VOLUME 57.
NEW SERIES.
fWTHE BEDFORD GAZETTE
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" SELECT TALE.
"" the wonderful housemaid.
BT MRS. CAROLINE A. SOULE.
"I'll betjlknow somebody that's a great deal
handsomer than she," exclaimed little Nell
Summers in a lively tone, as she tossed her bud
ding blocks into a basket, pell-mell, and climbed
into the lap of her Uncle Herbert. "Miss
KateOdell can't begin to be so beautilul as our
Ellen." i
"And who is "our Ellen ?" asked Mr. Lin
coln, as he toyed with the child's sunny curls ;
"and how came little Miss Nell to know what
her mother and I were talking about ? We
thought vou were too busy with your fairy cas
tles to listen to us."
"And if I were busy couldn't I hear? It
takes eves and hands to build castles, not ears—
don't you kr.ow that, Uncle ?"
"It l didn't Ido now and he rougishly
pinched the small snowy ones that lay hidden
behind the long ringlets. "But tell me little
niece, where and who is that beautiful creature
that rivals the belle of the season in charms, ac
cording to you
"Why, its' Ellen, our Ellen, and she's up
stairs, I suppose."
"But who's Ellen, and what does she do
here ?"
"Why, Ellen's the maid, and she sweeps and j
dusts and lavs the table and waits on it too, and
does everything that maids always do, and a
great deal besides, ior mamma never has
to think any more, and George and I don't have
to cry over our lessons.
"A wonderful maid, indeed,' said uncle Her- •'
berf, in an incredulous tone ; I fancy Miss O- i
dell wouldn't be scared if she knew who her j
beautiful rival was. But how came she to be
here ?"
"Why, mamma hired her, as she does all her j
n aids, and unless she gets mariied, we shall al
ways have ner, for I know she'll never doany- I
thing bad.'' . •' j
"A pat^onytruly—'this Elleh ; pray ex
plain, manuna , ' and Mr. Lincoln turned to J
ins sister.
"I cannot," said she. "I can only corrobo- 1
rate what Nell has told you. Ellen is a maid
who has lived with me a lorinight only, and j
vet in that time has won my heart completely i
In person —but as you stop to tea, you will see
tier, and you can judge for youjselt if she does
not rival "and fairly too, with the brilliant belle
of the winter. In manners, she is api rfect la
dy j she has too, exquisite taste and a tact in
the management ol househeld affairs that I nev
er saw equaled—"
"Tell him how sweetly she sings, ' interrup
ted the little daughter. "She sings me to sleep
everv night, and I always feel, when I shut my
eyes", as if I was going up to heav- ,
en."
"Bravo, Nell! A very angel of a house
maid she must be. I long tj see her ; and
he laughed in that peculiar tone which seem
ed to say, "you're telling me a humbug sto
rv."
" "You'll laugh on the other side of your mouth
said Nell, earnestly, "won t he mamma, when
he comes to see her ?"
"] shouldn't wonder," answered her moth
er, gaily ; -indeed it lie bad not as good as
owned that lie had lost his heart to Mi-s
Odeli, I should not like to g.ve so young and (
enthusiastic a man, a glimpse at tny pretty
maid. But listen, I think I hear her gentle
tread." :
The door of the sitting -oom was opened,
and there glided into the room, with a step as
light as a fairy's, a young, slender, but exqiu-j
sitety Vracelul female. The single glance
which Herbert directed towards her, as she en
tered, filled his soul with a wondrous vision,
for beauty sat enthroned on every feature of trie
blushing face. The fair, oval forehead, the sot.
dark eve, with its long, drooping lashes, the
delicately chiselled nose, the rose-tinted cheeks
the full, scarlet lips, each items of loveliness,
were blended in so perfect and complete a union
that one felt, as he gazed upon the countenance
as does the florist when he plucks a halt-blown
mo*3 rose— Heaven might have made it mote
beautious still, but this suffices.
There was a little embarrassment visible in
ber altitude, as she found herself unexpectedly ,
in the presence of company, but only for an in-1
tant did she yield to it. Recovering herself)
hastily, she said to Mrs. Summers :
"DiJ you decide, ma'am, to have tea an hour
earlier than usual 1"
It was a simple question but the accents thril
led the young man'* heart, and he thought to
himself, if there is so much music in her voice
when she speaks only as a servant to her mis
tress, how heavenly it might be m a lovers ear;
and from that time he did not wonder at lit
tle Nell's remarks about her songs of lulla
by.
"We did. Ellen, and you may lay the cloth
at once. Brother will stop with us."
Intuitively delicate, Herbert seemed all he
while busy with his little niece, and did not
once look towards the beautiful domestic during
the moments that elapsed ere the tea was ready,
yet he stole many a furitive glance at her
through the golden curls of his little playmate,
Qritfovfr dll? ?ctt r.
I and when she glided from the room, he felt as
! though the surishiue was driven from his
path.
"Isn't she more beautiful than MissOdell,
j say, uncle ?" whispered Nell, as the door closed
on her. "Didn't I tell the truth when I said
I knew somebody that was handsomer than
she ""
"Indeed you did," said Mr. Lindoln, earnest
ly. She is nearly perfect."
"I wish you could see her with her hair curl
ed once. Once or twice when we were up
staus alone, she has let me take out her como,
and itich long silky ringlets as I made by just
twisting it over my fingers—oh, I don't believe
you ev<r saw any so beautiful in all your lite!
i teased her to wear it so all the time, but she
shook her head and combed them up into braids
again, and said curls and housemaids didn't look
well together ; and when f asked why not, she
said I'd know when I grew older, and t hen two
or (lire- great tears stood in her eves, and I do
believe uncle, she cries same nights all the time
for her eyes look sored some mornings. Ain't
it too bad that such a handsome girl should have
to be a maid ?"
"Yes, pon my soul it is," said the young man
warmly. "Do tell me, sister, her story. —
There must be some romance in it. She lias not
been a menial all her life,"
"What I know I can tell in a few words,
Herbert. When Bessie, my last maid, gave
notice of leaving, she said she could recommend
a substitute, and I, not being very well, thought i
I would sooner trust her than run the risk of 1
going day after day to the intelligence office.
She said a young girl, who, with a widowed I
mother lived on the same floor with some of her
friends, had applied to her lor aid in obtaining
a situation as maid, and she thought, that what j
she had seen and knew of her, she would suit |
me exactly. I was somewhat startled when I j
saw her, for though Bessie had told me how
beautiful and ladylike she was, 1 was not pre
pared for the vision that met me, and, to tell the
truth, in a most unbusiness and unhousekeeper
ly way, I engaged her at once, without enqui
ring as to her abilities and her recommendation
She won my heart at sight and has won my ;
head since, for she is not only thorough in the
perfoi mance of her duties, but executes them
with a taste and judgment I had never 3een ex- |
celled by any matron. II the day is cloudy, ;
when you enter the parlor you will find that
she has so disposed the window hangings, that
the most will be made of tbe sunlight ; and if
it is sunny, she will so arrange them that a gen
tle twilight seems to shadow you. She Ns, in
deed a perfect arlist in the arrangement ol ev
erything, studying and combining effect and
comfort. I feel with you that her lot has not
always been so lowly, but there is a certain re
spect that she inspires in one, that forbids close
questioning. I ratline to the opinion that she
and her mother have been sorety pinched for
means, and that finding needlework an inadM
quate compensation, she has chosen to work out
as by that means, while she earns more a week,
she saves her board from out their scanty in
come, and has time to rest. But here is papa
and herself with the tea."
As soon as Ihev were fully seated, and the j
cups had been passed, iMrs. Summers turned j
gently to the maid, as she waited beside her [
chair' and said, in a low 'tone, "we shall need j
nothing more at present." Quietly, T but with i
visible pleasure, she withdrew ; and as the door
closed on her, Herbert exciaimep :
"Thank you, sister, for sending her away.—
I could not have borne to see so ladylike a crea
ture wait upon me. It seemed clownish in rue
to sit for a moment while she was standing.—
In good sooth, if I had so fair a maid, I should
be democratic enough to ask her to eat with
me."
"And thu3 wound her self-respect. No.
brother, she has chosen tier menial lot for some
good reason, and I can see, would prefer to be
so regarded. All I can do, till 1 can further
win her confidence, is to make her duties as lit
tle galling as possible. But com-*, sip some of
her delicious tea. It will give you inspiration
to compliment Miss Odell to-night."
"Mhs Odtlfjgo to—France !" said the young
man hastily. "A painted doll—good for balls
and parties, but no fitter for life in its realities
than Nell's waxen baby !"
"He's beginning to laugh on the other side of
his mouth, isn't he, mamma ?" exclaimed the
little girl. "I knew he'd love Elien best."
Herbert blushed, and Mrs. Summers adroitly
changed the conversation. The housemaid was
not alluded to again till an hour after tea had
passed, when George, the eldest of the family,
a bright, but somewhat capracious boy ol twelve
rushed into (lie sitting room exclaiming ea
gerly :
"Mayn't Ellen s'ay in to-night, mamma, and
go out to-morrow evening ?"
"Certainly, if she chooses, my son."
•'But she don't choose, and that's the trouble.
I want her to stay, and she says she can't be
cause her mother will be so anxious about
her."
"But why do you wish her to stay George ?
You certainly have no command of her tune.—
Prav, what do you want she should Jdo?"
"VVhy, I want her to show me how to do
those hotrible hard sums in the back part of the
arithmetic, and 1 want her to tell me how to
conjugate that awful irregular French verb,
alUr —l wish it would aller into France where
it belongs—and I want her to hear my Latin,
and—"
"Turn into a school-ma'am, 'alter toiling as
maid all day. No, George, no—l have been
very grateful to Ellen for the assitance she
has shown you in your studies, but I cannot
allow her leisure hours to be so sorely invaded,'
interrupted his mother, while her brother held
up both hands in much amazement ; lor, to tell
the truth, since he had seen the maid, he wi3
prepared to believe everything wonderful of
her, and would not have been surprised to hear
that she knew as many tongues as Burritt him
self.
••Verily," said he gaily, "this passes all—a
BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 29,1861.
housemaid, and hear your Latin lessons ?
What else does sfe know ?"
"Everything," said George, earnestly. .' She
can talk French bettei than monsieur, and hi
>elle Italian tongue—oh, how sweet it is to
hear her read and sing it ! I tell you, Uncle
Herbert, she knows the most ol any woman I
ever saw, and it you was a knight of oJden
times, you'd do battle for her beauty, and
rescue her from the slavety of that old despot,
poverty !" nud the boy's eyes flashed, and he
drew himself proudly up, as though he would
have giown a man t.al moment and shown
his prowess.
' Bravo, George !" exclaimed his uncle.—
'She needs no more valiant knight than her
youthful page promises to be. Should your
right arm ever be wounded in the defence of
your queen of beauty, advise me of it, and J'l!
rush to the rescue." The words were lightly
spoken, but there wa3 a meaning deeper and
more divine involved in them than the speaker
would have then cared to own, even to him
self.
The boy went to his lonely lessons, the front
door closed on Ellen, little Nell was snug in
the snowy couch whither the tnaid had birne
her with kisses and mu.ic tones, and then jMr.
and Mis. Summers and the brother went forth j
to the brilliant ballroom. But with all its light, j
splendor and gaiety, it had no fascina'ions fori
Uncle Herbert. His thoughts were with that j
beautiful girl, who had coine so like an angel I
to the household of hi 3 sister, and when at an ;
early hour he withdrew,and gaining his couch, j
threw himself upon it, it was only to dreain of
tournaments and visored knights and queens of.'
beauty, and the iovlitst of them all, and the one
that crowned his brow with the unfading
laurel, wore the same peerless face as did Eilea
the housemaid.
*******
Mrs. Summers had tightly conjectured the,'
reason one so gilled had become a menial
though not foe many weeks did she learn j
the whole story. It was briefly this : The'
father of Ellen, Mr. Seymour, Gad been a
prosperous m-rchant in a neighboring city.—
Wedded to a lovely woman, wealth flowing in
upon him with a heavy current, a beautiful
child to sport on his hearthstone, life for some i
years glided by like an air*' dream. All the
riches of his own and you'.er- f > fl * J ' s heart were
lavished upon Ellen, aua'trs- up loviior
in person than even her infancy had promised, ,
so she grew beautiful in mind.aatf soul the idol J
of the family altar.
She was in he eighteenth year when the '
first blow struck them the long and fearful '
illness of the husband and lather. A mere |
wreck of himself, pysically and tee
was at length pronounced convalescent, though '
perfect health, the physician said, could
barter§J for a sunnier clirne. .j
They salted at once for Italy. It yetfV
been passed in that beautiful land, a delicious ;
and exbihrating one to them all, tor the 6lep j
of the invalid T.ad grown steadier each mo-i
ment, his eye wore its wonted biightness, his '
cheeks their glow, and the pride of mind sat i
again enthroned upon the noble when, j
like a thunderbolt from a cloudless heaven,'
there lell the second blow. The mercantile !
house, :n which he was head partner, had fail- j
ed—av, and failed in such away that, though !
innocent as a babe, his name was covered with
infamy, it was too much for the spirit not yet
strong. Poverty it could have borne, but dis
grace shivered it entirely. He lay for some
months in hopeless lunacy, never raving, out
only sighing and moaning, growing each day
paler and weaker. But tie passed not so away.
When the last hour of life drew mar, his
darkened soul was light again, and he (tenderly
counselled the two dear ones who Tiad hung
over hini so faithfully, and bade them to be of
good cheer, for though wealth was gone, the
unspotted honor of the husband ami father
should be yet shown lo the world. Then com
mending them to the AH Father, with a hand
clasped by each, their sweet voices blended ;n
holy hvmns, he passed away. A grave was
hollowed out for him on classing t grouod, and
the snowy marble wreathed with affection's
chapl-ts a few tunes, and then sadly the mour
ners turned away, a proud ship bearing them
to their native land.
Where were the crowds that had flocked
about them as they left its shores ? Alas ! the
widow ami hpr child found none of them.—
A me, and unaided, they were left to stern the
torrent ol adversity. Theirs was a trite story.
One and another thing they tried to do, but
the obloquy that rested on the dead man's
grave followed his living darlings, till poverty,
in most cruel sense, pressed heavily upon
them.
"Let us go where we are unknown," said
Ellen, passionately, yet mournfully, one even
ing, as, after a futile search for employment,
she returned to their humble lodgings, and
buried her weeping face in her mother's bosom
"They'll kill me with their cold, proud looks,
I'd rather b e g my bread ot than ask
honest emplovment of these scornlul ones, who
trairple so fiendishly upon our sacred g-iefs."
And they gathered up the remnants ol theii
treasures f and silently, secretly, lest the shame
should fly before thein, went to a lonely home
in the city, where we find them. There they
readily procured needlework, end all they
could do for their fingers beautiful every gar
ment that passed through their hands. But
the song of the shirt was soon the only one
they could sing. Night brought no rest to the
weary dav, ami though twenty, instead of the
"twelve hours" of the Bible were spent in toil,
the w®re famished and frozen.
"Mother," said Ellen, one evening, as the
hour of midnight found them still at work,
"this is too much for woman. I shall sew no
longer."
"But what willjyou do Marling 1" and Mrs.
Sevinore wept over her pale, thin face ; 'shall
we starve ?"
"Mother," there was resolution in the lone
now, "mother, I shall bira out as housemaid ; l
Freedom cf Thought and Opinion,
i don't attempt to dissuade me, my mind is de
termined. it is as honorable as this—l shall
earn as much, if not more than now ;. I shall
save my board ; I shall have my nights for rest."
i She pleaded filial last she won a teareful con
sent, ami entered the service of Mrs. Summers.
**#•
His sister's house had always been a second
home to Heibert Lincoln, but now it seemed
dearer Iban ever. Their testable, in particular,
seemed tc ave a fascination for l.im, and at the
end ola fortnight, he had sipped so many cups
of Ellen's fragrant tea, that Airs. Summers de
claied she should certainly present hirn a bill
of bosrd. And though in all that time he baa
not exchanged a dozen of sentences with the
b auqfp' maid, it was but too evident she was
the magnet which attracted him.
Bu; fryers now took him out of" town, and
fhree weeks elapsed ere he returned. As he
was hastening from the depot, turning a cor
ner, be espied, coming as it were to
the fair girl of whom he had dreamed every
j night of his absence, and beside her, little gol
! den-haired Nell.
i "Uncle Herbert," cried the child, and em
br.\. - : hirn passionately. "Oh, I'm so glad
; you've come home. We missed you so much."
j Then treeing hiinsell from her arms, she said,
! gracefully, "and here is dear Ellen, too, ain't
j you glad 'o see her ?"
Eil'-n blushed, but the young man so courte
ously extended his hand to her that she could
not refuse it.
"I am so happy to see you Miss Seymour
en, y ing this beautiful day," said he in low
' senile tones as respectfully as it addressing a
queen.
"And 1 am happy to see Mr. Lincoln look
ing so well," responded the lady, with a quiet
dignity, and she passed along.
"But where are you going little niece ?"
s rd Herbeit to Nell, detaining her a moment.
"Oh, to ser Grandmarna Seymour, she is a :
s'.cet lady, too. Ellen took me there once,
aid it made me so happy ttiat motht r lets me
g • now whenever she does," and she tripped
away.
Herbert walked rapidly to the first corner,
then turned and deliberately retiaced his steps
and followed the two, till lie learned the street
and number of Ellen's home.
That night as he carefully examined his
bureaus, it occurred to hirn that his t supply ol
liaeo was quite too deficient, and forthwith
tic- purchased a goodly sized parcel of the raw
materifl, and at an early hour the next day
•vas knocking at the door cf the dilapidated
bouse which he had seen Ellen enter. Through
vaultlike hails, and up rickety stair-cases he
•-ended his war, till he found Mrs. Seymour's
room. Tile and saintly face of the widowed
i: jther fascinated him as completely as had
■'f dvigjjtpr's, and with a reverential |tone he
oppeSeu ns terrA-.' *r'While tijJkex peeled the
the linen, and made as io me
particular way he would have it made up, his
eye glanced eagerly over the room. Tne ex
quisite taste of the housemaid wa* uisible every
where. Geraniums and loses smiled in the
winter sun-beams that crept so loving! v into
the narrow casement ; the white muslin that
draped them hung in folds graceful as snow, j
wreatli3 ; pencilmgs as rich as mezzotints j
hung upon the wall ; the rockers were cushion- j
ed with rose colored muslin ; bits of cloth gor- '
geous in hue} as autumn leaves, woven into
mats, relieved the bare floor of its scanty look ;
a guitar leaned under '.he tiny rn-rror, and a
few costly books were scattered in an artist
like way hither and thither, wherever the
rambling eye would wish to see pinned some
beautiful tiling.
"This is Tuesday," said Herbert ; can I have
one Ly Friday ?"
"Oh, yes, sir, and sooner, if you desire j
it."
"Not sooner, unless you steal hours from the j
night, and your weary looks seem even now j
to say that you have done so."
"It is the lot ol the seamstress," said the la- j
Jy calmly but sadly.
The young man could not trust ins voice to
reply, and hastened away. In his office he
gave way to his feelings : "She, the beloved
and the beautiful, toiling in menial service, and
that angel-like mother sewing for her living.
It shall be so no longer. Thank God for riches,"
and lie seized bis pen and inscribed these woids j
on a slip of paper, "ail honest debt due your )
husband," he enclosed bank notes for five hun
dred dollais, and addressing the envelope to
Mrs. Seymour, of street, dropped it in
to fhe post office.
Gould he have seen the grateful tears that
stole down the widow's cheeks, and heard her
soul-touching prayers, as she received it that
evening, he would have realized the full force
of the text, "It is more blessed to give than to
receive."
"Oh, that it were Ellen's evening at home,"
said she ; "thank Heaven, I may have her all
to myself, again. With this sum in hand, we
can be comfortable, without tasking ourselves
as severely as heretofore. My beautiful child
shall be no longer a menial."
Impatiently she awaited Friday evening, for
thpn Ellen would surely be with her again.—
But that eve came and went, and she was
left alone. A sudden and severe illness had
attacked Mrs. Summers, and when Herbert en
tered her house on the evening of the same day
he had sent the generous gift, he found it full of
sorrow. The physicians only shook their heads
sadly, when a>ked if there was any hope, and
when the loving ones gazed on the white face
of the sick one and marked the intensity of her
agony, they turned away with tainting hearts.
Now, the full beauty of the housemaid's char
acter was developed. Instinctively, they gave
up all to her. Shedirected the attendants, she
soothed little Nell, curbed the wild grief of
Geo: ge and spoke so sweetly to the mourning
husband and brother, that the spirit of faith
seemed in their midst. To the sick woman she
was tn very truth a ministering angel.
No hand so softly wiped her brow, so ten
derly bathed the aching limbs, so gently robbed
the cramped fingers, so deftly smoothed the
pillows, so strangely sweetened the healing
draught, brought such cool drinks to the hot
lips, and such delicious food to the starved pal
at. Her presence seemed to beautify the sick
room. Under her leving ministrations it assu
med a beauty that was almost divine. None
knew whether it might be the gate to Paradise
or to a brighter life on earth, but all felt that
whether the path of the pale one was heaven*
ward or here, it was flower-crowned.
Day after day, and night after r.ight, found
tbe fair nurse beside her patient Paleness ga
thered on her cheeks and hps, but the same
sweet smile played there ; lassitude quivered on i
her lids, bul the same hopeful look beamed from
the eye ; the limbs trembled with weariness, |
yet obeyed the faintest whisper from the couch.
The physician looked in wonder that one so
delicate held out so long under such heavy
tasks, and whispered one to another, "under
God" she is the healer."
And when the crisis came, when Mrs. Sum
mers lay thvre so deathly that only by press
inga mirror to ber lips the fluttering life could !
be seen at all, when husband, brother, children
and friends had stolen softly away, unable lon- j
ger to restrain their cries, that young girl tar- j
ried still, motionless, almost breathless, silent |
her prayers going upward.
Oh, how dear she was to them ail when a
gasn she appeared in their midst, and said in
her own low, sweet music-tones. "You may
hope."
"Bless you, bless you faithful one !" exclaim- :
ed Mr. Summers, as he wound his arms around
her. "Henceforth, you are one of the treasures '
of our household, the sister of my adoption.—
Come hither, Nellie anil George, and thank her.
Under Heaven, you owe to her your mothei's
life." Little wet faces were piessed to hers,
and passionate kisses brought fresh roses into !
her cheeks. Then a manly hand, oh, how its
pressure thrilled her nerves, and i
a full, rich voice murmered, "our aqfhsl sent bv
God."
On a bright and glorious ip the
month of loses, a splendid equipagi tlrove I
from the city mansion of Mr. Sumdfers. H i
held a family party, the wife and mother still j
pale, her convalescence sadly retarded by the '
fearful illness that had smitten her two idols ;
George and Nellie, puny, though out of all
danger ; the lovely Ellen, no longer maid, but j
cherished angel of hope and love, thin and j
white, too, with her winter and spring's nur- j
sing ; Mr. Summers, his fine face all aglow with )
chastened joy and Herbert Lincoln, looking as j
though a lifetime of happiness was crowded into I
a moment.
It was the first long drive the physicians hacj,j
permitted the invalids, and they knew not.-
where they were going, at least none but
• Ellen had declined going at first. "1 oa*e
seen mv mother so little of late," said she gent
!y, "I 'hink I must spend the holiday with j
her."
But they said no, and promised, if she would j
go with them, then, they would leave her with j
her mother on their return, and she should stay !
without limit of time. How lovely she looked, |
as consenting at length, she came to the car
riage in her summer array. Herbert thought j
he had never gazed on so exquisite a maiden in j
all his life, and longed with a frenzy he had
never felt before, to fold her to bis heart; the t
shrine which bad been sacred to her Irom the
first moment of meeting.
"What a lovely home !" exclaimed Ellen, as |
leaving the main road, they branched off into
a splendid avenue, lined with graceful elms, j
and came in sight ola small bul elegant man- •
sion, draped with rose-vines, and embowered i
in rare shrubbery. "1 trust it holds happy i
hearts."
"Yes said Lincoln, warmly, "that it does, j
and we will to-day share their joy, tor it is I
here we are to stop." Joyful exclamations j
bur3f Irom them all. It seemed like a beam
ing of light in fairy land, that beautiful place,
to those senses so long pent up in the cham
bers of sickness.
They were ushered into a parlor that seemed
the abode of ihe Graces, so charmingly were
beauty and utility blendrd. A moment the) - ;
waited ere the rustling of satin announced the |
approach of the lady, to whom they were ma
king so unceremonious a call.
She entered and in a second Nellie Summers '
was clasping her round the neck. "Grand- !
mamma Seymour, the fairies did come to you, j
as you told me last week perhaps thpy would !
sometime. Oh, I ain eo glad."
Mr. and Mrs. Summers stepped forward and
grasped her hand ; but Herbert and George,
where were they ? A scream from Nellie an- j
nounced them. Pale and passionless Ellen lay '
in their arms. She had not seen her mother, i
but her eyes had caught sight of a small Greek i
harp in a pillared niche, her own father's gift '
and sold by hei when they left that proud city
of scorn. Memories so many and sad had un
strung her nerves. Joy seldom kills, though.
When awakening from her swoon, she met the
tearful eyes of her mother, she felt assured
there was some blest mystery to be told. It
was all soon explained. Herbert and Mrs.
Seymour had become fast friends in the past
winter —he had cheered the lonely hours of
Ellen's absence —he had learned her story and
assured himself that foul wrong bad been done
her husband. Employing the best c-jtinsel in
, her native city, he bent all his own energies and
talents to the cause, and sifted the matter to its
very root, and triumphed, foo. The fair name
came back fairer than ever, and the wealth with
it, too ; the wretches who had blackened the
one and stolen the other, cowardly fleeing, in
stead of making manly confession.
"[ have to thank Mr. Lincoln for it all,"
exclaimed Mrs. Seymour, at the close of ber
recital, "and I have to pay him yet," and she
glanced archly at bim. "Bills should be set-
whom: i\c?inEß, 2043.
1 tied, mongst afriends."
Herbert hesitated a moment. Then he knelt
beside her. have no mother," he said sadly.
"C? as one to me, and i am repaid a thou
sand times.
She threw back the raven locks that cluster
ed on his noble brow, and imprinted there a
calm sweet kiss. "My *>„, said she solemnly,
I adopted you into my love ; £j]en, receive
a brother." Hut Ellen was gone. They
caught, however, a glimpse 0 I white muslin in
the green shrubbery, and she was followed, not
by both, though ; Mrs. Seymour had, indeed,
! ri,en, but a sudden thrilling pulsejin her warm
heart checked her, and she resumed her
1 seat.
Herbert hastened out and found her und-r
the shadow of an old elm, on a bed of moss, with
her lap full 0 * rosebuds. Seating himself be
side her. he whispered to her willing rtr j on2
and passionately, his adoiation, and with a ra
diant look of joy, led her back to the hous- and
to her mother's knee.
"As a biolher, Ellen will not own me," said
-e, "but when I asked her if some day, not
very far away, she would call me by a dearer
name she was more willing. Our hearts have
long been one—bless, mother dear, oh, blrss the
union of our lives !"
MI SCEL LAN E 0 US. "~~
ROMANTIC ELOPEMENT ON AN
OX-SLED.
The Detroit Press relates the following, for
the truth of which it vouches, but we don't':
An ox team attached to a lumber sled and
beating astride its cross beams a coarse grained
young man and a buxom girl of eighteen, drag
ged its slow length along Lamed street yester
day and halted in front of Justice Hard's office.
The couple dismount J and entered the office
where they made known their wishes, and re
quested to be married immediately. The ex
pectant bridegroom said he had come to town
with a load of produce for his employer, who
owned the team, and as Susan wanted to buy
a kaliker dress, he bad brought her along on the
top of the bags. On the way they had talked
tbe matter over, and in view of the lact that
they sorter liked each other, and had done con
siderable courtin' on the sly, concluded to get
married. They declared themselves of age,
and took the bonds for better or for worser.
The bridegroom was very much elated, and
kissed the biide an unreasonable number of
times. Then he requested the Court to kiss
her, and even went so far as to intimate that
all respectable persons among the spectators
might enjoy the same privilege.
was especially elate on the newspaper
question. "Put'enn," he said, in a reckless
manner. "Put'er io the paper, and make Su
san's name all capitals. I'll pay for big letters.
What's the use ic being married to a pretty gal
UUI<XM v. an get ti jn th papers V
In the midst of this jubilation the thought of
the old man struck him, and be sobered down
as though a shower-bath had fsflenon nis head.
"Come, Susan," he said, taking her hand,
"let's go home and see it out. L<?rd ! won't be
be mad V' And he drew a sigh and switched
up the cattle whose slow gait seemed too last
for his palpitating hopes and fears.
ILP'To hear Gough tell the "drugger" story
is worth a quarter any time. The story is a
capi'al onp, takes the man to tell it. This
he does in some such words as these :
A long, lean, gaunt Yankee enlpred a drug
store and asked :
"Be you liie drugger ?"
"Well I 'spose so ; I sell drugs."
' Wall, hev you got enny of this here scen
tin' stuff as the gals put on their hanker
chers ?"
"Oh, yes.'*
"Waal, our Sal's goin to be married, and she
gin me ninepence. and told me to invest the
hull'mount in scentin'stuff, so's to make her
sweet, if 1 could fine some to suit; so, it you've
a mind, I'll just smell round."
The Yankee smelled round without being
suited until the "drugger" got tired of him ;
and taking down a bottle of hartshorn said :
"I've got a scentin' stuff that will suit you.
A single drop will stay for weeks, and you can't
wash it out ; br't to get the strength of it you
must take a goof big smell."
"Is that so mister I Waal, just bold on a
minute till I get rny breath ; and when I say
neow, put it under my smeller."
The hartshorn, ol course knocked the Yankee
down, as liquor has done many a man. Do you
suppose he got up and smelt again, as thp drun
kard does. Not he ; but rolling up his sleeves
and doubling up his fists, {he said :
"You made me smell tarnal everlastin'
arc now I'll make you smell fire and brim
| stone."
[Gr"The following good joke occurred not
; long since in one of the churches in the western
( part of Onondago county :
"An aged clergyman, speaking of the solem
i nity attached to the ministerial office, said that
j during the whole term of "forty or fifty years
i that he had officiated therein his gravity had
never been but once disturbed in the pulpit.—
|On that occasion he noticed a man directly in
front ol him, leaning over the railing of the gal
lery with something in his hand, which he soon
discovered to be a huge chew of tobacco just
taken from his mouth. Directly below sat a
man fast asleep with hi 3 head back and bis
mouth wide open. The man in the gallery
was intensely engaged in raising and lowering
his hand, taking an exact observation, till at last
having got it right, he left tbe quid drop, and
it went plump into the Imotsth of the sleeper
below ! The whole scene was so indescribably
ludicrous, that for the first and last time iu the
pulpit, an involuntary smile forced itself upon
[ the countenance of the preacher.
VOL. 4. NO. 33.