Spirit of the age. [volume], June 05, 1845, Image 1

About Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913

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Volumo 0. iVuniber 1,
WOODSTOCK. VERMONT, JUNE 5, 1815.
Wiolo ri'iuulior'UGI.
O. A. IUtYANT,
Dllcrlil niisllhli.l'roiich, ninl Aniurlnui l)n Oonim,
W. I. (Jn(iclii,iiiiil(ini( ci'icK,
Crcicl,ery,(!lai. nml lliird Warc.
, MmStrrrt,
MHIiMSfl iV SIjADK,
oiUf.EitKiiNFi.oiin, w.i.aooiis&oitoonmcs,
...... A,',", ''OVNrA.NTI.V ON II ANI).
rmiiT3,ooNn:oi'ioNAUY,si(.MM.:iu)niNKSANi)
UHFMJSII.MIiNTfl.
cr.sTHAi.sTnui:r,opi'oiTEwiirrNi:v'i iio-rnt.,
Obi)..Mi:i.l (?co. ll.tfuiiE.
A. JIATCII, & co.
Al the old Sland latcly occupkd hy
. J. o. Tninou;
DEAi.r.nstNFi.otm w.i.oooDSANDfinocnnins.
. OONrnOTIONAIlY,SIIMMi;it llltlNKrt.ANI)
HEFItESll.MENTsi.UONSTANTI.Y ON IIANU.
- CENTIIAI. STIIEET. 223
ITITU'IMT(J II 4 'Lt
Wliolcnaleaiiilrctailili'alor ln V. I. (iooils.Tcan.Frnll
lu ijnon south iiru htatu htreet,
Montpelier, I't, 182 ly
RDSSKIiIi &: Cli It K.
W A T C II M A K E II 3 A N 1) J E W E 1. 1, E n S
OITOSITB WIIITCY'B IIOTC!.. CKNTR A L STRGCT,
K ii i.ITa IlhyT
fin:ir.icIiircrnfr!vi'rrtioimniii! Spcrtades and Dculr
iii jowrn v, riiuerr nmi ranry t.noils
wnolonalo iiml Uctiill, 203
vpppisuc w nuncij ' ioc, Ccntral Strccl.
I1KNRY IIATCII,
Onrdnornfiuthof Uninn llall,K!m Strret,
tin, cnrrRRi n siikkt iuon wiiiku,
TIIAIXS H. WINN,
TAILOIt,
Same door wilh Jr. RandaU.
MICII.VEIi MYHKS,
T A I Ij o n.
Over J. C oll a mcr's Offi.ce,
Elm slrfd,
E. W. S.MITfl, Tuilor,
ovcu f. c. nonniNs' oFFi:n,
Ludlow, Vt.
319
amos xv,
WAKKHX.
DEAI.EIt IN IIOOTS.SIIOMS ANI) I.IUTIinn.
VII klniln uf I.i'nllier I'or alc rlicip. A'Ho, Umilmimt
S!ioi" nr cvi'i'v (1citi l (iii.
OTrnicBH I'lilck llfinlx, V-,-r0 (Jnlf, jn-psc'i,S,.'Jj Ocnts
ftcui'uuotiis ior i, iii i an niiii'P wurk ln jirojinrtlnn
URirnw. SrniiKT. 23 8ly
Diiwnv.
Mat.rroftlio Iniprnvrd llnliart U'oinlen I'nnip.
3j I Ue aluivi' rnnips nre w.irninli'il lculniw liaircl n
n tniniitc ckp, up lo a liunilrril f'crl.
TJ lloril.iMlroai ii ilMaari' prnniily nllrmlr.l lo.
Ilniiclolph Vl. Sillf
wiirnsT.vs norr.i,.
iCorntrof Klm and Ccntral strccls,
U N V II I I X K V,
A c i. k n a T K L,
iiy p. c. Ai.nrx
cnn-nn nr snt'Tii axd (iiii:cn "TiinErc
IMMCK STACK noirsi:,
n o u T II s i d n n l A c k u i v n n ,
nv
JO II N R. SMITII
t.uni.ow, vi. lfil if
'.. i'.iiydi:,
n r i c k st a a r, ii o u sr. ,
I'rnclnrsvilli-i Yl. 23!) Hin
lli:.RY 'J'.'iMAIlSllT
lloi'ic ivn Sin rtiXTKit, ai.o m:f.rii i" cinm i'ii:s
AMl VlllNIII 01' HVKRV IIIIM'RII'TIII.V.
c i: n t u a i, s t n i: i; t .
WITT & SCOTT,
!n iiiilcrs,anil ilca1rrln('lihir aml UarrlascpofallliliKlK,
or.NTiui. stri:i:t.
.iosiii'a Mmnir.i.i.,
CARBURi: A N I) rt I. E I C II - M A K C It,
llinil RTRCCT. 1IC
Hmnfnr.lure.rofi aml tlealer in r.nlnnel furniturr u
evrrv dcicriptlon.
l'leaaaiit silrcet, 219
I) II. II. It. 1 A IjIW 10 II.
Olllrc ln the IlnrU lllock opponitc Wlillney's,
Cr.VTRAI. STRKI'.T,
S. J. ALT.UN, .11. T).
PIIYSIC1.1A J1JVD SUIiGEOJW
Oillco opposlli! Wlillncj's lloiel.
ADI.V II. IIAMHOXI),
TOMSOVIW IIOTAVIC I'RCTITIONEn,
fUSct vvccn llie AlctlinJist aml Episcopal (;i)iirc1ir.
237- II.
LIVF.UY STAIII.K,
ii y a i. ii n n t i" a c k n n .
Courl tlrcel,
cox.i.xnv.R iSi n.vnuKTT,
A t t o r n e y a a n d Cnunnllors n 1 L n w,
FAm Slrccl. 1SI!
jAConCoi.r, A.5inn. JAMnsIlAnnnTT
(). I'. ( II AM)l.r.I!,
"Attornoy nnd C o n n s o 1 1 o r
Crntral Slrcrt,
a t L a v,
203
" Tii.vcr"& coxvBits"n,
yillorncyx and Counscl 1 or s al La u
Olllrc nvcr the llank.Ehn Slrccl,
I,. A. SIAHSir,
ATTOnN'KY AND COUN S HI.I.OIl AT I.AW
Ctntrnl slrrrt.
EinVIN IITJTCIIIXSOX,
ATTORNI'.Y AND COUNSF.I.I.OR AT
WOODSTOCK, VT.
LAV,
W.VSHIHIIIX &. MAUSII,
ATTOHNEl'S C O l! N S U 1. 1. O II S AT I.AW,
H'notlitnrlc, Vh
r'D'Omccin Iherontn talrlynrrnplmlni Mic "Clay Clnli
Ncv Itnoni,M
P. T. WvinnuilN, Maiter in Chancrrv.
V.V Marsii 23811
N'nv.21, 1S1I.
CAT.YIN I'UKNCH,
Allornty and Connsellor vt Law,
1'RocTnn.svii.i.K, vt. 251
I. XV. KKMIAIIDSOX.
Jltlomcy and Counscllor al Luw,
WK8TON, vt. 231
" niiimnticK c. uoIiTiiNsr
A T T O It SK Y AT L A XV '.
LUDLOW, VT. 157-lj
iVAItltliN C. KRr.NCM.
A T T O It N i: Y A T Ii A XV,
kltARON, VT. 233-ly
v a L it k 1 1 & s L a i)Tn
Jlltot ncys and Cnunsclhrs at Luw,
IlOYALTOiWVT. 125-11
R. WAI.KKR. K.W. SMDK.
rnort. iiarti.rtt,.Ir.,
Altarneij,ConnrllnrandSolkiltirin Clianccry.
AT-i.vvno.v, vr.
TT Ulpiiiltllierjiipprlnr Onnrln ln iliccounllcp nfOalc
onla, nscx,Orli'aniiiiiiil Waililnslnn. 133-11
iiunton & joxi:s,
aTtoiinf;vs and counsiili.ohs AT LAW.
Chehca, VI.
A. P. IIuntox, 203 P. C. .Tonks.
S. R. STRr.l'ITR,
Jlllorncy and Coumcllcr al Lato.
HAUNAIID.VT.
113
J. U. IIAWKINS,
Allorncy and Counsdtor al Law,
FF.U.IIVILI.E, VT
91
J. V. DEANE,
Allorncy and Counsellor al Law,
CAVENDISH, VT. 105
JAMCS.M. GII.SON,
ATTOItNEY AT LAW,
chelsea, vt. 2-lC-Gm
SAMUELH. I'RIOE,
1TT01NF.V i v n r n It N n R I. I. n B AT LAW
AVIXDSOK.VT. Mly
IlIOIIAllDSON &. NICIIOLSON,
Attor ntystland C ouns t.t,l'o fs alLaxe
Uliclcr,Wlnili(irCoiinty, Vt.
. N RiciiAiumoN. S6 A. A. Nicholson
sewaTiTpui.i.'am,
atto ii jvjc y at la w,
LUDLOW, VT. 18 -ly
II. K, STOIKJIITOiN,
ATT O R A E lr AT 1. A II'.
Chester, VI. 219
MfiOmiHTT & WEYMOUTII,
A T T 0 11 j E Y BA f L A
iiUTiini,,
VT. 256
P C HLdDOItT,
1) F WevxoiiTii,
I'finu ihu l.onilou I'micli.
THE S T 0 R Y OF
A F E A T H E R.
jjv douui.as Ji:nnoi.i).
CIIAPTER XV.
.MI1S. CUUMIT.T, ANI) I'ATTY. CHAM1', TIII
CAIU) -MAIU'.lt.
My first introductinnto Palty had mndc
mc acqu.iintcil witli lho nloom nud
wrctclicdncss of a London garrct. I was
ncvcrthclcss. starilcd by tho cxtrcmc
iniscry about mc. Tliu room was ratlicr
n roolt, a liolo fur usolcss luinbcr, tlian
placc for a liumnn bcing. Tlic landlady
a little woman, could scarccly sland up
righl bciicatli the slanting roof; lliegusty
wind slioolc tlic small laiiccd window, nnd
cntcicd thi'ough brokcn pancs, dcfying
tho rag? and papcr tlirust tlici'uin to kcc
it out. I ii a corncr, on tlic barc floor
was llic bcd or mat; and tlierc, bcnoath a
wcb ofa blankct. lav Patly Butlcr. I'oor
tbing! Aftcr my first stirpsisc, I took
sad plcasurc from hcr wastcd face: I hcard
swcct music from hcr fccble voi':c. They
arc changing, I ihoiigbt, liappily chang-
inr. A fcv mnro lieavy days somo few
rcstlcss, fcvcrcd niglits, nnd that poor
crcature, dowcrcd witli tlic gcntlcst, pur-
csl spirit, will now smilc down upon tlic
injusticc and inirjuitios of a world that
now east liur, likc a usclcs.s wccd, inlo its
foulcst placcs.
is I contiimcd to gazo upon hcr, I fclt
a strangc cunosily to know hcr history
sinco wc hist nict. Thcrc wassomctlnng
morc tlian tlic pain ofsickncss in hcr facc.
Was it sliamc, I askcd; and iinincdiatcly
felt mcnn for tlic snspicinn. Had hcr af-
fcctions bccn biiarcd by hcartlccs dcvicc
or had shc, sccrctly, nurturcd a Inve
that, in its vcry liopclessiioss, consuiiicd
hcr? Ycarning for sympathy whcrc tlic
world would snccr and inock nt llic dc
sirc, had sho, in diunbncss. sufi'crcd that
inward blccdinn of tlic hcart, uhcrcof
morc dic than coroncrs drcam of? Thcrc
was a sad story in lliat shrunkcn facc.
riic history of thc world is mado of bat-
tlcs conqncsts thc acccssion and dcath
ofkinus tho doincrs of statcsmen. and
thc triuks of law. This makcs thc vtil-
gar story of tlic cxtcrnal world. Its dcepcr
lislory is of thc hcarls, ccn of ils low
cst (hvcllci's of thc cnnobling imptilscs
tliatjswcll thcm,of thn iinconqucrahlc spir
it o( mcckncss which looks calmly npon
tcrror, and turns cvcn agony lo paticncc.
A London allcy inight producc a morc
glorilying hcraldy if einotions could bc
quartcd than l'oiticrs or Blcnliuim.
IIow many a man whosc only history is
writtcn in a baptismal rcgistcr and undcr-
lakcr's account, has conqucrcd sufTcring
stroni'cr in its onsetllian a sqtiadron! K
truc magnaniniity awardcd luiighthood,
how manv tvlio want cvcn fchoc-lcathcr,
lavc won thcir-?purs!
Witli thcsc thouglils passiug m mc, 1
continticd to contcmplato tlic poor girl
bcforc nic. Shc lay wholly cxliaiiBtcd
by thc cfiort of striktng thc light; whilst
Mrs Crnmpct, witli cliaractcristic consid
cration for thc wcakncss of hcr lodgcr,
attcmptcd not to disturb hcr, but, witli
hie si'lf-prcservalion, fortificd hcr own
systcm witli a glass ofwinc witli aiiother
and onothcr. This donc, shc spokc.
Woll, I'm stirc, my dcar, if you'd on
ly havc lot mo known that you had such
My.
fricnd abontyou, do yon think I'd cvcr
iavc put you in this room? Bless you!
child, whatdo you thing I'm madc of?
you might havc t-taycd in tho othcr n-
partmcnt." (This, I afterwards found,
was only tho ncxt gnrret, but thcn the
cascnicnt was wbolc; thc bcd was of dc
cenl Ilock; it had morc than onc blankct.
nnd had tho clcvation ofa trucklc.)
'Thank you, this will do vnry wcll,' ro-
plicd Patty, wilh an cffort: 'vory wcll
for my timc'
'As L'm a Christian, you sha'n't sleep
bcrc anothcr night,' nnswcrcd Mrs Crum
pct witli vivacity. 'No: I proinised tho
gcntlcirun to do all I could for you,
nnd my word's my bond. Wcll, if you
don't rcmind mc of my dcar, lost child,
Marial' Iloro thc landlady wipcd prob
ably a tcar from hor oyc, and ngain liftcd
thc glass.
'What gcntlcman do jou spcak of?'
'Thcrc! now if I hav'n't blabbcd; and
I promiscd ncvcr to sny n word ohout
him. But hcjis a gontlcman a rcal onc;
nothing shnm in him, my denr: nnd morc
than all, you'vc only to gct wcll and ha!
ha! why you losk bcitor whilc I talk to
you, and you'vc colurs in your facc thnt
n diiclicirS might givc hcr cnrs for!
Wcll, as I was snying.you'tc only to gct
wcll , to bc madc o lady of.'
'Pray tcll mc nray do! Of what
gcntlcman do you spcak? I know no onc
no onc, who ' nnc, cxcitcd by tho
manner of hor landlndy, Pntty lay inca
poble of furthcr spccch; ahd hcr hcnrt I
was surc of it fluttcrcd likc a bird.
Comc , child , ' cricd llic gossip ,
Jyou'ro faint only a little fniut. Pve
iMuugiii you somo wmc; n glass nno
little glass -will ninko you nlivc again.'
'I thnnk you nouc iiono,' said Palty,
fcohly.
'Hut you inuat, my lovo; you shnll, my
darllng,' oxclaimcd Mrs Crumpct, nnd
sho stnopcd townrds tho bcd, witli tho
bottlo and glass. 'Thcro,' sho cricd, fill
ing.'and if I smy licrc all iiight,yon shnll.
my nngcl, drink it.'
Palty east a holplcss look toivards the
landlady, nnd thon rcsigning hcrsclf to
lho ncccssity, raiscd hcrsclf in bcd. Sho
strctchcd hcr liand towards thc glass,
and nlrcady had thc liquor lo hcr lips.
'Ila!' chncklcd Mrs Crumpct, 'if the
genllcmnn who brought that winc foryon,
could only sco you now.' Patty instantly
withdrcw thc glass, and in a fuint, yct dc
tcrmincd voicc, said 'I will not tastc a
singlo droii.'
'I3ut you mtist, my chcnil),' cricd Mrs
Crumpct, wilh rcncwcd vigor.
'Not a drop.'rcpcatcd Patty, 'iintil vou
Ict mc know to wliom I am to owo it.'
'Fiddlcsticks!' cxclnimcd thc landlady,
that you'll know somo day, and that
shortly, if you'll only mako yoursclf wcll
and hcarty. drink thc winc, child.'
'io,'said Patty, witli calm purposc,
and sho placcd thc glass upon thc fioor.
Again and ngain, Mrs Crumpct tricdto
prcvail, but Patty was obdurate; shc
would not tnsto tho winc until informcd
of tlic donor. This luiowlcdgo Mrs
Crumpct rcfuscd to communicatc: Iclmc,
lowcvcr, do thc poor woman justicc,
vcnly bclicve shc would havc hcsitatcd
not a sccond to gratify hor tcnant, but for
ono circumstancc; shc had not tho mcans
Sho was as ignornnt of tho bcncfactor
wlio hnd Icftthc winc and moncy ns was
'atly hcrscll. Shc, thcrcforc, witli the
cunning of an expcricnccd gossip.thought
shc inight gucss tho pcrson of llic strnng-
ur, could shc only know hcr lodgcr's prc-
viotis history. This sho had often cn
deavorcd, hutin vam, to lcarn. In thc
prcscnt insfancc, shc dolcrmincd to mako
an indircct lcvy upon Patly's gralitudc;
and, thcrcforc, resolvcd to impart to hcr
thc history of Mrs Cramp in advaucc for
'atty's oh ii. To this politic cnd sho
hcnt hcr discoursc.
'Wcll, my denr, I dini't know if you
ir'n't right. But uho'd havc thoiight
that any body so young should havc snch
cantion Ila! if my cood fricnd Mrs
Cramp had bccn likc you ! You'vo sccn
Mrs Cramp, my dcar?'
'I havc hcard you spcak of hcr,' said
Patty, who3c thouglits wcro plainly far
away from thc subjcct-talk of hcr land
lady.
'To bc surc.I'd forgut you ncvcrhavc.
Wcll, hhc was licro to-night, Sho's bccn
to n routc of some sort, and so shc was
obligcd to comc hcre tn drcss.'
'To drcss?' said Palty, languidly.
'Hlcss you, ycs; I kccp all hcr fino
things for hor. You scc, shc's marricd to
man forty ycars oldor llinn shc; and
tliough cvcry body thought hc was dying
whcn shc had hirn, hc's only dying now.
Wcll although hc's as rich as Kiug Solo-
mon, he wont lot his wifc havc a dcccnt
ag upon hcr. And so, poor soul! there's
nothin lcfi to hcr but to chcat hcr lius
band right and lcft.
Chcat him hcr husband?' asked Pat-
'And ns, by good luck, hc's bcdrid, j
why it's clicating madc quilc casy, my
dcar. Thc worst of it is for poor Mrs
Cramp.althougli shc's hcaps of finc things,
shc mustn't wcar thcm iii hcr own housc.
Thcrc, shc must look no bcltcr than a
cindcr-wcnch; or clsc llic old villain might
go out of thc world with ninlicc in his
hcart, pcril his own prccious soul, nnd
cut the wifc ofhis bosomout of his will.
Wcll, ny dcar, that would bc drcadful,
wouldn't it?' askcd Mrs Crumpct in n
tonc that pcrcmptorily callcd for an an
swcr. 'Ycs,' replicd Palty, almost uiicon
sciously. 'And so, to hindcr that, whcnevcr Mrs
Cmmp gocs out, shc comcs hcro to drcss,
nnd thcn comcs bnck nnd shifts hcr finc
ry for hcr old clotbcs to go honic in.
That's tricking thc niiscr, isn't it?' cricd
the landlady with a laugh.
'Doubtlcss,' arswcrcd Patty.
'Now, hcrc's this bcautiful fcntbcr,'
and Mrs Crumpct ,took mo up, Shc'n
bought it at quitc a bargain. But doyou
thiuk sho might show it to old Cramp?
BIcss, you shc might as soon takc a cro
codilc into tho housc. Wcll, thank good
ncss! tho old villain has h'i3 rcward.
Hlcss you, his cousciciicc must bc likc u
cullendar. Thc devil's nlways nt his bcd-
sido, that's ono coinfort.'
'What do you mcan? What crimcs
has the poor man coinmittcd." nbkcd
Pntty.
'Why, no crimcs in pnrticular, as you
and I should think 'cra: only you scc, hc
madc all his maiicy by making pncks of
cards. Now, iii his old ngc, ho's turncd
i 1.. .
so slioeking rcligioua! You'd ncvcr hc
lievo it; hut ho thinks ho's haiintcd by all
tho kings nnd qiicens ho cvor pr.ssod a
oross his countcr, Hc vows thcy all pccp
in and gnnsh thcir tcclli nt him through
!iio ucil-ciirtnins; nnd oncc you'd ha
dica a laughing to hcar him, for 'twas
nothing but tho (lcus, my doar onco ho
sworo ho wus bittcn all ovcr by thc Jack
ol cluhs.'
'I'oor man!' said Patty.
'Ila! if poor Mrs Cramp had only
known him hcforo sho marricd! And
thnt briugs mo back to what I was going
to sny, thnt it wns so propor iii you not
totnkc tho winc aforo you know who
scnt it.'
'Thcn you will lcll mc?' nsltcd Palty.
'To bo surc, I wPI, whcn you tcll mo
mo how il was that you, witli such frcnih,
should hnvc cvcr w.uilcd nny thing.
IIow whs it thnt you cnmo in such n pick-
lc to mc? Withotit a fartliing wiihout
,,
'My story is not worih tho tclling is
nothing,' said Patty.
'La!' cricd Mrs Crumpct, unconsciotis
ofthc truth shc uttcrcd, 'llicre's nohody
as hasn't a story, if thc y know how to tcll
it. ioii must havc had comforls about
you.'
'I havc found frionds, in my worst nf-
fiictions, nnswcrcd Pntty. 'Whcn my
mothcr dicd, nnd I was lcft homclcss, I
found a homc'
'And why did you lcavc it?' a:,kcd thc
I'uullady, 'nforc)ou found n bettcr?
'Bccausc I fcnicd I cnuscd unhappincss
whciv I would havc ivcn my lifc to
havc givon joy. Oh, so good a man
so kinil, with such a gcntlo hcart loward:
cvcrv Ihing!'
'Was hc a marricd man, my denr?'
askcd the landlady.
'Hc wns, nnswcrcd Pnlty; whcroupnn
Mrs Crumpct looked suddculy vcry sn
gacious, as Ihoiigh by inspiration shc hnd
solved thc.problcm.
'I scc,' said shc; 'you nnd thc wifo
couldn't ngrce. Thc woman was '
'Kind cxccllcnt most kind,' cricd
Patty with auiuiation, 'but wcak nnd pus
sionntc.' 'And jcalous, of coursc,' addcd Mrs
Crumpct.
'I saw that my prcscncc gavc pain to
hcr, and I lcft hcr housc, dolcrmincd,
uhatcvcr inight bc my portion, to kccp
iny hiding placc n sccrct from hcrsclf and
husband.'
'But ho has found you out,' snid Mrs
Crumpct.
,Mr Lintlcy?' ciicd Pntty.
'And has brought wine nnd lcft money
for you;' for Mrs Crumgct immcdiatcly
concludcd thnt llic strnngcr munt bo thc
npothccary. 'What say you to t' at, child!'
askcd thc Indy.
Patty could say nothing. Shc wns
lcnl nnd in tcars.
CIIAPTER XVI.
si-
AN I.NTRUDF.K. A STOI.I'.N WATCII. I'ATTY
Nr.W AI'I'LICTIONS.
'If it docsn't dclight my hcart to sco
you cry, saiu ulrs Crinnpcl; twill do
you good, my lamb it nlways did mc
good whcn I was young. Ha! tlicy don't
makc tho bottlcs as they uscd to do!' shc
nddcd, pcrcciving that all thc wine was
gonc a discovcry which tho winc shc
had alrcady drunk scarccly cnablcd hcr
to compass. 'That's Mr Abram,' shc
cricd, as a lond knock at thc slrcct door
rnng through thc housc. 'Hc's nlways
iu such a hurry! Good-night, my darling
go to slccp and drcam yoursclf n Indy.'
Sn)ing this, thc Inndlndy mnnaged topick
hcr stcps from tlic room, in hcr vincous
forgctfulncss lcaviug rne behind
Ilcnvily the hourspasscd! Poor Patty!
I hcard hcr lips uiovc hcard hcr turn
rcstlcss iu the bcd moan and sigh, ns
tliough hcr little hcart was vainly strug
gling with its sorrow. "Twill soon bc
ovcr' 1 thcn hcard hcr murinur in a
3wcct rcsigncd voicc 'vcry soon;' nnd
thcn shc slept.
IIow I wishcd myself in thc hand of
somo good fairy! Some bcncficicnt spritc,
pitcous of buman wrong nnd human sufi
cring! Thcu, I thought, should this dark
dim garrct pass away! Thcn .should risc
a small, quict nook ofa placc, ucstlcd n
moiig trccs, nnd cnrpctcd with green n
round. And thcrc n brook should niur-
nuir with a voico of out-donr huppincss
and a little gardcn brimtning ovcr wilh
flowcrs, should mark the days, and wccks,
and monlha with bnd nnd blossoui; nnd
thc worst injurics of lime bo fullcn leavcs!
And thcro hoalih ln bnlm should conlc
about hcr pntb, and hcr mind ho ti n
part of cvcry fragrant thing that shonc
ondgrow around hcr. And thus, poor,
wcnricd crcnture! shc should drnw hor
dnily, gcntle brcath, till ripc for hcavcn.
I had fallcn into n dclicious Iu 11 with
thcso thouglits, whcn I was starilcd by a
suddcn upronr procccding from tlic lowcr
part of tho hotlsc- Thcro wcro loutl,
hlasphcming voicos thc shrill crics of
womnii, and on tho following iiistant.tho
garrct door was hur.st opcn, and n man
ruslicd in. As ho did so, his hcnd struck
ngninst lho loucr roof, nnd hc foll wilh n
hcnvy wcight upon tho rollon floor,
swcanng and cursing with half smolh
crcd iassion, which it cost him a hart
ollort to contvol. 'What's that? who's
thcro?' cxclnimcd tho lerrificd Pntiy.
'Nohody silcnce.wliere's thc window?'
rophotl n voicc, gaspingly. Tho window
wns in nscconil opcncd, nnd thc inlrudcr
I could pcrccivo.cnu'cnvored to cscapo by
it. Tho npcrturo was too small for his
bigjiurloy nnatomy, nnd thcro for
bricf spaeo ho rcmnincd wilh his should-
crs wcdgcd in thc nnrrow spacc, on the
suddcn ho wns silcnt, nnd again nnd a
gain I hoard his hnrd brcnthing, and fclt
the garrct shakc a3 ho strovo to cffccl his
purposc. Tho noiso incrcascd hclow,
and coming stcps nnd voicrs convinccd mc
that tho fcllow was closely prcsscd. For
a rnomcnt ho paused, ns to collcct and in
tcnsify his cncrgics for onc lust drcadful
cffort for onc "iirantic s'.riifrclc: anothcr
instnnt, nnd hc had clcared tho window.
As hc did so, I thought I hcard n hcavy
stihstnncc fall. Upon the cscapo oftho in
trtidcr Ihc garrct was fillcd with watch-
mcn nnd othcrs, cnrrying lantcrns; Mrs
Crumpct, upon whom slccp and surprisc
had indiiccd a bcnoficial sobricly, now
bustling through thcm, with a loutl voicc
dcclaratory of thc wondrous honcitv of
hcr habilation, and nll tho kulgers thcrc
in dwolling. Evcry body pauscd nt tho
window. 'Abraham's gonc lho bird's
llown,' said a man, who, I iinngincd was
in highcr authority than his followcrs.
"Tis impossible, Mistcr Ilardinoulh,'
said a wntchman; 'a moral nnpofsiblc,
out of this windcr. Why, it isn' no big
gcr than a rut-hole.'
Ha, Snigs, don't you know whnt a
man will do wilh Jack Kctch at his hccls?'
nnswcrcd Mr Ilardinouth. 'Wcll, bcttcr
luck ncxt timc, 'said thc philosophic func-
tionary. 'But 1 tcll you what, Mrs Cruinp
ct, tho pnrish of Bloomsbury will givc
you a tastc of Bridcwcll, if you don't
kccp dcccntor peoplc uboutyou.'
'I! Mr Hnrdmouth! I'm a poaccnblc
woman, nnd ncvcr torublcs my hcnd with
my ncighbours. I'm a woman as pays
my church-ralcs, and can look tho qucen
hcrsclf in hcr facc! My husband could
havc bought nnd sold you all, cvcry jack
of you but hc's in hcavcn.' And Mrs
Crumpct continticd to spin off this old,
liomespun sort of ynrn with practiccd
volubilitymt thc same timc.as I obscrvcd,
that shc carefully covcrd a walch which
had fallcn from Mr Abram in thc hurry
of his dcparturc, nnd which lay hcncnth
thc window. This opcrntion .sho vcry
adroitly clfcctcd; nnd thcn cnnlinucd hcr
self-asscrtion of punctilious honcsty, thc
whilc with hcr foot shc pushcd rmd slid
thc watcli closo loPnltv's bcd. '
'And who's hcre?' cricd Ilardinouth,
taking a lantcrn from a watch-man, and
holdiug it towards Palty, who cowcrcd
and trcmblcd, wilh blushcs in hcr fncc
that sccmcd to scorch hcr. For thc first
timc, I saw within hcr cycs a look of
scorn, ofpassion. Hcr liands shook lo-
gcthcr, ns sho nppcakd to tho landlady,
Will not thcsc mcn co?'
'To bc surc they will ncvcr fcar 'cm,
my love,' cricd Mrs Crumpct, scating
icrsclf upon llic cdge of thc bcd. 'And
if they won't, 111 ncvcr leavcyou; ncvcr,
iny darling."
'And so lliis is Mrs Abram, is it?' askcd
Ilardinoulh. 'Poor thing! Wcll, with
nll hcr husband 's luck upon thc rond, hc
might housc hcr bcttcr.'
'Shc is uo Missus Abram; nor nothing of
the sort. Don't cry.child.thcy'rc hrutcs,n
waking honcst peoplc iu thcir bnds. I
should likc to know whcn you'.-c going?'
atkcd Mrs Crumpct of hcr iiilrudcrs.
'Whcn wc'vc donc a little morc busi-
iioss. 'Ult o tnat, motiicr runipct; you
nnd I. aro old fricnds nnd ccrcmoiiy's lost
alwccnus.' Saying this, Mr Hardmoiith
if justicc bc n woman, shcought spccinl-
ly toprolcct herscx scizcd Mrs Crnmpct
hy thc arni, nnd swung hcr from hcr
seat on thc bcd. 'Now my dcar, whcrc's
the traps?' asked the ofiicer wilh most f.i-
miliar insolcucc.
'I know not what yon mcan not a word
but lcavc mc only.n fcw iniiiutcs.wliilst
I risc nnd drrss.' Thus spokc Patty; and
for n timc shc sccmcd lo vauqiiish sickness
by tho strong scnsc of hcr offcndcd modcs-
ty. Tlicrc was a look ot commaiui in ncr
facc a look in which were lost tho care
and fccblcncss ofnn hoursince. 'I bcg
dcsiro that you lcave mc'
'To bc sure lcavc us,' oxclaimcd Mrs
Crumpct iu trembling notcs, and imilaliiig
tliough wilh shrcwish avkwardncss, thc
imperitivc manner of Patty. 'IIow can
wc drcss with nlcn iu thc room? Aro you
lost to uaturc, you brutcs?' cricd llic land
lady. 'Mrs Abram can drcss alonc,' said Hnrd
nioulh, and so saying, hc twirlcd Mrs
Crumpct from thc uttic, that lady loudly
dcnonncing thc brulality of thc mcn. Nor
was shc contcut wilh this; for usshn s'.ood
outsidc thc door, ahc callcd loudly to Pat
ly, tclling hcr toshow hcr spirit, nnd con
juring hcr upon hcr truc wornauhood, not
to risc for thc bcst man us cvcr walkcd
upon shoe lcnthcr.
Patly, howevcr, rcgardlcas of such con
jurati.ui, drcsscd hcrsclf with hcr bcst
spccdjnor did thcmultiplicily or combrous
ncss ofhcr garnicnts vcry much rctard thc
operation, IIcrolTciidcdlccliugsaud cncrgy
ofmaidcnly sliamc gavc hcr slreiigth and
cncrgy of purposc. Sickness sccmcd ban-
ishcd from hor chcck; and in its placo
tlicrc was a look of sorrow ful dicnity a
mingling of gricf nnd clcvntcd paticncc.
'Comc, Missus Abram, you'ro nol drcs-
sing Ior t!ic mayor's show,' cnllcd out
Ilardinouth.
'You may comc in,' said Pattv; and shc
sank upon tho onc cliair.
Thc watchmaii and officcrs ngain cntcr-
cd Ihc garrct, nnd ngain with quickencd
looks did Mrs Crumpct prcss forward a
mongst thcm, wntching with fclinc caTcr-
ncss thc motions of Ilardinouth. 'I thought
ns much,' cricd that waryscrvaut of polico
as ne kickcd nsidc thc hedding, and dis
covcrcd a walch. Mrs Crumpct, in thc
visor nnd confiision of her'wrath, nearly
bit through hcr thumb-nail, lho watchmaii
laughcd and chucklcd knowingly; whilst
for Palty shcsat unmovcd, and sccmingly
carclcssof all tiiat passed round hor.
'Thc vcry walch ns wc havc had infor
malion of, said Ilardinouth turncd over
and ovcr the bcd, Mrs Crumpct nll tho
whilc aluifaing him, nnd askmg him il he
knew whcrc hc would go to? Sho thcu
nodded to Palty nnd whispcred 'Ncvcr
mind, my darling, for this little mishap
your fricnd will see you rightcd.'
'What fricnd!' inquircd Palty, almost
unconcious of the words.
'What fricnd.' Why, you havcn't for-
gol the wine and guinea I (old you of;'
I'hesc words brought lo thc mind of Pat
ty the kind bcncvolent Lintley. Thc rcc
ollcction was again too much for hcr. She
lookcd about hcr nt the faces hurryiug
around hcr, and smilten by thcremcmbcr
ancc of hcr past suffcrinf s by hcr bclicf
in future miscry she hid hcr face in her
liands and wcpt bittcrly.
'Il'sa bad job, Missus Abram,' said
Hnrdmouth; hut if peoplc was only to
think of bcing found out aforo they begun,
why wc might lurn Newgalc into anothrr
playhouse, and lurnkcys might go n-bcg-giug.
Como, hc nddcd, you must go
along with us for this.' Patty, nghast with
terror wom with sickness looked tilcnt
ly ln thc man's facc. She tried to answcr
him, hut thc words ckoked hcr.
'What do you mcan?' cricd Mrs Crum
pet, in n sciccch, and suddculy trembling
nll ovcr.
'Mcnn! Why my nicnning is as plnin ns
Tybiirn. This wntch is stolen, and that
girl Mrs Abram, if she is Mrs Abram,
nnd if shc isn'l shc uught to bc why she
knew all about it.'
'I know nothing nothing,' said Palty,
with a vnice lesscncd to whispcring, by
tcrror.
'If you don't, man nnd wifc is onc flcsh
all thc world ovcr; nnd as it was ynur hus
band's bed 1
'I havc no husband,' cricd thc girl.
'Wcll, that's your busincss, I can't hclo
lliat,' said Hardmoiith.
'Nooue no onc I nm alonc in thia
crucl world alonc, wilh nonc hut nr,l i
help mc'
Hcre Patly wns again convulscd in tcarfj
whilst Mrs Crumpct, infcclcd hy the sor
row, contiimcd to weep and rry, 'If I had
only known it had comc to lliis!'
CIIAPTER XVII.
A SIIOItT ACCOU.VTor A HlfJll WA Y.MAN. AR
IlIVAIiOI' .1111 I.INTLUY.
Thc clatnor raiscd by Ilardinouth and
thc walch had h,id its ilucclTcct upon the
ncighborliood; many of thc dwcllers (hcrc
about having a most cducaled organ for
thc music of justicc or ralhcr, of policc
IIuiicc, in n bricf timc, thc housc wa3 hc
sct by ciirioup inquirers, nnxious lo lcarn
thc pcculiar ofrcncc commillcd, wbcihcr it
rosc to Ihc trngic dignity ot murdcr, or
dcsccndcd to lliesncakinglitllcncss ofpct
ly larCcny. Nor wns it wlmlly curiosity
brought mnny to thc door ofMrs Crum
pct. Thcro wcro some, who, vcry justly
indigtnnt nt thc prying propcusitics of thn
watcli, knew nol whcrc they inight stnp.
Nobody's housc is salc! cricd onc 'Wa
king liiinesl peoplc up in thc dcad of nighlP
cricd othcrs; whilst a fcw dcclarcd, upon
thc rcsponsibiliiy of thcir own invcntion,
tltnt onc of Mrs Crumpei's lodgcrs had mur
dcrcd a bishop on Ilountluw Ilealh, nnd
with n hcathcnish conlcmptof rcligion.had
pawncd thc dcad man's cnnuocals. It was
howevcr, vcry creditable to thc gcncral
sympathy, that cvcry hudy cxprcsscd un-
houndcd sfitislactioii nt Abram's caoapd.
Much of this I hcard whcrc X lav, ns it
soundcd from tho glf cct bcneath; and I