Year: 1877

Ii Is just fOrty-hve years since my
education was finished at Mrs. Middle
toms Seminary for Young Ladies, the
most genteel school In our part of
Hampshire. | was seventeen, and the
eldest of ten children. Ny fathers
farm was but small one, held on lease
from our rich neighbor Dickson, The
principal man in our parish after the
Squire. He had two farms leased from
him besides my fathers and large one
which he titled himself, kept retinue
Of men and maids, did the best plow-
ing, turned out the finest cattle, and
made deal of money by his dairy.


His wife had died before was born,
and hls house was kept in prime order
by the youngest of his aunts, Miss Mill
wood. He had neither son nor daughter
but Master Harry, whom everybody
thought sensible and very handsome
young man, and not half so purse
proud as his father. Being our land
lord and next neighbOr, Farmer Dick
son took great interest in us. He said
the family was too large for my father
and mother to manage without advice;
that providing for them was his chief
difficulty, and hearing that distant
relation of his, Mrs. Williams, landlady
of the Golden Sheaf, wanted well.
bTOught-up girl, not as servant, but
TO help in the housekeeping, they
thought it might be good situation for
me.


To tell the whole truth, there was
another reason for my going. Before
left school, Harry Dickson began to pay
me attentions. Not that | encouraged
him much, but he came after me, and it
did not please his father. The old man
thought his son should look higher than
poor farmers daughter, and my
parents having good deal of pride,
were just as angry when they came to
know 1t. My father said he hoped no
daughter Of his would tempt young
man to dsobey his father. My mother
said she hoped had more spirit than
to wish to marry into family who did
not think us good enough for them. OF
course my father and mother were
right. gave Harry back his ring, but
it was after good deal of crying. He
swore he would never marry another,
though his father should disinherit him; !;
and to let Farmer Dickson and the
whole country see that we were not set
on trapping his son, it was settled that
should 60 to Mrs. Williams.


My father went one day to consult
her, and, when all was agreeable, he
took me and my trunk respectfully in
the London coach which then passed
through JhatfOrd, our village, and
stopped at the Golden Sheaf. For
country Inn, the house was large and
handsome. 1t had every convenience
of yard and stabling, good garden,
fine orchard, and some hundred acres
of corn and meadow land. 1t was situ-
ated on the high road where Surry and
Hampshire meet. The ground was high;
and from the inns upper windows one
could see many mile along the road
and over the country. Stage coaches
and carriers wagons stopped there; so
did the country hunts and the travelling
gentry, corn and cattle dealers on their
way to London, farmers to and from the
market town; and all who came or went
spoke well of the good housekeeping,
the fair dealing, and the general clvility
of Mrs. Williams.


She was tall, thin woman, upright,
active, and still handsome, though bOr-
dering on sixty. Her black hair was
but thlnly sprinkled with gray. She
had good deal of the gentewoman In
her manner, always wore black tabi-
net gown, tambourd apron, and cap
of Nottingham lace, which was fine
flne enough in those times. But there
was something in her looks so ostern and
rigid that made one careful of ones
dolngs before her. Her story, which
we had heard in private from Farmer
Dickson, was both sad and singular.
She had been brought up in one Of the
most respectable inns in the county of
Cornwall, and married a rich farmer.
lie left her early widow, with an only
daughter. She managed the farm well,
however, and was aprosperous woman.
Her daughter grew up beautiful girl,
and the mothers heart was wrapped up
In her; but the son and heir of neigh
boring squire induced her to elope with
him, and marriage into his high family
was not to be thought Of. Mrs. Will
liams was woman of high spirit, strict
and proud. 1t is said the poor girl
never dared to let It be known where
she lived, for fear Of her mother; she
sold her house and farm, left that part
of the country, bought the Golden
Sheaf, and set herself up where nobody
knew of her family or history, and she
had been doing we'll for many year.


stern as she looked, Mrs. williams
WAS Kind to me, and did my best 10