The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-10-02
Romance of the Stavers House, Ports
mouth.


A record of the scenes, tragic and
humorous, that have been enacted with
in this old yellow house on the corner
would fill volume. A vivid picture of
the social and public life of the old
time might be painted by a skillful
hand, using the two Earl of Halifax
inns for background. The painter
would find gay and sombre colors ready
mixed for his palette, and a hundred
romantic incidents, waiting for his can
vas. One of these romantic episodes
has been turned to very pretty account
by Longfellow in the last series of The
Tales of O Wayside Inn-the marriage
of Gov. Benning Wentworth with
Martha Hilton, a sort of second edition
of King Cophetua and the BegPar Maid.
Martha Hilton was poor girl, whose
bare feet and ankles aud scant drapery
when she was q child, and even after
she was we'll in the bloom of her teens,
used to scandalize good Dame Stavers,
the innkeeper's wife. Standing one af
ternoon in The doorway of the Earl of
Halifax, Dame Stavers took occasion to
demonstrate with the sleek-limbed and
lightly draped Martha, who CHANGED to
be passing the tavern, carrying pail of
water, in which, as the poet neatly says,
the shifting sunbeam danced.
"You Pat! you Pat !' cried Mrs.
Stavers, severely; "why do you go
looking so? You should be ashamed to
be seen in the street.
"Never mind how look" says Miss
Martha, with a merry laugh, letting
slip saucy brown shoulder out of her
dress 81 shall ride in my chariot yet,
ma'am."
Fortunate prophecy Martha went
to live as servant with Gov. Wentworth
at his mansion at Little Harbor, looking
out to sea. Seven years passed, and
the " thin slip of girl, who promised
to be no great beauty, had Powered into
the loveliest of women, with lip like
a cherry and cheek like rosa lady
by instinct, one Of natures own ladies.
The governor, a lonely widower, and
not too young, fell in love with his fair
handmade. Without stating his purpose
TO any one, Gov. Wentworth invited q
number of friends (smoDg others the
Rev. Arthur Brown to dine with him
at Little Harbor on his birthday. After
the dinner, which was very elaborate
one, was at an end, and the guests were
discussing their tobacco-pipes, Martha
Hilton glided into the room, and stood
blushing in front of the chimney-place.
She was exquisitely dressed, as you may
conceive, and wore her hair three stories
high. The guests stared at each other,
and particularly at her, and wondered.
Then the governor, rising from his seat,
"Played slightly with his rufles, then looked
down,
And said unto the Reverend Arthur Brown:
This is my birthday; it shall likewise be
My wedding-day; and you shall marry me y"
The rector was dumfounded, knowing
the humble footing Martha had held in
the house, and could think of nothing
cleverer to say than, ITO whom, your
exceIlency ?"
"To this lady" replied the governor,
taking Martha Hilton by the hand. The
Rev. Arthur Brown hesitated. Gas the
chief magistrate of New Hampshire
command you to marry me p cried the
firm old governor.
And go 1t was done and SO the pretty
kitchenmaid became Lady Wentworth,
and did ride in her own chariot, after
all. She wasn't a woman if she didn't
drive by Stavers' hotel !-Harper'8
Magazine.