The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-01
THE LANDLADY OF THE GOLDEN
SHEAF.

1t is just forty-fve years since my
education was finished at Mrs. Middle
TOMS Seminary for young ladies, the
most genteeL school in our part of Hamp-
shire. WAS IL, and the eldest of ten
children. Ny 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 hin besides my
fathers and large one which he titled
himself, kept retinue of men and
maids, did the best blowing, turned out
the finest cattle, and made vast Geal of
money by his dairy.
His wife had died before I was born.
and his house was kept in prime order
by the youngest of his aunts, Miss Mill
wood. He had neither son nor daugh-
tor, 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 neighbour, Farmer Dickson
took great deal of interest in us. He
said 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 a dis
tant relation of his, Mrs. Williams, land
lady of the Golden Sheaf, wanted we'll
brought-up girl, not as a servant, but to
help III the housekeeping, they thought
it might be good situation for me.
70 tell the whole truth, there was an
other reason for my going. Before I
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 farmers daughter, and
my parents having 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 a young
man TO disobey his father. NV mother
said she hoped had more spirit than to
wish to marry into q family who did not
think us good enough for them. Of
course nv father an mother were right.
/ gayo Harry back his ring, but it was
after 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 coun
try eee that we were not set on trapping
2his son, 1t was settled that should 90
v5o Mrs, Williams.
My father went one day TO consult
.nor. and, when all was agreeable. he
took me and my trunk respectfully in
@tho London coach, which then passed
through Ghatford, our village. and
stopped at the Golden Sheaf. For
country inn the house was large and
handsome. 1t had every convenience of
yard and stablng, good garden, a fine
orchard, and some hundred acres of
eoorn and meadow land. It was situated
ON the highroad where Surry and
Hampshire meet. The ground was
high; and from the inRs upper windows
one could see many a 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 London, farmers to
and from the market town, and all who
came or went spoke we'll 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
on co. Her black hair was but thinly
sprinkled with gray. She had a good
deal of gentlewoman in her manner, al
ways wore black tabnet gown, a tam
bourd 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 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 In
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 hoir of a 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 wo-
man Of high spirit, strict, and proud.
1t is said the poor girl never dared let
lit be known where she lived, for fear of
fher mother she sold her house and
farm, left that part of the country.