The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-22
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1873

he was unaccustomed to such rapid driving
for whenever q sharp corner appeared. he
hung on to the railing with a look on bis face
OF gravity and almost OF terror, and seemed
to be prepared to Jump into the quick sci
hedge which bounded the road at a moments
notice.
And now the horses, again exulting In free
dom, dashed along the carriage drive in thu
park, where herds of deer rivalled their speed
In flight, and shaggy Scotch cattle looked NJ
with wondering eyes from their search fol
grass under the coat of snow which clad thu
earth, and then, their tails aloft and theil
horns sweeping the ground, made off to ioir
| the deer. The trees on either side drppet
with icicles, which flashed In the sunlight
with all the tints Of the spectrum and the
tall fern-unable to bear the weight of snow
bowed obesance to the hy-passers A mo
over the river, and then merrily up to the dooI
Of the mansion, where Fibbins was In an
instant at the leaders, head, stroking his
steamng nostrlls.
| Why should continue my narrativeiin the
| third person? My readers know that Law
~ IS the charioteer, and Fibblns the groom
| Is 1.
| Sir Thomas came out to welcome our ar
rival, and caught sight Of ladies' faces in
the hall The former seemed quite taken
aback with establishment rs he surveyed the
equipment and figure Of my friend. God
bless mel he said; "a few years ago you
were placed, little baby, on my knee! Come
| in Mr. Lawley. fer years! Let me see;
| hoW MANY years ago is it ten, fourteen
| why, bless my heart alive. it is over t,renfy
| So it is How time fliesr'
Take the horses round to the stables Fib-
| btns!" was Lawley's order, as the hall door
| closed upon him: and touched my hat In re-
| Spouse.
| | found my way to the servants hall. and
was Hospitality welcomed by the butler, who
had assisted at our arrival After declining
his offer OF a glass of beer after my drive,
was presented to some of the Jumpers, y
| amongst whom a very stout hOusekeeper and
q very pretty French maid seemed to hold
precedence. They received me with curtseys
which ! returned with bow of such elegance
| as to give me status at once with the foot
man. To the latter / was not introduced q
suppose it is not etiquette.) In word, every
| one was most "harble' to me; and [ was
feeling very comfortable as | thawed before
the huge fire, when the butler babe page
bring me some hot water, saying he supposed
ii was nearly time to dress for dinner.
('Late dinner, by Jovev' / soliloquized
this Is capital. j never knew before that
servants were INDUCED to that extent How
ever, one learns Q good deal by being behind
the scenes I'm not sorry to hear 1t" |
| replied aloud, as | followed the page, for |
"Oh, | mean dinner in the dining room. !"
said the butler; "~e shall take something
afterward."
1t then flashed upon me that was expected
to help wait on the table!
/ had not bargained for this; but how could
| get out of the dilemma? What excuse
could | make? | was racking my brains to
find one, when the butler, pointing to bell
masters room; perhaps you would like to
put out his evening things first
| thanked him for reminding me, and |
fastened up stairs, where / found Lawley
lying on the sofa in his listless way.
ZINC, h,p oiI wit ft,.,,t ,,,,I
my things, will you, and bring me some hot
water ?"
"May die frstw l replied in hot anger: .
land III tell you what, Lawly, I'm going
back"
Haven't they been civil to your"
"Oh, yes; but-but they want me to wait
at dinner
rs that all ?" replied Lawey; "why, of
course you must do that. II will be the
greatest fun in the world, my dear fellow.
never. do. By-the-by,'" he said, suddenly
catching me by the gilt button, 1--WE sur
prise for you"
"A surprise r"
Yes. There Is to be q servants ball to-
night. All the people 60 down to the servants
nall and dance quite ''promiscuous.' You will
see Sir Thomas dancing with the head house.
maid, and the fat coachman leading out her
ladyship; the footman will foot it with the
guests, and the gentlemen will make up to the
maids: BY Jove, sir, If you don't cali that a
lark, l should like to know what you call
Oner'
This was certainly good news, and bright
ened up considerably at the prospect.
And I'll tell you what, Harry" continued
Lawley; there's the most charming little
girl staying here that you ever saw-a Miss
Granger; will let you have one dance with
her, but only one, mind. | shall keep her TO
myself for the rest-She is-she is SO ioIly!"
so you are spoony already"
"Spoony? Why, my dear fellow, I've top
pied head over ears in love with her. | shall
take her out to dinner, if can. We get on
wonderfully well already, and intend to fol-
low up my advantage this evening, | can
promise you. Oh, by the way. just go down
and get me flower for my button-hole will
your
Again my weakness of character was ap-
parent. After a little coaxing | was easily led
TO get the Hover, and it ended in my fetching
the hot water too
BE very careful you are not discovered
said Lawley, as left him; "Sir Thomas is
very tOuchy, and a joke Is just the thing he
cannot appreciate. He would never forgive
me-
Well, ! was fairly in for the thing, and 50
resolved to play my part as perfectly as |
could. now bctook myself under the guild
ance Of the page, to my room. | found two
bedsteadS there, and was told that / was to
who, at the moment | entered, was securing
his face with soap.
now threw myself into my part. / flung
off my jacket and fell to scrubbing my face in
a similar manner, except, as / was connected
with horses, ! made the grOom's professional
hiss during the operation. brushed my hair
and clothes to the same accompaniment.
combng the former into two symmetrical
5urls over my temples Indeed, after survey
ng myself In the rather diminutive looking
glass, | came to the conclusion that my ap-
oearance was that of what is termed ga very
young man." / drew on my white
cotton gloves, and so (as Pepys would say TO
he dining-room.
| am not of 50 unobservant a nature as to |
,e unacquainted with the proper method of
Waiting at table, and now promised myself |
10 small diversion in thus witnessing the |
business" of a dinner party in 50 novel
character.
| had not stood in my place with carefully |
olded arms long after the sounding of the /
yong, before dinner was announced, and the T
,arty, laughing and talking, came in. First |
i all, Sir Thomas and dowager, then four /
,thers, and then ~ ~
1t Is no use. Not all the asterisks and notes |
II admiration in the printers fount can ade-
luately express my amazement as Lawley /
"a me mast