The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-02
Presence of Mind.

Presence of Mind.
have always been celebrated for nv
presence OF mind in emergencies.
Grandfather used to say that he never
had girl who was not afraid of q NORGE
or spider, and how mothers daughter
ever came to be so brave he couldn't guess.
That was before married, and, of course.
l have not become timid with advancing
years.
am Mrs. Jasper Jackman; nv hus-
band is, OF course Mr.. Jackman, and our
place Is known as Jackman's Nook Nook,
1Ldeed Ii there was corner to the world.
! should fancy 1t was put away in that, fo:
u ls the most out-of-the-w habltation
that ever existed. 1t is indeed. You can't
sec IL until you are within fifty feet of 1t
for the trees and the nasty rocks.
$50 romantlcl" people say. 1 call 1t
miserably lonesome.
Now you know Pm not the least bit
nervous, but, having lived with father, and
mother and the rest all my life, Ii did not
enjoy being shut up all alone like a--a-a
well, hyena in menagcrie, while Mr.
Jackman ATTENDED to business In town: and
often thought if houscbrcakers were to
make an attack upon the house, what should
oo, poor little woman, with no one to
call upon for count Bridget as q great
clpher III every occasion of life that does
not involve soap-suds.
TOLD Jasper that, absolutely, If 1 had
known what place Jackman Nook was. I
was not sure but that should have thought
twice before refusing old Dr.. Muligtawnv.
whose palatlal rt siuence is in Fl. .th Avenue.
New York City, as of course every BODY
knows.
However, after you have once said syes"
10 the gentleman VIII pops tho question to
you, you may say ''no" ever after to all
other questions for all he cares, for he'll
have his own way always.
Alother-in-law Jackman having made
Jasper promise that must live always at
the Nook was considered unansw cradle:
and, after all what could we do2 No one
would hire or buy the place, and we had 1t
on our hands, OF course, we lived there.
always knew that doing 80 would be the
cause OF my showing the presence OF mind
1or which am celebrated in my own
fahily-f nowhere else And 80 it came
to pass.
One stormy night in November, in the
ycal l963-it was the 4th, l think, for
baby was just one year old on the lst, and
there was some of the cake had made for
his "bressed little blrflty dlrfday" still left
In the pantry; and cake of that size Ger.
talniy never would last longer than that in
our house. 1t was the most unpleasant day
l ever remember to have lived through.
The ground Was soaked. The bare branch
es looked like so many skcltons and the
sky was the color Bridgets tin pans were
When first got down Stairs this time last
year.
In the city 1t would have been some fun
10 sit by the window and watch the folks
go past, looihds like go many drowned rats,
but at IS pro:eok q should think it was a
ghSc:andnere was nothing to be seen-abso-
lutely nothing.
had not book which l had not read.
ana the note paper was out, for jasper had
forgotten to bring me some from the city,
and | had finished all my sewing.
spent my time as best l could; bul,
how did wish that the regiment which
was encamped about half mile away, was
near enough for me to watch them drill
1t they did drill in such weather. I'd
thought them too near before on account of
Bridget, whom / had caught score of
times talking to men in blue juckets at the
gate, and wished them off to the seat of
war, or anywhere else, over and over again;
but that afternoon, what relief they
would have been
was tho more lonely that Jasper had
said that morning, ''My dear, If it rains as
II does now tonight, l shan't come home,
buI will stop at your fathers" And how
could blame him In such weather7 Yet
it was dreadfully lonesome. If you are
soclable with your servants they always
VI course watched the clouds with in
terest; If it should prove fair at last, Jasper,
would come home, and If It.. raincd he
wouldn't.
Every now and then there would be a
prctensc of clearing Of, and began to hope
ior a pleasant sunset but II was always a
ialse pretonse, and at teatimc it poured as
flood.
Biddy asked me- as 1t was 80 near tho
HUDSON whether 1t wasn't likely to be
rlsln', anu whether in that case "wo
wouldn't be drowncdW And said. "Yesn
IL was too bad, know, butt was really
some amusement On such day to frighlen
the stupid girl.
had my tea alone, and I do hato to
have Tea alone If any woman in the world
hates it--and then put baby to sleep in
her cradle IN the sitting-room, and took my
knitting, and was as comfortable as could
be under the circumstances, when | be-
thought me Of the morning paper. called
Biddy to bring 1t to me, and she came to
me at ollce.
'lts well-thought Of missus." sho said,
as che laid II in my lap. 'lts yeraelt will
be interested wild the raidin.' There's
accounts Of the house brcakln' In It,"
"Of what 2" 1ejaoulated; and though