Year: 1868

DR.. Holbrook was my visitor and oi
course his first question was


How is Mrs. Harvey this morning?'


In voice that was the concentrated
essence of of about one dozen tragc-
dies, my extraordinary servant re-
Piled


what man art thou p


is the woman crazys' cried the doc
tor.


Lay not that flattoring JUNCTION to
your soul = cried Mary.


'M'm-you-'s said the doctor, musihg-
ly. Then in his own CHEEKY, brisk
tones he added: you are the new SER
want, su2pose?'


Sir, L will serve my mistress till
chill death shall part us from each 9th
er.


Him. Well, now, in plain English,
go tell her am here


Il go, and it is done y was the reply,
and with the slow stride and halt |
heard her cross the entry. She was
soon at my door. Madam, the Doctor
waits y she said. standing with one arm
out in grand attitude.


Let him come up said, choking
with laughter. She went down again.
sir, frommy mistress have latel,,- to
bid you welcome, and implore YOU to
ascend. She waits within yon cham
ber for your coming


Is it to be wondered at that the Doc
tor found his patient in perfect convul-
sions of laughter, or that he joined her
in her merriment.


where did you find that treasurer 2
he asked,


Harry sent her from the Office.


'Stage-struck, evidently, though
where she picked up the fitth-cut actress
manner remains to be seen.'


The professional part of his visit over
the Doctor stayed for a chat. We were
warmly discussing the news of the day,
when whew the door flew open, and
in stalked Mary, and announced, with
a swing of her arm.


The butcher, madam !


saw the doctors eyes twinkle, but
he began to write in his memorandum
book with intense gravity.


well, Mary l SAID, 'ho is rot wait
ing?'





The dinner waits, she replied. Shall
prepare the viands as my own judg-
mcnt shall direct, or will your inclina-
ton dictate TO me?'


Cook them as you will, but have a
good dinner for Mr., Harvey at two o.
ciock.'


.Betweca the strokes twill wait his
Appetite And with another sweeping
courtesy, she left the room, the door S
usual, after her exit, standing wide
open.


She was as good as her word. With
out any ORDERS from me, sae took 1t for
granted that Harry would dine up
stairs, snd set the table out in my room.
| was beginning to let my keen sense
OF ludicrous triumph over pain and
WEAKNESS, and | watched her, strang-
ling the laugh, until she was down
stairs. To see her stab the potatoes and
behead the celery was perfect treat,
and the air Ofa martyr preparing poi
son, with which she poured out the wa
ter, was perfect. Harry was evidently
prepared for fun, for he watched her ;
keenly as did.


Not one mouthful would she bring to
me until she had made it as dainty as
could be; mashing my potatoes with
the movement of a saint crushing vi
pers, and buttering my bread in man
ner that fairly transformed the knife
into dagger. Yet the moment she
brought it to me, all the atfcctation
dropped. and no mother could have been
more naturally tender. Evidently,
with all her nonsense, she was kind
hearted.


1t took but one day to find that we
had secured q perfect treasure. Her
cooking was exquisite enough for the
palate of an epicure; she was neat to a
nicely, and I soon found her pqnctual
and trustworthy. Her attention to my
self was touching in its watchtul kind
ness. Sometimes when the pain was
very severe, and could only lie suffer
ing and helpless, her large hands would
smooth my hair softly, and her voice
became almost musical in its low mur-
muring of poor child = | think her
large, strong frame, anG consciousness
OF physical superiority to me in my
tiny form and helpless state, reused all
the motherly tenderness in her nature,
and she lavished it upon me freely.


often questioned her about her for
mcr places; discovered to my utter :
mazemcnt that she was never in thea,
tire, never saw or read a play, and was
entirely innocent OF novel reading.


had become used to her manner, and
no longer feared she was insane, when
one evening my gravity gave way ut
terly, and tor the first time | laughed in
her face. She had been arranging my
bed and self for the night and was JUS
leaving the room, holding in one hanC
an empty pitcher and in the other my
wrapper. Suddenly drunken man il
1


the street called out, with yell thai
really was startling, though by ne
means mysterious.


Like flash, Mary struck an attitude
One foot advanced, her body thrown
slightly forward, the pitcher held ou
| and the wrnnnar wavad alnft che cript