River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-19
OUR LITTLE SERVANT MAID.

OUR LITTLE SERVANT MAID.
never thought so little of Barbara
Darling as / did that July afternoon
when she stood by the window with l
pont on her lips aud a frown on her brow
looking out on the road with eyes tha
saw nothing, and utterly oblivious to thu
fact that her dear, rosy checked, bright
eyed little sister was Juggling at-her Skin
doll with the other, while she piteously
complained, There's sumfin berry awfu
wrong er matter wifi my baby, Baba; hers
broke in her inside, an can't cry any
more to sabe her life" until the speaker
as If to make up for this deficiency on
the part of her "baby," burst into loud
long and fearless cry herself, and even
then, Barbara only pulled her dress out
Of the dimpled little hand and said, in a
decidedly unamiable manner, ',oh,
| bother
baruatla DaIlins, 800 49, pretty that is,
not very pretty AT least there was a iii.
versity of opinion about her. The young
men, abiding to her eyes and hair, spoke
of violets and buttercups; the young wo-
men, on the contrary Young women are
so unpoetical by themselves = sneered
blue china and molassess candy the
young men liked the deep dimple in her
chin, the young women said it was lawful
| babyish;" the young men called ser "a
fairy" the young women "a dwarf
| She was the eldest of eight children
had no accomplishments. unless singing
ballad passably well could be called
one; was eighteen years old, poor and
and well, to tell the honest truth, Tath-
er high-tempered. And she had for
lover handsome, talented, proud, wealthy
Anthony Ditto, tue match that all the
girls in her. circle had been making eyes
at for a year before he, with heart still
untouched, had met wee Bah as he
called her.
How he came to notice her at all, good
ness knows. unless the comicality of the
introduction struck through the dignity
which enveloped him as a mantle, and
softening his heart, as honest fun always
softens hearts, let her steal into it, and
then being bury sort of little body,
he couldn't get rid of her afterward,
"Miss Barbara DdrliDg,n said that pro-
voking Ned Parker, MIR. Anthony Ditto"
and we ives VEIN Bao Darling) burst
out laughing, the names were so odd
following each other in that manner, you
know; ana from that moment We were
excellent frienos until the day we ceased
to be friends and became lovers.
Papa and mamma were delighted with
the engagement, and so was |, for of course
/ loved him dearly; and yet for the life
Of me / couldn't stop what he called
flirting" though I'm sure didn't mean
for that. You see eyerybodp is SO cery
kind to a EttHe woman that It IS almost
impossible foI her to be dignifed. She
gets used to being treated like child,
and accepts pet names and boquets and
bonbons and gloves and the best OF every
thing, and talks and laughs and sings
with pleasant people of the opposite sex
lust child would.
Now Anthony didn't like it-absurd
fellow wasn't going TO marry him2-
and ne used to look, oh so very grim
and ogrieish, and lecture me on the im-
propriety OF my conduct until felt my
self the most miserable of Sinners but =
| don't know how to account for it, al
WAYS forgot the lecture as soon as it was
over, and was in disgrace again immedi-
ately.
Well, the other evening-Fourth Ct
July evening it was--a party of us young
folks went to the village green to see the
pvroteehnie Il had to consult the diction
aTy before / ventured on that world dis
play, and, arriving there rather late,
found ourselves the last corners, and con-
sequentiy on the outside of the crowd.
Ned Parker and | tried TO push our way
to the front, but we c9uldn't,a didn't
see thing except few rockets and
blue lights until the very last, when Ned
lifted me in his arms 80 that might at
last catch glimpse Of Washington bless
ing his countrymen and women with one
fiery hand, while be pointed to a Roman
candle that had just gone up with the
other.
Anthony was few feet away talking
to Meta Brooke, and when | joined him
expecting to meet with a terrible frown,
he greeted me with smile. And all:the
rest of the evening be was as amiable as
possible, and though he had several i've
minute chances to scold me, never SAID a
reproving word-never even reterreds to
the George w. episode, but he did worse
he fiirted himself!
That had never dreamed of, and
must say thought-at the time-it was
a real mean thing for a great tall fellow
like him to do to revenge himself on a
mi:e like me.
Yes, he fiirted for two long, verg long
hours; and when (the patty ended at ny
house, the children proposed kissing
game, he, my naughty, reserved lover,
oiBed in with that beld Brooke girl, and
chose her for partner every time, kissing
her on the mouth and she has a pretty
mouths he did so.
I should have liked to box hei cars, and
his, too, for that matter, but didn't, of
course not. | sauntered about with Ned
Parker, and looked up into his face as
though every moment | discovered some
new beauty in il: and when Meta babe
me good night (Anthony could find no
excuse tor offering to walk home with
her, her brother Dick being there |
kissed her and hoped she had enjoyed
herself.
"Oh very much; very pery much IN
deed" said she, finging a look which
she meant to be tender, but il wasn't
she has bic, black, shallow eyes at An
thony. Il have never enjoyed myself so
muchp
But as soon as the garden gate closed
behind them I took my engagement ring
rom my finger and flung il upon the
ground, and actuallv-I'm ashamed to
tell it, but | did made my hand into a
fist and shook it at my promised husband.
What would mamma, the dear, meek
darling---I don't get my temper from her
have said if she had seen met
As for Anthony, he wasn't the least bit
frightened, but caught the fist, and shut
it up in his strong right hand like some
thing in box
Il hate your ! cried. Nobody ever
treated me so before.
''But how many have you treated soln
he asked, with smile; and / couldn't
help thinking how handsome he looked in
the silver moonlight.
Everybody has always done whatever
| wanted them to-" went on, stamping
my foot.
land consequently spoiled you said
he.
"What did you love me for, if I'm not
not nice9'
because knew the moment / saw you,
you were my fate. thought you were
nice then, and wanted to take v5u in
my arms the moment you smiled at me. !"
.