Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-02-13
Mr.. Maynard's Hired ...r.an.

Mr.. Maynard's Hired Nan
"Dickery dickery dock;
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
| And down he run;
: Dickery-"
"Oh! my good gracious How dart
you:" Fanny laid the pink bundle
down in rocking chair full of pillows
The bundle protested with a vigorous
movement, and in another moment the
roeking-chair and the baby come dowr
together. "Now, you awful man the
child, is killed." cried Fanny, with {
scared face, as she lifted the tiny NOR.
sci from the floor; but the pillows had
protected it, and the startled baby, af-
ter one effort at curling her lips, broke
into charming smile.
"No harm done; and trust I'm for
given,' said Mathew Dom.
"No, you are not forgiven. shall
nerer forgive you Mr.. Mathew Dom
so please leave baby and me. have
nothing more to say
"Well, I'm going"
"You can go, sir.'
The young man went softly, slowly
out; but he looked neither grieved nor
angry on the other side of the door
he smiled.
The circumstances were these:
Fanny had been amusing her sisters
child, and the little cherub seemed new
er to tire Of musical sounds; so Fanny,
who had "Mother Goose" by heart,
liked nothing better than to sit in the
cozy sitting-room, which was really the
nursery, and sing those old melodies.
Mathew Dom was the hired man,
and ON this particular morning had
stolen in quietly behind Miss Fanny,
and tempted Of-what? surely not the
Evil One-had bent over and kissed her
ON the forehead.
And this he had dared to do, know
ing that Fanny was city young lady,
living in a fashionable quarter, and used
to the best society.
Fanny's sister had married a rich
farmer not quite two years before.
People talked about those Brysons bury
ing themselves alive; but both Fanny
and Olive loved the country better
than the town. Every summer Fanny
was glad to leave the "stuffy old house, -
as she called it, and almost by one leap
on the express train find herself in
paradise, breathing air redolent of
white clover and sweet brier. During
the winter the sisters corresponded reg
ularly; and Olive had sung the praises
of Mathew Dom, their hired man, so
often that Fanny found herself think
ing of his acquaintance as one of the
pleasant probabilities of her next visit.
ave don't pretend to treat him as
help" wrote Olive her baby on one
knee and steadying the paper with
bronze weight; ''for he is not in the
least like the men who hire out in these
parts. l should be ashamed not to ask
him to come to the table; and just for
the novelty of it, l want you to take a
peep into his room. Harry calls him
his rdra cris; and the two really enjoy
themselves together almost like BROTH
ers. Besides, he's nearly as handsome
as my Harry. He, you know, is the
handsomess man in the world."
And the pleasant pen ran on and told
about planting, the prospective sweet
corn, and pea blossoms, and how the
grape vines were full of the tiniest
branches, and the young peach trees
were going to do splendidly; and Adela
had two of the cunningest, milk-white
teeth, and loving nonsense.
Now, Fanny had rich lover, and,
like most rich lovers, he was not pre-
possessing in his personal appearance. In
her own written language to Olive, she
pestered her to death.'' To be sure it
was pleasant to see his splendid equi-
page in front of their door, with the
two superb grays, for on rare occasions
Fanny yielded to his solicitations to
take ride; and he always eontrived TO
drive her by his castle Of a brown stone
front, perhaps to tempt her; for Fanny
was as fond of beautiful things as wo-
men ought to be, and was well aware OF
the advantages which money can give.
Both her father and mother were anX-
ious that she should marry the Hon.
Ebenezer Wolcott, but Fanny was high
spirited, and they seldom advised her.
The girl knew that they were living
beyond their means for her sake, and
this knowledge had been bitterly earned
She and Olive had many conferences
over it.
GO think if you were married." said
Olive, ''papa would come here and take
a small house, then business need not
press him so in his old age"
Ebenezer had done the proper thing
had offered Fanny his heart, his house,
his carriage, and his horses; and al
though he was known as a pugnacious
old gentleman, terribly set in his way,
he was honorable, and he loved beauti-
full Fanny Bryson with all his heart.
And Fanny had told him that she could
not then decide--that she was going for
the summer months to sister Olives
and at the close of her visit she would
give him his answer.
"And may come out there some
times?" asked Eben.
Fanny gave reluctant consent, and
wished with all her heart that she had
refused him, so, with the understand.
ing that he was to call as a friend, the
two parted.
At the depot Fanny found her sisters
carriage in waiting, and was accosted
, by the handsomest as well as the tallest
man she had ever seen. Six feet foul
and proportionately majestic, he seemed
like Apollo and Hercules in one.