The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-02-11
MRS. FIELDING.


He went up the steps of his friend 5 house
and rang the bell" hen was BENJAMIN
Cumberland before it was answered he
looked through the French windows-no
ons could help it who stood upon the porch
and saw within lady and four children.
The lady sat in the big armchair reading
story book. One little one perched upon
her knee. girl sat sewing beside the table
making dolls dress, but listening to the
reading all the same. One of the boys was
making Fly trap" of paper-the other
cutting paper boats.
What happy man Dick is," he said to
himself, with such family about him.
He has stayed at home and become solid
man, while have been roaming over the
world. What pretty woman she is, too"
Well, sir ?" said voice at his elbow.
The door had opened as he stood staring,
and rather abashed, he added to hasty
Oh! beg pardon" the inquiry, Is Mr.
Fielding at homer"
The girl shook her head.
No, he amt" she said. I'VE expect
aim home to-morrer. But II you'd like to
see Mrs Fielding"
Take her my card" said Cutlbert, of
fering one.
She's just in there" said the girl.
know" said Cuthbert
." And there amt no light in the parlor,"
said the girl. ssar $40.
g'soh, I'll stay here, " said Cuthbert
The girl vanished.
The next moment the lady appeared at the
door with the book in her hand.
:. Mr.. Cuthbert," she said, "dear me,
have you been left out here? l suppose
Ann believed herself to be doing right. She
does the strangest things under that impress
sion. Walk in. Mr.. Fielding will be SO
sorry he was away but he will be back some
time tomorrow. and your room is ready for
you. Dick talks SO much of you that you
seem quite an old friend"
T" 1t is very kind of you to say So" said
Cuthbert; and he entered, and in the space
of ten minutes felt es if he had known that
little woman for many years. She made him
regret as no woman ever had before, that he
had never fallen in love and married.
A good supper was served shortly, and
when the children began to fall asleep about
the room, Mrs Fielding gathered them to-
gether, and with laugh, bade him good
night.
g It is awfully stupid for you that Mr..
Fielding is not home" she said You,
room is the one just at the head OF the stairs.
II you need anything, ring. Black Sam
won't go to bed for hours. He sits in the
kitchen and plays the fiddle nearly all night
Pleasant dreams"
He arose and bowed, and said something
polite, and went up to his room very short
iy. 1t was comfortable and pretty, but he
did not sleep very we'll he tossed about
and found himself dreaming all sorts of
strange things; he heard one Of the young
Fieldings cry great deal, and wondered il
II was sick
In the morning, going down stairs, he
met stout old lady, in an apron, carrying
bowl and plate on a tray.
She gave him good morning.
" Is the child sick 2" he asked.
She answered
Law, no, sir ~
g / heard it cry SO much" he added. in
apology.
=" They always do, bless 'em I" said she.
always !"
I'd put stop to it, think, " said Cuth-
bert to himself, " if was Dick. strap
ping little boy like that 2,
And he did not envy his friends matri-
monial joys so deeply. But after, when
they were all at table again, these doubts
vanished. He had been very long straA-
ger 10 any home, and for years together had
sojourned where women scarcely came. He
had made money; but what had he not
missed
He told his adventures in the mines and
at far-off ranches to the children, who
thought 1t rs interesting as fairy tale. In.
deed 1t was. And Mrs, Fielding listened,
and when the child upon her knee cried,
Z" Oh isn't it splendid 2" she nodded at
him and smiled at the narrator. Farther ON
in the day letter came. 1t was from Field
ing sI
g He writes," said Mrs. Fielding, " that
he may be detained by business, but you
must stay until he comes. Wen go and see
the falls to-day, and there's an old glen and
cavern close by, and an old house that
Washington staid over night in, with the
original old furniture and family miniatures
by Malone. and all the rest of it. 1t is all
worth driving to see."
He agreed to everything, of course, and
he enjoyed himself very much-so much
that 1t surprised him. little woman who
did not talk great DEAL and four chill.
dren! He should have thought 1t would
be very dull. On the contrary, he was ut
terly happy.
That night that dreadful youngest boy
shrieked more shriily than ever, and some
body cried:
There there a tootsy %
I'd cut a small switch, | think, IL it's
not case fol cholera medicine Mr.. Cutl-
bert remarked TO himself.
And he looked at the healthy, smiling
child in establishment next day, and felt in
ciined to nsk questions. He was deferred
by the fear Of seeming fussy
The old woman in the apron often crossed
Ia n. IL.