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After all； every people must have its own forms of ostentation；
pretence； and vulgarity。 The ancient Romans had theirs； the English
and the French have theirs as well；why should not we Americans have
ours？ Educated and refined persons must recognize frequent internal
conflicts between the 〃Homo sum〃 of Terence and the 〃Odi profanum
vulgus〃 of Horace。 The nobler sentiment should be that of every true
American； and it is in that direction that our best civilization is
constantly tending。
We were waited on by a new girl； the other evening。 Our pretty
maiden had left us for a visit to some relative；so the Mistress
said。 I do sincerely hope she will soon come back； for we all like
to see her flitting round the table。
I don't know what to make of it。 I had it all laid out in my mind。
With such a company there must be a love…story。 Perhaps there will
be； but there may be new combinations of the elements which are to
make it up； and here is a bud among the full…blown flowers to which I
must devote a little space。
Delilah。
I must call her by the name we gave her after she had trimmed the
Samson locks of our Professor。 Delilah is a puzzle to most of us。
A pretty creature； dangerously pretty to be in a station not guarded
by all the protective arrangements which surround the maidens of a
higher social order。 It takes a strong cage to keep in a tiger or a
grizzly bear； but what iron bars； what barbed wires； can keep out the
smooth and subtle enemy that finds out the cage where beauty is
imprisoned？ Our young Doctor is evidently attracted by the charming
maiden who serves him and us so modestly and so gracefully。
Fortunately； the Mistress never loses sight of her。 If she were her
own daughter； she could not be more watchful of all her movements。
And yet I do not believe that Delilah needs all this overlooking。 If
I am not mistaken； she knows how to take care of herself； and could
be trusted anywhere； in any company； without a duenna。 She has a
history；I feel sure of it。 She has been trained and taught as
young persons of higher position in life are brought up； and does not
belong in the humble station in which we find her。 But inasmuch as
the Mistress says nothing about her antecedents； we do not like to be
too inquisitive。 The two Annexes are； it is plain； very curious
about her。 I cannot wonder。 They are both good…looking girls； but
Delilah is prettier than either of them。 My sight is not so good as
it was； but I can see the way in which the eyes of the young people
follow each other about plainly enough to set me thinking as to what
is going on in the thinking marrow behind them。 The young Doctor's
follow Delilah as she glides round the table；they look into hers
whenever they get a chance； but the girl's never betray any
consciousness of it； so far as I can see。 There is no mistaking the
interest with which the two； Annexes watch all this。 Why shouldn't
they； I should like to know？ The Doctor is a bright young fellow；
and wants nothing but a bald spot and a wife to find himself in a
comfortable family practice。 One of the Annexes； as I have said；。
has had thoughts of becoming a doctress。 I don't think the Doctor
would want his wife to practise medicine； for reasons which I will
not stop to mention。 Such a partnership sometimes works wonderfully
well； as in one well…known instance where husband and wife are both
eminent in the profession； but our young Doctor has said to me that
he had rather see his wife；if he ever should have one；at the
piano than at the dissecting…table。 Of course the Annexes know
nothing about this； and they may think； as he professed himself
willing to lecture on medicine to women； he might like to take one of
his pupils as a helpmeet。
If it were not for our Delilah's humble position； I don't see why she
would not be a good match for any young man。 But then it is so hard
to take a young woman from so very lowly a condition as that of a
〃waitress〃 that it would require a deal of courage to venture on such
a step。 If we could only find out that she is a princess in
disguise； so to speak；that is； a young person of presentable
connections as well as pleasing looks and manners； that she has had
an education of some kind； as we suspected when she blushed on
hearing herself spoken of as a 〃gentille petite；〃 why； then
everything would be all right； the young Doctor would have plain
sailing；that is； if be is in love with her； and if she fancies
him；and I should find my love…story；the one I expected； but not
between the parties I had thought would be mating with each other。
Dear little Delilah！ Lily of the valley； growing in the shade now；
perhaps better there until her petals drop； and yet if she is all I
often fancy she is； how her youthful presence would illuminate and
sweeten a household！ There is not one of us who does not feel
interested in her；not one of us who would not be delighted at some
Cinderella transformation which would show her in the setting Nature
meant for her favorite。
The fancy of Number Seven about the witches' broomsticks suggested to
one of us the following poem：
THE BROOMSTICK TRAIN；
OR； THE RETURN OF THE WITCHES。
Lookout！ Look out； boys！ Clear the track！
The witches are here！ They've all come back！
They hanged them high；No use！ No use！
What cares a witch for a hangman's noose？
They buried them deep； but they would n't lie； still；
For cats and witches are hard to kill；
They swore they shouldn't and wouldn't die；
Books said they did； but they lie！ they lie！
A couple of hundred years； or so；
They had knocked about in the world below；
When an Essex Deacon dropped in to call；
And a homesick feeling seized them all；
For he came from a place they knew full well；
And many a tale he had to tell。
They long to visit the haunts of men；
To see the old dwellings they knew again；
And ride on their broomsticks all around
Their wide domain of unhallowed ground。
In Essex county there's many a roof
Well known to him of the cloven hoof；
The small square windows are full in view
Which the midnight hags went sailing through；
On their well…trained broomsticks mounted high；
Seen like shadows against the sky；
Crossing the track of owls and bats；
Hugging before them their coal…black cats。
Well did they know； those gray old wives；
The sights we see in our daily drives
Shimmer of lake and shine of sea；
Brown's bare hill with its lonely tree；
（It wasn't then as we see it now；
With one scant scalp…lock to shade its brow；）
Dusky nooks in the Essex woods；
Dark； dim； Dante…like solitudes；
Where the tree…toad watches the sinuous snake
Glide through his forests of fern and brake；
Ipswich River； its old stone bridge；
Far off Andover's Indian Ridge；
And many a scene where history tells
Some shadow of bygone terror dwells；
Of 〃Norman's Woe〃 with its tale of dread；
Of the Screeching Woman of Marblehead；
（The fearful story that turns men pale
Don't bid me tell it；my speech would fail。）
Who would not； will not； if he can；
Bathe in the breezes of fair Cape Ann；
Rest in the bowers her bays enfold；
Loved by the sachems and squaws of old？
Home where the white magnolias bloom；
Sweet with the bayberry's chaste perfume；
Hugged by the woods and kissed by the seal
Where is the Eden like to thee？
For that 〃couple of hundred years； or so；〃
There had been no peace in the world below；
The witches still grumbling； 〃It is n't fair；
Come； give us a taste of the upper air！
We've had enough of your sulphur springs；
And the evil odor that round them clings；
We long for a drink that is cool and nice；
Great buckets of water with Wenham ice；
We've served you well up…stairs； you know；
You're a good old …fellowcome； let us go！〃
I don't feel sure of his being good；
But he happened to be in a pleasant mood；
As fiends with their skins full sometimes are；
（He'd been drinking with 〃roughs〃 at a Boston bar。）
So what does he do but up and shout
To a graybeard turnkey； 〃Let 'em out！〃
To mind his orders was all he knew；
The gates swung open； and out they flew。
〃Where are our broomsticks？〃 the beldams cried。
〃Here are your broomsticks；〃 an imp replied。
〃They've been inthe place you knowso long
They smell of brimstone uncommon strong；
But they've gained by being left alone；
Just look； and you'll see how tall they've grown。〃
And where is my cat？ 〃a vixen squalled。
Yes； where are our cats？〃 the witches bawled；
And began to call them all by name：
As fast as they called the cats； they came
There was bob…tailed Tommy and long…tailed Tim；
And wall…eyed Jacky and green…eyed Jim；
And splay…foot Benny and slim…legged Beau；
And Skinny and Squally； and Jerry and Joe；
And many another that came at call；
It would take too long to count them all。