The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-14

only child. After / was twenty-one,
father and mother began to talk about
my marrying. have plenty of cous
ins, you know, and we always had
young ladies going in and out of the
house; but while Clara lived she was
company for me, and after she died /
was full Of business, and didn't troub-
lie myself about ,matrimony. To tell
the truth, Jack, l didn't fancy the
girls. Perhaps | was unfortunate in
my acquaintances; but they seemed to
me all cprls and founces and furbe-
lows, and would as soon have
thought of marrying fashion-plat as
one of these elaborate creatures. l
don't object to style; l like it. But
you can see fine gowns aud bonnets
any day in the Washington street
windows; and my ideal of woman
is one whose dress is her least attrae-
ton.
"Do you recollect fathers former
partner, Adam Lane ? He's a clever
old gentleman, and millionaire, and
father has the greatest liking and re-
spect for him, He has two daughters
-one married years ago; and the
other, much younger, father fixed up
on as desirable wife for me. rath-
er think the 4wo families had talked it
over together; at any rate, Miss Ma
tilda came to Greenland for long
Summer visit. She is an amiable girl,
but SO petted and spoiled that she is
good for nothing-undeveloped in
mind or body. She looked very gay
in the evenings, attired in the latest
importations. But she was always
late at breakfast; she didn't dare to
ride horseback; she couldn't take a
walk without stopping to rest on ev-
cry stone; and once when I asked her
if she had read the account of the bat
tie Of sedan, she looked up in her
childish way, and said, mo, Mr.. Fos-
ter. Newspapers are SO tiresome.'-
Bless me what should I have done
with such baby?
"a year ago this Summer l was
very much confined at the store; and,
when August came, instead of Of spen-
ding the whole month at home, I
thought / would have little change,
so went down for a fortnight to the
Cliff House. on-Beach. It's a qui-
ct, pleasant resort, and you'll always
find fifty ora hundred people there
during the season. The landlord is a
good fellow, and a distant relative of
mine, l thought he looked flurried
when I went in, and after few min
utes he took ME to one side, and said:
atom, you've come at an unlucky
time. l had a very good cook, that |
got from Boston, at twenty dollars a
week; but she's high-tempered wo-
man. Last evening she quarrelled
with her assistants; this morning the
breakfast was all in confusion, and now
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, l don't know
"'But, Norton, said l, isn't there
some one near by or in the house who
can take ity'
81 doubt it, he replied I've half
a dozen girls from the vicinity doing
upstairs work-one of them from
your town, the best waiter in the din
mg.room, But suppose all Of them
would either be afraid Of the response
bility, or think it beneath them to
cook; though they would have plenty
of help, and earn twenty dollars where
they now get three
"Who's here from Greenland?' 1
asked, for knew something OF almost
every one in the place.
"ALary Lyford.'
"Mary Lyford? A black.eyed,
light-footed girl, about twenty years
old; with two brothers in Colorado,
and her father farmer over toward
Stratham?'
ayes, 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?"
30, you know farmers haven't much
ready money, and suppose she wan
ted to earn something for herself, and
to come to the Beach, like the rest Of
us. You saidsshe took the premium
for her bread. I believe I'll go into
the dining-room and propose to give
the cooks place to any one Of the
girls who would like it, and who feels
competent to takeft. Imust do some.
thing, and looking at his watch, he
went out.
"Ten minutes later he came back,
-clasping his hands, and exclaimed:
"'Mary Dyford says she'll try it.
"Hurrah for Greenland, cried L.
Isn't that plucky? BY Joye, | hope
she'll succeed, and | believe she will
"You mustn't expect much today,
said Norton. Things are all topsy
turYy in the kitchen, and it'll take
some time to get them Strengthened
out
"Just then new arrival claimed his
attention, and with serener face be
turned away.
"Dinner was poor that day; supper
was little better. And in spite OF
Nortop's caution, l began to be afraid
that Greenland was going down. But
the next morning what breakfast we
had-juicy stakes, hot potatoes, deli
cious rolls and corn bread, griddle-
cakes that melted in your mouth, and
coffee that had lost none OF it's aroma
in the making. Thenceforth every
meal was triumph. The guests
praised the table, and fastened to their
seats at the first sound of the bell.
n L.. H. ~ T.. - 81.