The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-29
MIR. Ronsaii's Matchmaking. /.

soul Of punctuality, Nevertheless she
was a little late this morning. Eight
o'clock was the breakfast hour, anl it
was now fully ten minutes past.
Aunt Nancy was not my Uuclc Nc
Farlanes wife. lie was widowcr Of
some fifteen years standing Fifteen
years before his wife had left him deli
cate little boy for Il keepsake, and had
gone away, whispering with her last
breath that she was very happy. Her
mother and sister, who had come to the
house to nurse her. remained after her
death, according to Uncle McFarlane's
particular request. lie would be so
glad, he said, if it were not cxacting too
much of sacrifice, 20 have Mrs. Howard
and Nancy stay with him. keep up his
house, and attend to his little boy. So
Mrs Howard, who was widow with
very straitcncd income, rented her little
house in the New England village where
she had always lived and came to pre-
side over Mr.. McFarlane's spacious man
sion and liberal housekeeping in Green
wich Street, New York-my Uncle Nc.
Farlane lived in Greenwich Street, a
fact which marks the date Of my story
with sufficient oxactness.
Mrs. Howard had been dead three
months, and still Aunt Nancy presided
over Uncle McFarlane's household. Nei-
thcr OF them had ever thought ola change
as either necessary or desirable. She
was still fair, somewhat prim woman of
thirty-iivc, with pretty, soft brown hair,
violet-bluc eyes, and pure, soft, some
what chaugelul complexion. She was
not in the least like modern young
lady's heroine. She had no particular
aspirations beyond the limited and old
fashioned one of doing her duty in that
state of life to which it had pleased God
to call her. She did not consider her
self martyr to uncongcnial circumstan-
ces, because she made Uncle McFarlanc's
shirts and mendcd his stockings, and even
the fact of going down into the kitchen
to do up his immaculate ruillcs, when old
Mrs Browns hands were too lame, and
the chambermad's too unskillful to be
trusted with them, did not awaken in her
mind any desire to rush out into the
world in search Of career. No such
fancy had ever entered Nancy Towards
mead. She was absolutely 'contented
with her present condition, willing to 90
on making Uncle McFarlane's shirts.
keeping his house, spelling his child, and
making it pleasant for him. as she simp-
ly said. Her great pleasure consisted in
doing muslin embroidery, visiting the
poor, going to church, and reading the
English classics, with now and then a
novel. If she had any trials she kept
them to herself confiding them to no
spiritual director, newspaper editor, or
female friend. Such was Nancy Howard
at 6vc.and-thirty.
My Uncle McFarlanc was fine gentle
man in the true sense of the phrase. He
was nnimpeachablc in integrity, unspot-
ted in morals, in manners absolutely per-
fect-a little set in his way, and possibly
somewhat particular in eating and drink
ing. He was also given to amusing him
self in quiet way with the pcculiarities
of those about him. But he never will
lingly hurt or neglected any one, and he
had certain genial graciousness Of man
ner, which made all his employees, from
Mr. Saunders, his confidential clerk, down
to Black Sam, the carman. and Davy, the
errand boy, feel the better when he spoke
to them.
Miss Nancy is a little late this morn
ing observed Uncle McFarlane, as
Brown, his man, brought him the paper.
Yes, sir. She was out till after twelve
last night, at Sans sir
Indeed How was that?'
We'll, you see, sir, Sans girl was took
with a quick consumption last spring, and
his wife amt very rugged either. Miss
Nancy, she's been there good deal, and
when Susy was struck with death last
evening, she sends for her. So Miss
Nancy, she went and stayed till all was
over. 1t was great comfort to them,
sir. You sec, Sans wife, she's got Il
little young baby, too, and altogether it
comes hard y
Il should say so, indeed. We must
see that everything is done, Brown. Find
out when the funeral is to be, and let me
know, and tell your wife to send them
something comfortable when she goes to
market. But here comes Miss Nancy
Send up breakfast, Brown
Breakfast was usually somewhat 81.
lent meal, save for Alexis chatter with
his aunt for Mr.. McFarane always
read the paper, invariably asking Mis-,
Nancys permission.
why do you look at me so closely
Alick p asked Miss Nancy, as she caught
her ncphcw's gaze fixed upon her
Il was thinking how pretty you are
answered Alick, with his usual irankness
Il think you are hundred times prcttici
than Miss Regina Schuyler, that they
make such fuss about. And | doni
want her for stepmother So there =
What is that about Miss Schuyler =?
asked my uncle, laying down his paper
1T strikes me that you are taking rather
a liberty with that young lady-to say
nothing of myself.
1T wasn't me, father it was Mr.. Bon
sail answered Alick. Mr.. Bonsa!l askec
me if | wouldn't like pretty young lady
like Miss Regina Schuyler to come into
the house; and told him no-I didn'
want any one but Aunt Nancy. Thei
he said Aunt Nancy was an old maid
| said, if she was forty old maids she wei
a hundred times prettier than Miss Regi
na-and so she is
We won't discuss that matter = sale
my uncle, annoyed, but roprcssing hi
annoyance, as usual. You need no
mind Mr.. Bonsall. We all know his ways!
There was something in his father
tone which made Alick aware that he ha,
better drop the subject. Uncle McFar
lane went on with his paper, but now an,
then glanced over it with an expression