Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-04-24

idS lndIJ uOOIS, paying dG GULL d ulosG
fashionable visit of some duration.-
Then began a still more singular pro-
ceeding. She dragged out her large
box into the middle of the room, and
placed upon it two towels very smooth
|ly; upon this she put her brush and
comb and toothbrush, and a number
Of other little articles, which, as [
guessed, represented knives and forks,
arranged here two chairs round this
Iimprovised table, and then sat down to
entertain an imaginary dinner-party.
[ had little recovered myself by this
time, and was better able to appreciate
the merits of this second performance.
She initiated the conversation of my
self as hostess and that of various
friends of mine as guests to admiration,
dilated upon the opera and the thea
ters, showed herself conversant with
the movements Of the court, and even
rallied our excellent doctor Zone of the
best in Bath) upon his opinions, which
[ have always told him are revolution
ary. She pressed upon all their favor
ite dishes, and at last, when this Bar
mecide feast had come to an end, she
bowed to an invisible lady, and then
rose, no doubt to retire to the drawing
room. Her hour was up, thank good
ness and it was evident that this Gin
derella of the attic was about to descend
from these imaginary festivities and
fashionable dreams to her parlor- maid S
work again. She hung up her bonnet
and shawl, put back the towels, and
with just one look at the glass-to see,
[ suppose, that All her airs and graces
had disappeared-she left the room
and tripped down stairs.''
''She was mad, of course" said Lady
: Stalkingham. "How lucky it was you
found her out before she smothered
you all in your bedsH'
$50 I thought at the time, your
ladyship. I dared not tell her that I
had stopped to the meanness of having
played the spy upon her, nor could [
venture to keep such an eccentric
young person in my house. So upon
the plea Of the great inconvenience of
that hour to herself, which was very
sure she would not give up, we parted.
: 1 was very sorry to lose her, and so
. were her ,felloW-servants; and | had
! a affsarR-ard reason to think that a bee
in the bonnet is not SO bad in parlor-
maid as cherry-colored ribbons. How
ever, as [ say, she left me, and I did
not see her again for the next five
years, when the circumstance occurred
wherein lies the gist of my story.
Il had changed my residence from
Bath to Brighton, and was sitting one
summer afternoon in my little balcony,
when an open carriage drawn by two
beautiful ponies, and drove by hand
somely dressed lady, stopped at my
; door. I was sure that there was some
mistake, since I knew nobody who pos
, sessed SO well-appointed vehicle, and
| was greatly surprised when, on the
door being answered, the visitor, in
l stead of: driving away, got out and fol-
lowed my servant, bearing card with
7 Mrs. Leslie engraved upon it, into
: the draWing-room. I took the card,
of course, but, Really said I 4 think
, there is some misapprehension-'
":Not at ALL said the lady, smiling;
4 know you very well MADAM, and you
, knew me when my name was Emily
Seton
, 'It was indeed my old parlor- maid,
) although [ should never have guessed
it, so very much is there in altered at
| tire and the confidence that is begot-
| ten by prosperous circumstances.
; "'You we're once very kind to me,
: Miss Flutter,' said she tenderly, 'and
| [ always wished to thank you for it !;
, and, moreover, owe you an explana-
. ton for what must have seemed to you
} very objectless and obstinate behavior
on my part while in your service
"She little knew why [ colored up
} and told her that that was not neces-
, sary (for indeed it WASN'T, and that I
entertained nothing but the kindest
sentiments with respect to her, and
warm approval Of her conduct. She
insisted on telling me the whole story,
which | knew so we'll, of how she had
, occupied that hour to herself for which
she stickled so peremptorily. EAnd
now, sdlu she, Wnen IndG recital Was
finished, 4 a0iU tell you Uhy I did So.
| had always conviction that [ was
"born to greatness;" not doomed, at
all events, to be a mere servant-maid
all my life; and therefore I never lost
an opportunity for learning the part of
) gentlewoman, which [ should one day
have to play. It would be great
thing for me, reasoned, if the gentle
: man who was to make me his wife
; should have no cause to be ashamed of
} me as to my behavior in society, and
therefore [ cultivated my manners by
: observing those of my betters with
whom | came in contact, and by imi-
: tating them to the best of my ability.
I paid calls up in my poor attic as I
: saw your visitors did below stairs and
practiced the hostess after your excel
: lint model, in readiness for the day,
which at length arrived, in reality and
/ upon my own account
, "'And how did the day arrive, my
. dear Mrs. Leslie ? inquired I, with un-
: feigned interest.