Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-12-31
"I am really glad you have done IT, he
aid, and then added, Uchiefly for Miss Fan

said, and then added, "chioily for Miss Fan
:" Pooh she don't feel any weight Of ro
sponsbility. In fact, rather believe she
rather proud OF playing banker. Is II no
so, FanW
was scarcely proud OF tho responsibility
but was certainly not nfraid OF any risk
ran, and | said so.
"Then am afraid for you. 1wlsh yo,
were not bankcr,o said John Goodwin, Il
that same grave way, unusual with him.
Then the girl came TO call us to dinner.
remembered afteward that she suddenl
dartcd back out OF the room when she saw
gentleman there. was n little amused n
on the part OF Sarah which her ordinary dc
meanor did not quito warrant.
Thon we went into the dining room. Saral
had disappeared with n sudden toothachc
leaving Mary, the cook, to wait upon the ia
bic. But there was nothing strange In tha
except the suddenness OF the attack.
Before John Goodwin went away thcr,
was more sharp banter between him and sis
ter Kate, which wo all enjoyed. But n
| length the conversation drifted into another
channel, and John Goodwin told us llttl,
OF himself and his career which was new Il
us. IIo had at one timo been prosecuting
attorney IN Chicago. While performing thu
duties OF tGst office no had broken up ant
sent to. Sta.e-prlson gang OF burglars
| which had boen terror to all honest citi'
zens. The wife Of the leader OF the gang
under pretcnsc OF seeking his services to.
ward cffecting her husbands release, tried
| to assassinate him In his own office.
| "When even the women tried to kill me,
said he, smiling as though II was only Q
trkle, "1 thought would confinc myself tC
ordinary practice and let some other ambiti'
GUS young lawyer take the fame and conse.
qucnccs OF the public office"
"Iou take IL lightly" said father, "and
so much the better" Mr., Goodwin had risen
now TO go. "Whon we are settled in town
we shall expect you to be more friendly and
| visit us often.n
Then we all went out on the veranda,
where the good-bys were said. John Good
win mounted his horse and rode away. As
we turned to go in, happened to look UP at
the window of my own room, and was not a
little surprised at seeing through the light
curtains the face OF Sarah, evidently watch
ing the retreating form of John Goodwin.
But what was she doing In my roomy
AS we crossed the hall Sarah came down
the stairs with her face tied up and smelling
powerfully OF camphor.
you were engaged, Miss Fanny, and
didn't like to trouble you, but i took the
liberty to use your camphor bottle for my
TOOTH"
That explained her going to my room, and
was, of course, satisfactory. Her toothachc
soon disappeared, and the whole matter was
forgotten.
ought to have mentioned before that Sis
tor Kate and l were joint mistresses of IA
ther's house. Our dear mother died when
| was only nine years old and Kate seven.
Since that time we had learned to forget that
first bitter sorrow, and our father had un-
selfshly refrained from q second marriage.
"Kate is not pretty, although she is saucy;
she may marry; hut Fan (myselD Is too
plain, quiet and old-fashioned to get mar
ried. There is no occasion for me to ever
think OF marrying again, since am certain
of always having good housekeepcr."
This was n frequent speech of our fathers
"a little tantalizinE, and possibly true; but
all of us hoped otherwise. For there Is no
girl or woman, however plain and unattrac-
tive she may be, but desires the honest, true
love of some worthy man; and hopes on to
the end that she will receive it. 1t is not a
thing to be ashamed Oft is nature.
In due time we left the old hou-e on the
farm for the new one in the city, taking with
us our scrvant-girls, Mary, the cook, and
Sarah, the house-girl.
When ones whole life has been passed on
n farm, any change seems great one that
alters life so rs to leave out the simplicity
and naturalncss of the farm. Yet l doubt II
there be equal and constant happiness else
where as there is in rural life.
The transition from an old house to n new
one requires II good deal Of perpleXing toll
The proper adaptation of the household
treasures and conveniences involves CONSUL
tation, deep thought, and additional toll. A
removal into new house must be a sort of
domestic calamity. Yet when fairly domi-
ciled beneath new roof, it Is very pleasant
to receive and entertain the friends who ties
tifY their respect for you by visiting.
John Goodwin was now u frequent visitor
mt our house. Father said he came to see
Kate. She said he came to see me. What
ever | may have really thought, / said that
his visits seemed to be only friendly ones to
the family.
One thing was certain, John Goodwin s
visits were very pleasant; and no one was
more welcome than he was. l may say that
much with propricty:
house than father was seized with one of
his periodical cattle-buying fits. We begged
Of him to rest little and enjoy his ease, but
in vain. In Illinois this desire to trade in
cattle becomes, like intemperance or the
opium habit, mania.
used in this cattle trade, / found the new
safe mentioned before thing of great con-
venience.
Since this safe was destined to act part
not expected of it, n description Of its loca-
tion will serve to make more clear what is
to follow.
In the sitting-room, upstairs, was n large
but narrow closet. This safe was placed at
the further end OF the closet. Being of the
same width as the closet, some woodwork,
added after the safe was in place, fastened
1t securely in its position. 1t could only be
moved by tearing away the woodwork the
whole length of the closet.
We found life now quite different from
what 1t had been on the farm. Less OF care
and more of dress, and regard for the re-
quirements OF society.
We made some very pleasant new ac-
quaintances; and, since we did not lose any
old friends by being u little greater distance
from them, the removal was gain of some
thing.
So the daysand weeks rolled by until the
holidays were Mt hand. The parties and So
cial gatherings of the country were simple
affairs, with so little Of formality or ceremony
that stranger might almost call them rude.
A genuine ball none of us had ever attended
can you wonder, then, that country girls
like sister Kate and should have dreams OF
unusual splendor concerning the Governors
ball!
John Goodwin had become our most fre.
quent visitor. There were great many
Jokes banded among the family concerning
his visits. Whether he did or did not sus-
pect something OF this, he was singularly
impartial In his attentions to Kate and my
SELF We both liked him. We could not be
jealous Of each other; yet think each would
have felt greatful sense of relief had he
been more marked or positive In his atten-
tions to either.
John Goodwin entered heartily into all
our plans for the holiday festivities, and
especially this crowning effort, the ball at the
Governors mansion New Years Eve. He
had attended great many similar balls and
80 could give good many hints.
Ten days before New Years Nelly Fen
wick came to visit us and spend the holidays
but most Of all to go with us to this, our first
ball.
Father was absent good deal, and that
made John Goodwin's constant visits all the
more desirable. He was our escort to near
ly every place we went, and 1t came about SO
quietly and naturally that we scarcely
thought of going even TO church without
him.
He was to be our escort to the ball, until
young Burnett, who had become desperately
smitten with Nelly, insisted upon taking her.
Then 1t was managed that Kate should go
with them and John Goodwin should fall 10
me alone. / was afraid II was not quite
agreeable TO him, and begged him to take
Kate and let me 90 with Nelly. When / had
said this to him few nights before, Twas
surprised but not displcased at what fol-
lowed
Z" DO you prefer to go with them rather
than with mer he asked, with one of his
grave, sober looks.
,"No, but l thought you would be better