The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-14
The Landlauy Of The Golden Sheaf.

LOOK III AGAIN Ill lelp TO pay
To keep my brothers keeper.
-<e>
The LandIauy Of The Golden Sheaf.
It is just forty-five years since my
education was finished at Mrs. Middle
toms Seminary for young ladies, The
most genteel school in our part of
Hampshire. | was seventeen, land the
eldest Of ten children. My fathers
farm was but a 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 him beside my fathers, and a
large one which he titled himself, kept
a retinue of men and maids, did the
best blowing, turned out the finest cat
tie, and made vast 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
Wildwood. He had neither son nor
daughter 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 a
great deal of interest in us. He said
the family was too large for my father
and mother to manage without advice;
tha' providing for them was his chief
difficulty, and hearing that a distant
relation of his, Mrs. Williams, landlady
of the Golden Sheaf, wanted a we'll
brought-up girl, not as a servant, but
to help in the housekeeping, they
thought it might be a good situation
for me.
To tell the whole truth, there was
another reason for my going. Before
left school, Harry Dickson began to
pay me attention. Not that incour-
aged 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 poor farm
er's daughter, and my parents, having
a good bit of pride, were just as angry
when they came to know it. My father
said he hoped no daughter of his
would tempt young man to disobey
his father. My mother said she hoped
had more spirit than to wish to mar
ry into family who did not think us
good enough for them. Of course my
father and mother were right. I gave
Harry back his ring, but it was after
a good deal of crying. He swore he
would never marry another, though
his father should disinherit him ; and,
to let farmer Dickson and the whole
country see that we were not set on
should go to Mrs. Williams.
f.,%l -
her, and, when all was agreeable. he
took me and my trunk respectfully in
the London coach, which then passed
through Chatford, our village, and
stopped at the Golden Sheaf. For a
country inn the house was large and
handsome. It had every convenience
of yald and stabling, a good garden, a
fine orchard, and some hundred acres
of corn and meadow land. It was
situated on the highroad where Surry
and Hampshire meet. The ground
was high; and from the inns upper
windows one could see many mile
along the road and over the country.
Stage coaches and carriers wagons
stopped there; so did the country
hunts and the travelling gentry, corn
and cattle dealers on their way to Lon
don, farmers to and from the market
town, and all who came or went spoke
well of the good housekeeping, the
fair dealing, and the general civility
of Mrs. Williams.
She was tall, thin woman, upright,
active, and still handsome, bordering
OH sixty. Her black hair was but
thinly sprinkled with gray. She had
a good deal of the gentlewoman in her
manner, always wore a black tabnet
gown, a tamboured apron, and cap of
Nottingham lace, which was fine
enough in those times. But there was
something in her look so stern and
rigid that made one careful of one s
doings before her. Her story which
we have heard in private from Father
Dickson, was both sad and singular.
She had been brought up in one of the
most respectable inns in the County of
Cornwall, and married a rich farmer.
He lett her early widow, with an
only daughter. She managed the farm
we'll, however, and was a prosperous
woman. Her daughter grew up beau
tiful girl, and the mothers heart was
wrapped up in her but the son and
heir of neighboring Squire induced
her to elope with him, and marriage
into his high family was not thought
OF. Mrs. Williams was woman of
high spirit, strict and proud. It is
said the poor girl never dared let it be