The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-08-10
From Harper's weekly.l
Our Little Servant Maid.

HuS % uiu budI July diIeruOOu Wueu Sn6
stood by the window with pout on her lips
and frown on her brow, looking out on the
road with eyes that saw nothing, and utterly
oblivious to the fact that her dear, rosy
checked, bright-eyed little sister was Juggling
at her skirt with one small hand and holding
up her doll with the other, while she pite-
ously complained, "there's sumfin berry awful
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 though 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 unamable
manner, "Oh, botherp
Barbara Darling was not pretty, that is, not
very pretty-at least there was a diversity of
opinion about her. The young men, allud-
ing to her eyes and hair. spoke of violets and
buttercups; the young women. on the con-
trary-young women are so unpoetical by
themselves !-sneered "Blue china and mo-
lasses candy;" the young men liked the deep
was "awfully babyish;' the young men
called her a ga fairy" the young women ga
dwarf"
She was the eldest of eight children; had
no accomplishments, unless singing ballad
passably well could be called one; was eight
cen years old, poor, and-and-well, to tell
the honest truth, rather high-tempered.
And yet she had for lover handsome, tai
ented, proud, wealthy Anthony Ditto, the
match that all the girls in her circle hal been
making eyes at for a year before he, with
heart still untouched, had met "wee Bab,"
as he called her.
How he came to notice her at all goodness
knows, unless the comicality of the introduce
tion struck through the dignity which envel.
oped him as mantle, and softening his
heart, as honest fun always softens hearts,
let her steal into it, and then being bury
sort OF a little body, he couldn't get rid of her
afterward.
miss Barbara Darling" said that provok-
ing Ned Parker. "Mr. Anthony Ditt0:" and
we Eyes VEIN Bah Darling) burst out
laughing, the names were so odd following
each other in that manner, you know; and
from that moment we were excellent friends
until the day we ceased to be friends aud be-
came lovers.
Papa and mamma were delighted With the
engagement, and so was /, for of course 1
loved him dearly; aud yet for the life of me
coulda't stop what he called .firting," though
I'm sure didn't mean it for that. You see.
everybody is so Uery kind to little woman
that it is almost impossible for her to be dig
nihed. She gets used to being treated like a
Shhht ouu oOCCpbo pct uau1tS duu UOuQu6lS
and bonbons and gloves and the best of
everything, and talks and laughs and sings
with pleasant people OF the opposite sex just
as a child would.
Now Anthony didn't like it-absurd fellow
wasn't going to marry him ?-and he used
TO look, oh! so uery grim and ogreish, and
lecture me on the improperly of my condEct
until felt myself the most miserable of sin
ners; butt don't know how to account for
i'll always forgot the lecture as soon as it
was over and was in disgrace again imme-
diately. ggsFg
Well, the other evening-Fourth of July
evening it was-a party of us young folks
went to the village green to see the pyrotech,
mic Il had to consult the dictionary before l
ventured on that word) display, and arriving
there rather late, found ourselves the last
corners, and consequently on the outside of
the crowd. Ned Parker and tried to push
our way to the front, but we couldn't; and I
didn't see a thing excepting few rockets and
blue-lights until the very last, when Ned
lifted me in his arms so that might at last
catch glimpse Of Washington blessing his
countrymen and women with one fiery hand,
while he pointed to Roman candle til at had
just gone up with the other.
Anthony was few feet away, talking to
Meta Brooke; and when I Joined him, ex-
pecting to meet with a terrible frown, he
greeted me with charming smile. And all
the rest OF the evening he was as amiable as
possible, and though he had several fve-min-
ute chances to scold me, never said reprov-
ing word-neyer even referred to the George
W. episode, but he did worse-he firted him
self.
That had never dreamed of, and must
say thought--at the time-it was a real
mean thing for great tall fellow like him to
do to revenge himself on mite like me.
Yes, he flirted for two long, uery long hours
and when 1.-THE party ended at my house, the
children proposed a kissing game, he, my
naughty. reserved lover, joined in with that
bold Brooke girl, and chose her for "a part
ner" every time, kissing her on the mouth
and she has pretty mouth-as he did so.
should have liked to box her ears, and
his too, for that matter, but I ddn't-of
course lot. 1 sauntered about with Ned
Parker, and looked up into bis face as though
every moment l discovered some new beauty
ia it; and when Meta babe me good night
(Anthony could find no excuse for offering to
walk home with her, her brother Dick being
there). kissed her and hoped she had en-
joyed herself.
"Oh! very much-very, oery much, in
deed" said she, finging a look which she
meant to be tender, but it wasn't-she has
big, black, shallow eyes-at Anthony. 81
neyer enjoyed myself SO much"
But as soon as the garden gate closed be-
hind them took my engagement ring from
my finger and flung it upon the ground, and
actualiy-I'm ashamed to tell it, but I did
made my hand into fist and shook it at my
promised husband. What would mamma,
the dear, meek darling-I don't get nay tenn
per from her-haye said if she had seen me
As for Anthony, he wasn't the least bit
frightened, but caught the fist, and shut it up
In his strong right hand like something in a
box.
II hate youp' I cried. 'sNobody ever
treated me so before"
but how many have you treated 80 ?" he
asked, with smile; and I couldn't help
thinking how handsome he looked in the sill
yer moonlight.
Everybody has always done whatever I
wanted them to do," I went on, stamping
my yt foot. oo,.,.,...,.,,.
not nice?"
Because knew the moment saw you,
you were nay fate. Thought yon were nice
then, and wanted to take you in nv arms
the moment you smiled at me-"
Sand now~
"And now think you a bad-tempered,
selfish, wilful, unreasonable little girl.''
1ndeedP y and wrenched my hand away,
uuI uoI DelOrc ne nad Kissed 1t with the most
provoking GOODNESS. "Then we'll part, unless
you change your opinion immediately, and
promise neUer to speak to Meta Brooke
again." ~
IL shall make no such silly promise, Bar
bara." Good gracious! the idea of his call
Ing me Barbara! 81 have promised to, drive
her to the depot Tomorrow"
You return to the city together?"
I'VE return by the same train, as we have
done dozen times BEFORE"
Co." said l, almost beside myself with
rage. Il never want to see you again."
"Are you sure, Darbara?" he asked
quite sure? think you had better wait
for day or two before you Danish me. If by
the DAY alter to-morroW-your birthday-you
still hate me, send me word to that effect,
and will, the moment your note is read, ac-
cept position offered me this morning, and
start for a home beyond the sea. Good
night, Miss Darling.'
"Good-night, Mr.. Ditto.''
And he strobe away up the road. and I
picked up my ring and stole into the house.
and cried as though my heart would break.
1t was so unkind of him to be unkind tn
poor little thing like me.
The next morning, as l sat on the front
porch darning the children's stockings-dear
me! it seems to me every time stock
ing-darning comes around that there never