Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1887 — New England English. [ARTICLE]

New England English.

The same Englishwoman told the Athenian of an amusing experience which grew out of a misunderstanding on her own part shortly after she came to this country, a few months ago. She kindly volunteered to serve for a night as amateur nurse for a sick friend. The patient was so weak that she could barely whisper a word or two to tell her wants, but the nurse was so zealous and attentive that the feeblest lisp of a want was filled at once. With an Englishwoman’s faith in fresh air, she took care to open the window so that the room was well ventilated, though no draft could reach the patient. Still, the atmosphere became decidedly cooler, and the sick woman felt the change. Beckoning her nurse to the bedside with a wistful look, she whispered softly in her ear: “Comforter.” The one word was enough. With a woman’s quick wit she guessed what her friend wished for at once, and set off down stairs in search of the family Bible. Having found it, after a short search, she lugged it up stairs again, with considerable exertion, for it was heavily illustrated and bound, and set it down triumphantly on the patient’s bed. To her surprise the sick woman said “No!” plainly with her speaking eyes, and moved her head slightly in token of dissent. Again the energetic nurse set off undiscouraged and hunted up the patient’s husband, whom she brought hopefully to the sick-room. Troubled and surprised at the unsatisfied look of the sick woman, she went off again without thinking of giving up the search, and this time “rounded up” the family pastor, taking the good man from his house just as he was retiring for the night. When the combined efforts of the three succeeded in putting a warm coverlet on the bed the nurse sat down, fairly exhausted by her struggle to master New England English.—Boston Record. The highest fountain in Europe is that in the gardens of Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire. The height of the famous jet is 267 feet.