girl, about twenty years old, with two broth
ers in Colorado and her father farmer over
toward Stratham?"
"Yes, the very same"
why she's the prettiest girl in Greenland
| at least, l thought so two years ago, when
danced with her at the Thanksgiving party
in the village; and heard last fall that she
took the prize at the Manchester Fair for the
best loaf of bread. But why is she here"
'Oh, you know farmers havn't much ready
money; and | suppose she wanted to earn
something for herself, and to come to the
Beach, like the rest of us. You say she took
| the premium for her bread believe I'll go
| into the dining room and propose t, give the
cooks place to any one of the girls who
would like it and who teels competent to take
| it. must do something and, looking at
| his watch, he went out.
"Ten minutes later he came back, clapping
his hands, and exclaimed;
"Mary Lyford says she'll try it,
"Hurrah for Greenland" cried I. 'Isn'-
that plucky? By Jove! l hope she'll sue
coed, and I believe she WILL"
You mustn't expect much to-day" said
Norton. Things are all topsy-turvy in the
kitchen. and it, II take some time to get them
Strengthened out"
Just then new arrival claimed his atten-
ton, and with serener face he tusned away.
Dinner was poor that day; supper was lit
tie better. And, in spite of Norton's caution,
began to be afraid that Greenland was go
ing down. But the next morning, what
breakfast we had-juicy steaks, hot potatoes,
delicious rolls and corn-bread, gridde-cakes
| that melted in your mouth, and coffee that
had lost none of its aroma in the making.
| Thenceforth every meal was a tri-
umph. The guests praised the table,
and fastened to their seats at the first
sound of the bell. Norton was radiant with
| satisfaction, and l was as pleased as if / had
been landlord or cook myself Several times
L sent my compliments and congratulations
to Mary; but she was so constantly occupied
) that l never had a glimpse of her till the
night before was to leave. l was dancing
in the parlor, and had just led young lady
of the Matilda Lane stamp to her mamma,
when saw Mary standing with the dining
room girls on the piazza. / went out, and,
shaking her cordially by the hand, told her
how interested had been in her success, and
how proud was to find Greenland girl so
accomplished. She blushed, and thanked
me, and said, in modest way, that she was
very glad if we were all suited and then Nor
ton came up and expressed his entire gratifi-
cation with what she had done. As she
| stood there in a white pique dress, with
scarlet bow at her throat, and her dark hair
neatly arranged, she looked every inch
lady.
''Do me the favor, Miss Lyford," said 1,
ITO dance the next cotillion with me''
"Ah! Mr.. Foster,'' she replied, looking
archly at Norton, ''that isn't expected of the
| help"
1.-The hepP' said Indignantly. 'You are
the queen of the establishment, and invite
| you to dance, and so does Mr.. Norton"
Certainly do" he answered. $50 and
show the company that you are at home in
the parlor as well as the kitchen.' So, smil-
ing and blushing, she took my arm.
Didn't we make sensation when we
went in! Perhaps there was no fellow there
with better social position (you know the
phrase) than 1; and had been quite favor
lite with the ladies. You should have seen
them when we took our places on the floor!
Some laughed, some frowned some whispered
to their neighbors; but paid not the slight
est attention to it ALL and Mary looked so
pretty, and went through the dance with such
grace and dignity, that before it was over
believe all regarded her with admiration. I
didn't wait for comments, but escorted her
out as if she had been the belle of Boston.
Goodnight, Miss Lyford,' I said, when
we reached the hall. 81 am going in the
morning, but shall see you again when you
get back to Greenland
Goodnight, Mr.. Foster" she replied, 81
thank you for your Kindness Then she
added, laughing: "Have you any orders for
breakfast ?'
'Why, yes. I should like to remember
you by plate of such mullins as we had
yesterday"
''You shall have them, SIR she said, as she
disappeared in the doorway. And have them
did.
Three weeks later Mary came home to
Greenland, with more than a hundred dollars
in her purse and fame that was worth
thousands. went to see her at her fathers
house found her every way excellent and
lovely; and the end was that at Christmas
we were married"
"Gloriou5p exclaimed. "Give me your
hand, Tom! I was afraid you had been
taken in by some Matilda Lane"
do you think Pm fool?" said he.
Then / tod him of my own choice, and 1
was still talking when the train stopped at
the Greenland station.
We soon arrived at his hospitable home.
His vile was all he had pictured her; re-
fined, intelligent handsome woman, who
would develop and grow in attractiveness
every year of her life. After merry eve
ming in their pleasant parlor, l went to bed,
and dreamed that the millennium had come
and that all women were like my blue-eyed
girl and Mrs. Tom Foster-Edna Dean Proc
tor in the Independent.