New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-16
way had not been darby warned against

n6r Wllee.
"You needn't mind halt Josephus says.
nv dear He likes to hear himself talk
and always goes on 80 before folks some
times think his books and new ideas have
sort of muddled his wits, for he is as full OF
notions as is q paper of pins, and he gets
dreadfully put out if we don't give ID to
'em. But gracious me! they are so redicklus
sometimes and SO selfish i cart allow him
to make fool of himself or plague Lily.
She don't dare to say her soul is her Own;
SO have to stand up for her. His pa don't
know half of his odd doings; for l try to
keep the old gentleman comfortable, and
have to manage 'em all, which is not an
easy job, assure you"
Ihad secret conviction that she was
right but did not commit myself IN any
way, and we joined the social circle In the
sitting room. The prospect was nota lively
one, tor the old gentleman nodded behind
his newspaper; Eliza. with her head pinned
up in little blanket, slumbered on the
sofa, Puah fell to knitting silently, and the
plump cat dozed under the stove. Josephus
was visible, artistically posed in the luxu-
rious recesses of his cell, with the light
beaming on his thoughtful brow, as he
pored over large volume or unused with
upturned eye.
Having nothing else to do, sat and star
ed at him, till, emerging from a deep
REVERE, with an effective start, he became
conscious of my existence and beckoned me
to approach the sanctuary of thought"
with melodramatic watt of his large hand.
l went, took possession of an easy chair,
and prepared myself for elegant converse
ton. l was disappointed, however, for Jo-
sephus showed me list of his favorite
dishes, sole fruit of that all absorbing
thought, and, with an earnestness that
flushed his saffron cOuntenance, gave me
hints as to the proper preparation OF these
delicacies.
/ mildly mentioned that was not cook;
but was effectually silenced by being re
minded that came to be generally useful,
to take his sisters place, and see that the
flame of life which burned go feebly III this
earthly tabernacle was fed with proper fuel.
Mince pies, Welsh rabbits, sausages and
strong coffee did not strike me as strictly
spiritual fare; but listened meekly, and
privately resolved to shift this awful
responsibility to Puah's shoulders.
Detecting me in cape, after an hour of
this high converse, he presented me with an
overblOwn rose, which fell to pieces before
got out of the room. pressed my hand and
dismissed me with fervent "God bless you.
child, don't forget the dropped eggs tor
breakfast"
was up betimes next morning and had
the study in perfect order before the recluse
appeared, enjoying good prowl among the
books as l worked, and becoming so ab-
sOrbed that forgot the eggs. till a gusty
sigh startled me, and beheld Josephus, in
dressing gown and slippers, languidly sur
veying the scene.
nv duster in guilty haste. 1T pleases me
to see you here, and lends a sweet, domestic
charm to my solitary room. l like that
graceful cap, that housewitely apron, and |
beg you will wear them often, for it re-
freshes. my eye to see something tasteful.
young and wOmanly about me. Eliza
makes a bundle OF herself, and Puah is
simply detestable."
He sank languidly into chair and closed
his eyes, as if the mere thought of his enemy
was too much for him. l took advantage
of this momentary prostration to clip away,
cOnvulsed with laughter at the looks and
words of this bald headed sentimentalist.
After breakfast fell to work with will,
eager to show my powers and glad to put
things to rights, for many hard jobs had
evidently been waiting tor stronger arm
than Puah's and a more methodical head
than Elizas.
Everything was dusty, mouldy, shiftless
and neglected, except the domain OF Jo-
sephus. Upstairs, the paper was dropping
from the walls, the ancient furniture was all
more or less dilapidated and every hole
and corner was full of relics tucked away
by Puah, who was a regular old magpie.
Rats and mice reveled in the empty rooms,
and spiders wove their tapestry undis- |
turbed, for the old man would have nothing
altered or repaired, ana his part Of the
house was fast going to ruin.
longed to have a grand clearing up
but was forbidden to do more than TO keep |
things in livable order. On the whole, it |
was fortunate, for l soon found that my |
hands would be kept busy with the realms |
of Josephus, whose ethereal being shrank |
from dust shiyered at a cold breath, and !
needed much cOsseting with dainty food, |
hot fires, soft beds, and endless service, |
else, as he expressed it, the frail reed would !
break. |
l regret to say that time soon came |
when I felt supremacy Indifferent as to the |
breakage, and very skeptical as to the |
fragility of reed that ate, slept, dawdled |
and scOlded SO energetically. The rose |
that fell to pieces so suddenly was good |
symbol of the rapid disappearance of all |
the romantic decisions l had INDUCED in |
for time. A weeks acquaintance with the |
inmates of this old house quite settled my !
opinion, and further developments only con- |
firmed it.
Miss Eliza was nonentity and made 40
more impression on me than fly. The old |
gentleman passed his days in placid sort |
Of dose and took no notice of what went on
about him. Puah had been a faithful
drudge for years, and instead of being
wretch was, as l soon satisfied myself,
moth erly old soul, with no malice in her.
The secret of JOsephus' dislike was that
the reverend tyrant ruled the house and all |
,beyed him but Puah, who had nursed him
rs a baby, boxed his ears as boy, was not
afraid of him even when he became a man
and a minister. / soon repented of ny first |
suspicious and grew fond of her, for with
out my old gossip l should have Jared ill
when my day of tribulaton came.
At first l innocently accepted the fra
,ernal invitations to visit the study, feeling
hat when my days work was done had
earned right to rest and read. But soon
found that this was not the idea. was not
10 read: but to be read to. l was not to
enjoy the flowers, pictures, fire, and books;
)ut to keep them in order for my lOrd to
,njoy. I was also to be passive bucket,
ntO which he was to pour all manner OF
metaphysical and sentimental
'ubbish. was to serve his needs, soothe
lis sufferings, and sympathize with all his
orrows-be galley slave, in fact.
As soon as l clearly understood this,
ried to put an end to it by stunning the
he study and never lingering there an in
tant after my work was done. But it
walled little. for Josephus demanded much
and was bound to have 1t. So he
anne and read poems while washed
fishes, discussed his pet problems all meal
lines, and put reproachful notes under my
loor, in which were comically mingled
of neglect and orders for dinner.
/ bore it as long as l could, and then
reed my mind in a declaration of indie
delivered in the kitchen, where
le found me scrubbing the hearth. 1t was
lot an impressive attitude for an orator,
or was the occupation one girl would
hoose when receiving calls; but 1 have
lways felt grateful for the intense discom.
ort of that moment. since it gave me cour