The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-02
THE LANDLADY OF THE GOLDEN
SHEAF.

LII Id JUST lOILy-hNo JcuIb SluCc LILY
education was finished at Mrs. Middle
ton'6 Seminary for young ladies, the
most genteel school in our part of Hamp-
shire. / was II, and the eldest of ten
children. My fathers farm was but
small one, held on lease from our rich
neighbor Dickson. the principal man in
our parish after the Squire. He had
two farms leased from hira besides my
fathers aud large one which he titled
himself, kept retinue of men and
maids, did the best blowing, turned out
tho finest cattle, and made vast deal of
money by his dairy.
His wife had died before I was born,
and his house was kept in prime order
10y the youngest of his aunts, Miss Mill
wood. He had neither son nor daugh-
ter, but Master Harry, whom everybody
thought sensible and very handsome
young man, and not half so purse proud
as his father. Being our landlord and
next door neighbor, Farmer Dickson
took great deal of interest in us. He
sad the family was too large for my
father and mother TO manage without
advice that providing for them was his
chief difficulty, and hearing that dis
tant relation of his, Mrs. Williams, land
lady OF the Golden Sheaf, wanted we'll
brought up girl, not as servant, but to
help in tho housekeeping, they thought
il might be good situation for me.
70 tell the whole truth, there was an
other reason for my going. Before 1
left school, Harry Dickson began to pay
me attention. Not that I encouraged
him much, but he would come after me,
and it did not please his father. The
old man thought his son should look
higher than a farmer's daughter, and
my pare t. having good bit of pride,
weis just as angry when they came to
know it. My father said he hoped no
daughter of his would tempt a Young
man TO dieobey b father. My mother
said che Hoped had more spirit than to
wish to marry into family who did not
think us good enough for them. Of
course nv father an mother were right.
1 gave Harry back his ring, but it was
after n good deal Of crying. He swore
ne would never marry another, though
'his father shGul1 cisinherit him; and to
let Farmer Dickson and the whole coun-
try Gee that we we're not set on trapping
hia son, Vt wa3 settled that should go
TO Mrs Williams.
My father went Que day to consult
her, and, when all was agreeable, he
took mo ind my trunk respectfully in
the Load0u coach, which then passed
through Chatford. our village, and
stopped at tke Golden Sheaf. For
coapiry inn the house was large and
handsome. 1t had every convenience Of
yard aud stsbling, good garden, a fine
orchard, and some hundred acres of
corn md meadow land. 1t was situated
on the high.oad where Surry and
Hampshire meet. The ground was
high and from the inns upper windows
one could zee many mile along the
road and over the country Stage
coaches aud carriers wagons stopped
there 30 did the country hunts and the
'trsvelipg gentry, corn and cattle dealers
on their way to London, farmers to
and from the market town, snd all who
came or went SPOKE well of the good
housekeeping, the ftir-denliDg, and the
general ci,ility of Mrs. Williams.
She was tall thin woman, upright,
active, and still handsome, bordering
on GO. Her black hair was but thinly
sprinlcled with gray. She had good
deal OF gentlewoman in her manner, al
ways wore black tabnet gown, tam
bourd apron, and cap of Nottingham
lace, which was fine enough in those
times. But there was something in her
look 30 stern and rigid that made one
careful of ones doings before her. Her
story. which we had heard in private
from Father Dickson, was both sad and
singular. She had been brought up III
one OF the most respectable inns in the
county of Cornwall, and married rich
farmer. He left her early widow, with
an only daughter. She managed the
farm well, however, and was prosper
GUS woman. Her daughter grew up a
beautiful girl, and the mothers heart
was wrapped up in her but the son
and heir Of neighboring Squire in
duced her to elope with him, and mar
riage into his high family was not to be
thought of. Mrs. Williams was q wo-
man of high spirit, strict, and proud.
1t is said the poor girl never dared let
1t bo known where she lived, for fear of
her mother she sold her house and
farm. left that part of the country,
bought the Golden Sheaf, and she set
herself up whore nobody knew of her