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

COuS1dCu1dCiuS lily oOAI OA o1C OAh OItAAA.
stance; for when such a misfortune
happens one is generally certain of re-
tanning even a good looking young
persons services-so far, that is, as
mankind are econcerned-for six months
or so, at least. In these days one can
scarcely hope for more. However,
Emily remained with me much longer
than that, and never once put off her
mourning, whether because black wears
we'll or because she knew that it became
her, you shall judgefor yourselves when
you have heard all.
''To all my questions she gave the
most satisfactory replies, and | was a
bout to signify that our interview was
at an end, when, with little hesita-
ton, she observed, 'By-the-bye, madam,
| suppose Mrs. Quiverfull gave you to
understand about my hour to myself?'
"'Your hour to yourself? What do
you mean, my good girl? Mrs. Quiv-
erfull never said a word about itp
"She always allowed it to me, ma'am;
one hour in the middle of the day-or
at all events by daylight-to myself;
that is absolutely Indispensable
"I never heard of such singular
proposition, Emily Seton,' was my re-
ply. You will have your Sunday out,
Of course
"1don't care at all about that, ma'am,
thank you,' interrupted she. [ don't
wish to go out on Sundays; but one
hour every day to myself is what l
must have
"EOh, I see,' thought I; this is a
Methodist. She won't go out on Sun
day, which is a self-abnegation have
never known in one of her class; and
she wants an hour day for prayer and
meditation. She must, indeed, be a
perfect treasure, for Mrs. Quiverfull
with her High Church notions, to have
kept such girl in her service
"'Well, Emily Seton,' said I, this is
an arrangement which had not ex-
pected, and will certainly be very in
convenient, but nevertheless you shall
have your hour
GAS I had done without a parlor.
maid for the whole day for six weeks
could surely do without one, was my
reflection, for a single hour; and ther
she was in all other respects so exceed.
tfngfy suitable. My only fear was thai
I should not keep her for six months
certain because Of the men. need
not, however, have disturbed myself
with any such apprehensions. So fal
from encouraging the other sex, she
kept them at a great distance, and
when [ gave my little dinner-parties-
which, after six weeks of inaction, dur
ing which my friends had been very
hospitable, it became necessary for me
to do-she steadily refused all offers o:
male assistance at the table. She beg
ged me neither to ask my guests tc
bring their footmen nor to hire oul
green-grocer, though avery handy man
and whom you would never know from
a regular butler except for his thumbs
coming through his Berlin gloves
She could wait on half dozen persons
aOeU, she said, and with the house
maids help-Whom, by-the-bye, she
taught so excellently that, after Emi.
ly's departure, she took her place
even on eight, which was the largest
number that my dining-room would
accommodate. No cousin ever called
to see Emily Seton; nor did she ever
ask for days holiday; nor for those
few hours in the evening TO visit al
aged relative, with which touching re,
quest we are all of us so familiar. She
was favorite in the household, though
she kept herself to herself in an unus,
ual degree: she never gossiped; never
retailed below stairs the conversation
she had heard above, and this was the
more singular since not word and
scarcely look escaped her. Her eyes
and ears, were everywhere, so that no
one had to ask for anything to drink
or eat. AS to talk upon general sub
jects, | knew that nothing was lost
upon her, because she would guide her
self both with respect to myself and
others by any hint let fall respecting
attendance OF service, though by nc
means addressed to nor even intended
for herself. In word, then, Emily
Seton would have been just perfection
as parlor-maid but for that inconve.
nient stipulation OF hers-the one
hour to herself, from three till four
which sheneyer waived, no matter what
the stress upon her services, nor inter.
mitted for single day. At three pre-.
cisely, Immediately after the kitchen
dinner, she went up to her own room
and locked the door, and at four pre-.
cisely she came out again and resum.
ed her business as if there had been nc
intermission of it. Visitors might cal
in the meanwhile, or her bell might be
rung by some guest staying in the
house, but they did not in the least
disturb this irrevocable arrangement
She could not be a Methodist, because
she went to church, did not minG
bringing up hot dinners on a Sunday
and took in one of Mr.. Dickens nov
els Gas [ was told by the cook il
monthly parts; and what she did with
herself during that mysterious hou1
was a question that was Weari,sg n1s
heart out.'
Il should rather think it was" sale