But why should anything so clearly beneficial as gossip be carried on clandestinely? Why is a bit of gossip told in a voice that has something sly and delightfully wicked about it? Is it that one enjoys copyrighted information, which one is not to tell,-or at most not with the name of the informant attached? Or is it that one likes to fancy oneself doing something forbidden?

At any rate Miss Moore, having possession of a bit of information which she knew would delight Mrs. Highbury, the wife of the principal ruling elder of Whittaker's church, was perplexed to find a pretext for calling on Mrs. Highbury that she might not seem to have come on purpose to tell tales. Experienced gossip that she was, she could not get over the notion that her traffic in information was illicit. She might have called on Mrs. Highbury outright; for there is no caste feeling in a village that proscribes the milliner. A woman was none the worse in the Hoosier Luzerne in 1841 for the possession of that kind of skill which we call a trade. But Miss Moore, at last, remembered something that she wanted to ask Mrs. Highbury's advice about, or at least she remembered something concerning which she contrived to make herself believe she wanted information or counsel. So Miss Moore went up under the grape-vines that led to Mr. Highbury's door, and then around. over the stone-paved walk to the back-door, where the wide arbor shaded the broad pavement, in the middle of which stood the cistern with its hook in readiness for use.

Miss Moore went in over the broad clean porch into the sitting-room and was received cordially; for, besides her importance as a milliner, she was also a member of the Presbyterian church, and in those days of polemical animosities a small and somewhat beleaguered denomination held closely together.

"I thought I'd run over, Mrs. Highbury, and ask you about the cape to your bonnet. How long do you think it ought to be?"

Mrs. Highbury had a habit of leaving such things to the superior judgment of the milliner. For the milliner to throw the decision back on her, was like asking her to solve a problem in geometry. And so the plump, well-fed little lady sank down into her armchair and began rocking herself so energetically as to lift her feet off the floor at each

itself in thinking how impossible it was that she should ever decide what should be the length of a piece of rose-colored silk at the base of a scoop-shovel bonnet.

"I declare to goodness, I don't know, Miss Moore." Here Mrs. Highbury opened her fan, and began to ply it and rock more vigorously and cheerfully than before. "Did you see the one that lady from Cincinnati had on at church, on Sunday?"

But

Of course, Miss Moore had noted every bonnet in the church. She was not such a heathen as not to make the most of her "Sabbath and sanctuary privileges." she did not reply to Mrs. Highbury's question. For here was the opportunity she had sought. It was a dangerous leap from the cape of a straw bonnet in church to the parson's love affair, but there might not come a better opportunity.

"Yes; but now you speak of church, reminds me. Did you notice any change in Mr. Whittaker's appearance on Sunday?" "No, I didn't. Why?"

Miss Moore felt her superiority now. "Did you think he had the look of a man just engaged to be married ?"

"You don't tell me Mr. Whittaker's going to be married," cried the stout little lady, forgetting to rock and allowing the toes of her shoes to rest on the floor.

"Well; I don't say anything about it. I've heard something of the kind."

"Who to, for goodness gracious' sake?" "Well, that's a delicate question, especially in view of my peculiar circumstances; I suppose I oughtn't to say anything."

Miss Moore was human, and she knew that so long as she had a secret which curious Mrs. Highbury did not know, that lady was her humble servant.

"Yes; but you must tell me," pleaded Mrs. Highbury. "Mr. Whittaker ought not to marry without consulting the session. And if he consults the session I will know, I suppose. You can't keep secrets between man and wife."

"Very likely. But you know with me it's a sort of a family secret. Not exactly a family secret- "here Miss Moore tittered and stammered. "Well, you know, I didn't mean to let my own secrets out, but I suppose everybody knows. I never did see such a horrible town for gossip as this is. They wont let anybody's private affairs alone." Here Miss Moore's face reddened, and she smothered a girlish giggle.

Mrs. Highbury suddenly leaned forward

Washington, while President, refused this responsible office to married men. Although Robert had to give up his post of honor in the presidential mansion, he continued to act as his uncle's agent, collecting his rents, finding tenants for his farms and attending to various matters of business for him, until the day of his death. In the war of 1812, Robert was captain of an artillery company. In 1821 he was elected Mayor of Fredericksburg, and was holding that position when his friend La Fayette paid his last visit to the United States. He invited La Fayette to visit Fredericksburg, which he did, and Captain Lewis made the speech of welcome at the public reception. George Washington Lewis, the second son of Mrs. Betty Lewis, served as aide-de-camp to Washington during the revolutionary war. Fielding and Howell, the other sons, never held any public office.

then sadly in want, and not allow her to be too great an expense to her hostess.

It is evident from a second letter, written a few months later, that Harriet remained with Mrs. Lewis, in spite of her allusions to her poverty-though we cannot discover that any provision was made to increase her income. That the old lady had no idea of voluntarily resigning her slaves, is apparent from the following letter to the good brother to whom she goes for advice and comfort in all her troubles:

"FEBRUARY 3rd 1794

MY DEAR BROTHER your letter of the 3th of this month with your kind Present to Harriot came safe to hand she values it more as it comes from

Philadelphia and Expects it is more fashonable— things in this Town is scarce and very dear she seems truly sensable of the many favors receiv'd and sayes that she will make it her hole study to deserve them, I can assure you she is truly deserv

"September 24th 1793

MY DEAR BROTHER: The sickness in my family has Prevented my Writing sooner my daughter Carter has been extremely ill but is at this time better and myself owing to great fatigue am scarcely able to attend them, Harriot wishes to know what time it will be convenient for you to send for her, was it convenient for me to keep her I know of none that I would sooner have to live with me but my Income is so small and few servants that I cannot afford it I am Obliged to Buy everything that I Eat with the addishon of sope Candles, &c., in short the most trifling things made use of in the House, and my Income so small that I find it a hard matter to live and keep out of debt it is a Confinement to me as I have only two Horses to my Carriage that I cannot go to visit at any distance as I have two grand Children living with me that I am obliged to carry

with me

I shall be glad to hear from you by the first stage as I intend as soon as my daughter Carter leaves this to go up the Country if this Place continues so sickly-The family all Join me in love to you and my sister Washington I am Dear Brother, your aff 'ct Sister, BETTY LEWIS."

The "Harriot" alluded to in this letter (so abundantly provided with capitals, and so destitute of commas and periods), I find from one of earlier date, was Harriet Parke, a niece of Mrs. Washington by her first marriage. She was doubtless an orphan, for Mrs. Lewis expresses herself as willing to take charge of her, at her brother's request, if he will keep her well provided with "clothing, shoes, &c." of which she was

with any One who takes more cear of there things and turns them to greater advantage.

My Dear, Brother I wish you to give Howell some advice how to Proceed in regard to two Negroes that Run a way from me a few days before Christmas two of the Principal hands on the Plantation I expect their intension is to get to Philadelphia as they have a thought in geting there thay will be free, the hole Crop I made the last year was thirty Barrils of Corn and a Hundred and tenn Bushels of Wheat, if I am so unfortunate as not to get them again, I have no Chance to make anything the insuing year.

I am Joined by the girls in Love and good wishes for you all,

BETTY LEWIS."

I do not know whether or not Mrs. Lewis obtained her runaway negroes; but the presumption is that she did, for her loss is not again alluded to when writing of her poverty; and although Washington liberated his slaves at his death, it is very certain that he considered them lawful property, otherwise one of such strict moral integrity would never have kept them in bondage during his life-time. He doubtless felt, what all good masters in the South ever felt in regard to their servants, anxious lest they should fall into the hands of unkind owners, and families be separated in the division of a large estate.

Mrs. Lewis's constant reference to Harriet Parke interests us in that very natural young lady, who liked "fashonable" clothes, and could not go to a "birth-night ball without a new dress;" her old ones being considered by his devoted sister too shabby for a rela

taken in her youth, represents her as a tall, handsome woman, with brown hair and eyes

"JULY 5th, 1796.

MY DEAR BROTHER I receiv'd your Letters of 26th and 29th of June, the day after I wrote to you I was attack with the ague and fever which has

lasted ever since I had never been clear of a fever

since, I Expected your comeing threw Baltemore that you would ascertain Mr. Parkes fortune thoc I beleive he would not tell anything fals on the Occation, Harriot's Brother Wrote her a letter from Baltemore and likewise one to Mr. Parks congratulateing them on there Intended Union which he sayes he makes no dout will be a very happy one, Lawrence was here at the time that Mr. Parks firs

spoke to Harriot on the subject and I beg'd of him to make all the inquire he could but never hard from him until the letter I have mention'd here and concluded from that he had Inquired and was well Pleas'd, when Mr. Parks ask'd my consent I told him I had nothing to say to it that you ware the Person to be appli'd to, I have never concern'd myself with it I think Harriot is Old Enougf now to make chcice for her self, and if thay are not happy I believe it will be her one falt, he bars the Best caracter of any young Person that I know,

I now my Dear Brother have to thank you for your good intention of sending me a mule if you had any to spear, but had no write to Expect you to Disfirnish your self,

I am mutch obliged to you for your invitasion to Mount Vernon but it is utterly out of my Power to get up, I believe I wrote to you last fall that I had

but two old Horses and in Tenn [word left out]

from that my stable was broken open and the best of them carri'd of and from that day to this I have not har'd a word of him that was the forth charriot Hors that I lost in Fredericks you may Believe I had no great Parsiallity for the Place, Harriot is Better and is gone to the forth of July in Town but I think she looks badly.

My Love to you and my Sister Washington concludes me your

Affectionate sister

BETTY LEWIS.

P.S.-I fear you will hardly make out this as I have a violent Headake and a horrid caugh-I believe Harriot is distressed to know how she is to be Provided with things for a Weding Dress."

This was probably the aged sister's last letter to her brother; for she entered into

her head held proudly erect and her full lips firmly, almost haughtily compressed, as if she had just issued some positive command to her army of tall sons. The contrast between her appearance and her husband's is very striking. Colonel Fielding Lewis has a placid, gentle face, not lacking character and firmness, but the index of a calm and even temper, and a warmhearted, affectionate disposition. He died of consumption during the revolutionary war; but in spite of his feeble health, had managed to render some service to his country; for, when too weak to ride on horseback, he drove in his chariot to the Court House to make a speech calling for recruits for the army-a speech that, it is said, induced many to volunteer.

Mrs. Lewis often repeated to her children and grandchildren, the following story of her husband's patriotism, and her own insubordination during the war for independence. Hearing of the destruction of the cargo of tea at Boston, Colonel Lewis immediately confiscated all that could be found in his

house; and knowing his wife's fondness for her favorite beverage, locked it up carefully in his own desk, to keep her out of the way of temptation. Time rolled on, and the war seemed likely to last indefinitely. Mrs. Lewis grew tired of her privations. There was tea to be had, if nothing else in the shape of a table luxury could be found in the house, and a cup of it she was determined to have, and besides, to drink it sociably with a friend. She managed soon, by strategy, to obtain her husband's keys without his knowledge, helped herself to tea, stolen treasure, the two enjoyed a charming and sending off for a lady friend to share her evening together in Mrs. Lewis's private sanctum, drinking deep draughts of the fragrant tea, which seemed only to have improved with age. They fancied themselves quite safe from the wrath of the guardian of the family honor, but Colonel Lewis no sooner had occasion to go to his desk, than he noticed the decrease in the quantity of tea, and at once suspected the thief. Sternly he rebuked his wife's weakness, asking her how the sister of the commander-in-chief of the army could partake with pleasure of anything that had come from hated England bearing the stamp of a tyrannical govern ment, from whose yoke they were even then struggling so desperately to rid themselves.