Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-01-12
Selected Mistellanp.
THE LANDLADY OF THE GOLDEN
SHEAF.

1t is just forty-6ve years since my
education was finished at Mrs. Middle
toms seminary for young ladies, the most
geenteel school in our part of Hamp-
shire. ! was seventeen, and the eldest
of ten children. My fathers farm was
but small one, held on lease from our
rich ncighbor Dickson, the principal
man in our parish after the Squire. lie
had two farms leased from him besides
my fathers's and a large one which he
titled himself, kept a retinue of men and
maids, did the best blowing, turned out
the finest cattle, and made a deal Of
money by his dairy,
His wife had died before | was born,
and his house was kept in prime order
by the youngest of his aunts, Miss Mill
wood He had neither son nor daughter
but Master Harry, whom everybody
thought a sensible and very handsome
young man and not half so purse-proud
as his father Being our landlord and
next neighbor, Farmer Dickson took
great interest in us. lie said the family
was too large for my father and mother
to manage without advice; that provid
ing for them was his chief difficulty ant
hearing that distant relation of his
Mrs. Williams, landlady of the Colder
Sheaf, wanted well-brought up girl
not as a servant, but to help in the house
keeping, they thought it might be
good situation for me.
To tell the whole truth, there wa,
another reason for my going. Before
left school Hurry Dickson began to pay
me attentions Not that | encouraged
him much, but he came after m,
and it did not please his father. The
old man thought his son should look
higher than a poor farmers daughter
and my parents having a good bit Of
pride, were just as angry when they
came to know it My father said be
hoped no daughter Of his would tempt 0
young man to disobey his father. Ny
mother said she hoped | had more spri
than to wish to marry into family wht
did not think us good enough for them
OF course my father and mother were
right gave Harry back his ring, bu
it was after good deal of crying. liz
swore he would never marry another
though his father should disinherit him
and to let Farmer Dickson and the Who'll,
country see that we were not set on trap
ping his son, it was settled that | SHOULD
go to Mrs Williams.
My father went one day to consul
her, and, when all was agreeable, h
took me and my trunk respectfully in tn
London coach, which then passed through
Cha.ford, our village, and stopped a
the Golden Sheaf. For country inn
the house was large aud handsome.
had every convenience of yard an
stabling, good garden, fine orchard
and some hundred acres of corn an
meadow land. 1t was situated on tn
high road where Surry and Hampshir
meet. The ground was high and frol
the inns upper windows one could SO
many miles along the road and over til
country. Stage coaches and carrier
wagons stopped there so did the cour
try hunts and the travelling gentry
corn and cattle dealers on their way
London, farmers to and from the markt
, town; and all who came or went spok
: well of the good housekeeping, the fa
r dealing, and the general giving of Mrs
: Williams.
She was tall, thin woman, upright
) active, and still handsome, though boz
dering on sixty. Her black hair wa
but thinly sprinkled with gray. Sh
had good deal Of the gcntlewoman i
her manner; always wore a black tabDe
. gown, a tambourd apron and cap {
nottingham lace, which was fine enoug
in those times But there was some
thing in her look so stern and rigid tha
; it made one careful Of ones doings be
fore her Her story, which wo ha
heard in private from farmer Dickson
, was both sad and singular She ha
been brought up in one Of the most re
spectacle inns in the country of Cornwall
, and married rich farmer. He left be
early widow, with an only daughter
She managed the farm we'll, however
and was a prosperous woman. lie
daughter grew up beautiful girl, an
the mothers heart was wrapped up i
her but the son and heir Of neigh
boring squire induced her to clope wit
hinli as marriage into his high famil