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Tolnmo 0. Niunbcr 5. WOODSTOCK. VERMONT, JULNE 12, 1845. Wliole NiiMber'2;S3 BUSINESS CARDS. O. A. IJHYANT, I Dslerln Enjllih.l'rencli, niid Amcrlrnn Drydooun, VV, 1. (.' iiods, iiinl GrocerU'H, Crockcry,aiHSK nml Ilurd Wnre. Llm Slrtet, 1UELI.ISII & SLADK. lEALEItSIN FI.OUU, W.l. OOODS.tailOCEMES, I AI.SO C0,8TANTLY ON 1IAND, RUIT3,C0NFEUTI'NAUY,SUMMUUDnWKSAND Ulll'Iir.SIIMI'INTS, CCNTlULSTRCUT,OH'0alTi;WIUTNr.V's IIOTEL, Oeo. .MEI.LUII, Geo. ll.tiLADE. A. 3IATCII, & CO. At the old Stanil lidclij occupied by J. g. TRinou: EA!,EngmFi,ouav.i.(iooi)SANi)(!nocEnins. CONFECT ONA IIY.SI 11 IME l llltlN Kri. AM nEFUESIIMUNTS.CONSTANTl.Y ON HAND. CENTRAL STKEET. 22J AiiRi'sri;s iiavkx. vholeiifile Hiiitrutiiilili'.iilar In W.l. RnniN,Tcni,Frutti Wlncs, fcc, iilso, Slnvei. ! urnltnri', ic. D DOOHaUUTII IIEAD OF STATU STIIEliT, Mnntprlitr,Vt, 182 ly UL'SSKI.lifcCI.AItK, A T C II M A K E U 8 A N 1) J E W E I, I, E II S, OrPOHITB WIIITNEY'S 1I0TF.I,. CENTRAL STnEET, R. II. RAIIjEY. inufactrcr nHllver Siisnni nnd Siienlucles.iind Dcalcr in Jewelrv, ( ntlory nml I-nnry t.oous Whnlemile nml Uetnil, 209 OppposileWhitncy't Ilotcl, Ccnlral Strect. IIENRY HATCII, Ontdnoraoutkof Uninn llall, Elm Streel, tin, coprnn, and siieet ihon worker. TIIALES I). WINN, tailor, Samc door wilh N. Randall. iMlCIIAKI. MVEIIS, n i l o b. Over J. Collamcr's Office, Elm strect, i:. VV. SMITI1, Tailor, ovcu f. c nonniNs' offich, Ludlow, Vl. 2IB A3IOS W. WARREN, nr.u.r.n in nooTd.siioi'.s ani i.EATiinn, 11 ImJj uf I.riihcr for falo rlirnp. AUo, Uuots nnd rl'aicEs.-rtilck llnnM. S'.'.'iO--Cntr, pcs;cd,i3; r.fiits S'liics (r cvirv iiMi'rniiion. cweduuola lor 31,1 Will iiiiht wurr. ui iiruiiminni Cisntru. SrnucT. 23Bly 17? jrTrnvEY 11,1-.- f h Imnrnvrd llnh'irt Wo.nlen riMlPS. rThendove Puinpsnro w.irnuilcd tndrnw i lurrcl n n minnte with eisp, uptn n hiimlrcd I'crt. TT All nrilern Irotn a dUliince promplly utU'niUdlo. Ilundolph Vt. 221 II WIUTNFA"S HO'IT.L, orner of Elm and C cntr al slrccis, R V S. AV II I T K Yi EACL E II O T E L, 11Y 1'. 0. ALDEN. convnn of south and anr.EN sTnUBrs. HRICIt STAWE HOUSE, IOVT1I S I D i; D LACK HIVM, J 0 II N 11. SMI T II LUDLOW, VI. 1GI tf Z. F.HYDE, BRICK STAO R UOUSr. , rrnflorsvilKVt. 239 Cm HEN'ItY 'J'. MARsII, 0UE AND SlONrAISTER, AI.SODEAI.nK IN CARIIUOES AND VAItSISII OF UVEUY 111.1.111 r i CENTRAI. liTHCn T. antcrs.nntiilcalerslnOluvir: aiulCarri2e8oal1kinds .IDSIH'A MITOIIP.I.I., (J AUU1 Hfl E A N U S I. U 1 1 11 - M A K E II, 116 II 1 0 II 8TRECT. Unufacturer of, nml ilrnltr in c.ubmtt furnilure tif (iMl'f.l! 13 Tf K 11 . I'leiwinl tftrcct, 213 I)lt. IS. II. I'A L.M K Offlcc In ihc Ilnck lllock nppnsllc Vhltnc'., CENTIIAI. STltEK.T. S. J. ALT.EV, M. I). PIIYS1C1AM AXD SURGEOM, OfTicc nipnltc Whliney'n Ilotcl. ADIN II. IIAMMOVn. TOM30NHV IIOTVNIO PU MJTITION EU, Uplwceii Ihe Mclliodist imd Eplscopal Cliurrlirj. LlVl'.llY S'l'AHLE, D Y ALIinBT PACKCH. Courl flreel. fiOLLAMEU & IJAURETT, L t t o r n e y s n ml Onunnollora a t L n w, Ia CO TI Oo IiL A M F. H. J AM ES II ARn r.TT O. P.CHAXIHjBII, l tto r no v nnd uounscnor at Ln 'V, 203 CentralSlrert, TUACV & COXVEUSB, ttorney n n il C ou n s e U or s ai i.uiv Olllcenvcrtnc HiinK.i;iniain-ctt i, . aTsimis 1 1, ATTOnNEV AND COUNSELLOR AT I.AW Crntrnl Klrerc. HlllVIN IIIITCHINSON. iTTORNF.Y AND COUNSKI.l.OIl AT LAV, WOODSTDLK, V 1. WASinilMtV MAKSII, IvTTOttNr.rs ( cdi'ns i: i. i. o u m , IiranliinrK, i ' rOfflcclntheomlitHvnmipl.-d.n ihe "Cluy Cluli ' V...,.irnnn 1 V. T xVAnnonxi Masler in Chancery. C.l' Maiisii 2"Sl1 Nov.2l,lBll. CALVIN FUENCII, Jlttorney and CoHnxellor at Law, pRocTonsvw.t.r., vt. 251 I. W. RICHAUDSOff. Allorncy and Counsdlor al Lau; WESTON', VT. 251. FitnnuticK c. iiouniNS, ATTOHNIi Y AT L A W : i.udi.ow, vt. 157-lv tVARRBN . FRENCIf. ATTORNK Y A T L A W, biiARON.VT. 233-ly WA TjK E R & SL A 1)E , Jllloincy and CauntcHors al Luw, ROYALTON ,1'T. 125-tf R.WAI.KEH. .H.m.AUE. rilOS. HAKTI.r.TT.Jn.. AltiTntj,CountlhrnnilSrtlk.itorin Chanctry, at i.vnoon. vr. I rr Attcnd. tho Superlnr Onurls In (hecountlef of C.ile pnln, i;ic,urie:inH nnu lyiiiinnuiiiiu IIUNTON & JONES, ATTORNF.VB ANH CnUNS ELLOR8 AT LAW. Chehea, Vt. A. P. IIunton, 203 P. C. Jones. S. R. STREETER, Allorney and Counscller al Law, BARNAnn.VT. 115 J. (1. IIAWKINS, Jiltorney and Counsdlor al Law. FF.I.CIIVII.I.E. VT 94 J. V. DEANE, Allornty and Cowisellor al Law, OAVENDIHH, VT. 105 JAMES M. fill-SON. ATTORNEY AT LAW, CHELSEA, vt. 246.6m SAMUELII. I'RICE, ITTOn NEV Aitncni'wiELi. on WIXDSOR.VT. AT LAW, 990y KICUAKDSON & NICIIOLSON, XI to r ne v a, and Countrllnri at Law Cli(''ter,Wlni!rl;oiinty, Vt. N Riciiardson. 86 A. A. NiciioLsor SEWAMifUlXAM. ATTORME Y AT LA V, LUDLOW, vt. 181-ly iTTe. STOUGHTON, t o n a e y A T L A v. Chultr. VI. 249 RTiODGETT A. WEYfllOUTII, ATTORAEYS A T L A W, IJETIIEL. VT. 256 I r om Ihe I.omlon Piinch. THE STORY OF A F E A T H B 51. HY DOUOLAS jr.nnoi.D. CIIAPTER XVIII. I AJl nUMOVED TO CIIAMP'SIIOUSE. DEATII OF THE OM) RAIt DMA1CER. 'Nnw, sir,' said Ilardnioutli, putting liis hoad into thc ronm. 'Now, ifynti plcase. ' 'Yo'j'll nevcr takc lier to tho round liousc,' sobbed IIrs Crnmtot, forcing pnst him. 'You havcn't tlie hoart, I knnw you havon't; and tlio landlady raised licr voicc to a screnin, and wrung licr liands. 'Bo paticnt, good woman,' sau! Linllcy. Ile thon turncd to tlio ofTiccr. 'Tliis mis- tako will soon be cloared un. Lotonc of your mcn call a coach; vo will whcrc you plcase. Como, Patty.'and thc apothocary, with a comforting smile, gavc 1ns arm to the girl, and lod licr, palc and trembling, from thc room. In a feiv minutcs a coach drovc to thc door, and again uhirled away. The ncighbors dcparted, and Mrs Crum- pet was lcft solitary in licr silent housc. She came into thc room; Innked wandcr ingly nbout licr; cricd 'If I should hang her! Oh, I shall ncver lcnow what slccp 3 again' And ihcn shc went to bed, and lay till lato next morning. In the aftcrnoon, Ikckcy, Mrs Cramp's mr.id, arrivcd with speed in her looks, and I was taken from thc mantel-piccc, and placcd in a bundle ofclothes tobccarricd from thc housc. 'And thc cardmaker's vrry bad thistimel' askcd Mrs Crumpet. 'Quite in carnest, now,' said Bccky,'Miss nssays it's a moral impo3sible he can live. Wcll, I say nothing, Mrs Crumpet, but if she should have a bit ofluck, she won't be long a widdiT.' Mrs Crumpet noddcd as- sent to this belicf, and Bccky, strenglhen- ed in licr opinion, dpparled; thc landlady uttcring nol a syllable on thc evcrits of thc list night. 1 was soon in tho house of tlie old card- maker; soon lieard the chirruping voicc of his young wife. 'You've got all the things, I hopc, Bccky?' 'Every thread, inu'em, aud do you know, mc'ii), I ihink we're in luck to get cm. That's a wicked old woman, thai Mrs Crumpet, nic'm,' said Becky. Terhaps shc is, Bccky,' answcred thc laritablc mislross, 'but whilst thc world's what it is, wicked peoplc arc sometimes nscful.' 'Pretty goings on in her housc, me'm,' said Becky with a knowing look; for it seems she had lieard a very imaginativc vcrsiou of tho atTair of thc higlnvayman and Patty from Mrs Crumpct's cornmuni cative ncighhors. 'Perhaps, mc'm, you didn't know that shc lodges h!ghwayincn and their wives, op worso than that, for what I know; nic'inT 'Ilighwaymcn, Bccky,' cricd Mrs Cramp ith a shudder, and then shc addcd, with decpcv disgust, 'and their wives!' 'Thc man's got o(T just likc 'em.mc'ni; and lcft his wifc, or whatcvcr she may be, to bo hanged in his placc,' said Bccky. ' But that's likc thc wholc scct, mc'm.' I'hc truth is, Bccky, in thc runst unhand- somc way, revcngcu licr own inimiianic glincss upon thc charactcrs of mcn1gen- erally: they had ncver said, thcy nevcr could say, a civil word to her, and it was her especial pleasuro to malign thein. Yes, mc'm' crcpt out at thcchimney, nnd cft il.c poor girl, mc'm, with the walch undcr her bolstcr; such a fcller as that, me'm, why, I'd hang, c'm, by the tocs, mc'm.' Mrs Cramp, with an exquisite sense of thankfgiving, mcrely observed, 'It's blessing I've got back my satin and this dcar feather.' Quite right.mc'mjand as mastcr can't ast much longcr, why should you go out to drcjs whcn you want to go to church op tollauclngh whenyou can makcyour- sclf conifortable at I.omeT You'rc quito right, Becky, I wout be tho pnor trod on thing I havc been I'll show a woman's spirit.' To be sure me'm; and as" master has madc his will as he oujht to do, why mc'm, 'twill bc your own fault if you let any othcr nasty lawycr come near him anin. mc'm.' It was very evident that Mrs Cramp was suddcnly bccome very liidepcndent ofthc irc of her husbaud; for in the coursc ofthc day sho carricd her forbid tlcn fmcry, of which 1 was no small part into the sick man s bctl-room. lnc pa tient was fast aslecp. Mrs Cramp softly approachcd the bcd-sido, pcepiug be twccn tho curtains; and thus, as she sti held mo in her hand, I had a ful! view of ihn old cardmakcr. His face was sharp nnd withered; and his nightcap, half rc movcd fiom hishcad, showcd a fcw short white hairs, liko goose down. I could it t ITm fnmrt nt.fl l,nt m.ln soe at once i.iui nua uiuni had been chaind by a golden mannclc mn.ln ni tlm. miiit. Tho old man's face had in it nothing venerable: it was mero old agc moro decay, without that swcct, Bcereno light, which sometimos givcs to ycars n halo of holincss. Thc young wifc luokcd at her slccping mato in silcncc; aud then, a decp, dccp sigh broko from her almost unconsciously. Sho rctreatcd from tho bed-sido as tho man awoko. 'VVIio's thcre? dcvils, agninl' cricd thc sick man, in a lioarsc, trembling voicc Tho wifc made no answcr, but laying mo down wilh her othcr treasuro upon tho tablc, shc walkcd on tip-toc out ofthc room. 'Who's thcrer' again cricd thc curd makcr; and then hc mumblcd 'Dcvils dovils moro dcvils. And I slitil 1 go a niong 'cm I must go among 'cm no hclp. Damncd darnncd h n ! h a! damned.' For an hour ormoro thc old man ravcd, groaned, and muttcrcd to himself. IIc had, as I lieard, commiltcd no pcculinr wickcdncss in lifc; but his imagination had cnught a discaso from a spiritual counsellor, who, in thc anxicty of his soul for thc dying man, fclt it a duty to con vincc liim that hc must bc damncd. IIc had dcalt incards; hc had madc gold by thc dcvil's toob, and thcro was no hclp for him; thc dovil must have him. This comfortnblc assuranco Mr Uriah Cloudy conccivcd itto bc his Christian duly to pour once a day atlcast into tho cars of thc departmg tradesman; who had such confidencc in tho authnrily ofthc Mitggle tonian, for Cloudy was said to bo nf that enlightened scct that hc gavo him self up to incvitable pcrdition. Ileucc to his crazed pcrceptions, his chnmbcr wasbesct by dcvils, malo and fcmalc; all f thcm wcaring thcf'aces, formsand hab- its of thc kiugs, quecns and knaves of cards; all of thein, by such masqucrade, torturing thc rcmorseful spirit ofthc dy ing ilcaler. 'Oh! Ugh!' hc groaucd 'and thcre, pccping bciweeu the curtains thcre s that cat, the qucen of diarnonds1' Then 10 sat bolt upright in his bed: and.throw- ing his nightcap into thc room.ho scrcam- ed 'Jack of clubs, my time's not up I dcfy you.' At this mnment Becky cntcrcd thc room, Ilcro's Mr Cloudy como to sco you.' Thc namo sccmed to uwaken new ter- ror in thc cardmakrr, for hc fcll back in iis bed.nnd howlcd liko a wolf. In an in- slant thc Mugglctonian was at the bcd sido. 'Why man, that's right: howl howl: it will doyou good, poor doomcd wrctch! if any thing will do you good. Ila! that's sweetmusic sweet as thc sackbut and timbrel,' said the self-complacent Mr Cloudy, as old Cramp yellcd in a higher pitch. This spiritual comforter was a fat, squat man, of largc brcadth of back, uigc Icgs and arms, and a big hcad, thatchcd wilh short black hair, sunk be twccn his shoulders. Ile had larce, rolling, black cyes, a flattcncd nose, and widc dropping mouth, with tho complex ion of antiqiinrian parchmcui. 'And so you'vc sufiorcd, poor wrctched worm! ch' asked Ms Cloudy, comforlably scat- ing himself in an arm.chair by thc bed- sido. Ugh! 1 havc suffcred,' cricd tho card makcr. 'It's a blcsscd thing,' said tho Mugglc tonian. 'But you have sufiorcd? Bcwarc, bcwarc that Bcclzebub doesn't deccivc you. You'rc sure you'vc suffercd? YVell, then, than k Gud!' I do, I do that is, I hopc I do,' an- swfjrcd thc man. 'And now, do you rc- ally, my kind good fricnd my dcar, cliaritable friend do you rcally think 1 shall bc damned? Arc you sure!' 'Cock-sure, cricd Cloudy. 'Ain't you a wrctched sinner? Havcn't you lived upon pcrdition? Have'nt you sold traps for siuncr's souls? IIow many lostshcen have you scnt hcforc you?' 'But then, my dcar friend, I was card makcr to the court: and that tnay go for soniclhins ch? Mnvn't it. mayn't it?' cxclaimcd Cramp, dospairingly. 'Don't hopo if, quite lost if you hope,' answcred Cloudy. 'Wrctched old man! havcn't you put suarcs into tho liands of the wicked? Havcn't you sold beggary, and robbcry, nnd self murdcr? IInw muny prccious souls arc now roaring out ngainst you?' Truc, truc, true!' screnmcd Ihe card makcr 'no hope, no hope!' aud then ho fell back and groaned. In a moment he jumped up again iu bcd, and with such new tcrror iu his face, that he madc his sniritual comforter lcap up too. With an uneasy look, Mr cloudy pullcd thc bell which was immcdiatcly answcred by Beck y. Sho no sooncr thrcw n glanco at her mastcr than shc hurried down stairs, nnd almost immcdiatcly rctiirncd wilh hor mistrcss. 'Ifyou plcnsc, me'm,' I hcnrd hcr say upon the stuirs, 'If you plcnsc, mc'm, he's going mad again.' Mrs Cramp cntercd tho room, nnd to my amazcmcnt burst into tears. 'Dcar Mr Cloudy,' she criodia it como so nour? Is ho roally going?' 'I have seen many things of tho sort,' said thn tranquil Cloudy, 'and I should say rcally going.' Mrs Cramp wiped hcr cyes, nnd, ap prnaching tho bcd, askcd 'Joscph, don't you know mc?' Old Cramp lookcd at his protty young wifc, and, with n smile of imbccility, an swcred, 'You'rc the qucen of licarts.' 'Poor wretch.' groand Cloudy, 'how he's wandering!' 'I'm going I'm going see.how they'ro all about mo! why, tho countorpano's all tcns of diarnonds! And thcre, therc ct my bedside don't you sce him? thcrc's thc king of spadcs digging my grave! And now, uow thcro's two of 'cm on thc quilt!' and thc card makcr roarcd, und his face bccamo hidcously distortcd. 'Thcro's nobody on thc bcd, Joscph; nobody at all, dcar!' said Mrs Cramp, feeling that shc ought to say somcthing. 'Thcre thcy arc,' cricd Cramp; 'two of 'cm. IVo upon thc quilt herc, right upon my knccs playing cribbage for my prccious soul! Ilush! that's tho Jack of, clubs; tho dovil I know him; can't bo mistakcn in him! And thcre that's thc king of licarts: blcss hisswccl face, that's my good spirit. 11a, ha! ho may win 'A drcadfml sight, Mrs Cramp,' said Cloudy; 'but now he's going. Cnmfoit' yoursclf hc can't last now.' 'Ilush, hush! thcy're at it. Tho king of hcarts has first crib. Ila, ha! thc dcvil loses thc dovil loscs.' For morc than an hour Cramp, in his madncss, wnlchcd thc progrcss of a gamc of cribpago played by his good and bad angcl; and, with intcnsc anxiety, lookcd over tho cards, talking loudly of thc for tunc of thc gamc. Nowhe adviscd his good angcl in thc laying out of his crib, and in thc playing ofthc cards; now hc rejoiced and chucklcd at his succc&s, and now spat and gnashed his tccth at tho prospcrity of his dcvil anlagonist. At lcngth thc gamc approaohed its closc; and Cramp sat with his cyes glaring and rivited upon thc countcrpanc, rcsting his chin upon his liands, and, in thc agony of his cxpcctations, scarccly sccmiiig to brcathc. 'Ilush,' hc cricd ; 'thcre is but nne hole apiccc to play, only onc holc, and, with luck, I may be an angcl yct! Silcncc, I say; not a word not a syllnblc. Thc dcv il has to dcal that's bad; nevcr mind thc crib now,' cricd Cramp, still counsclling tho play ol his good angcl. 'You onlv wnnt onc holc, nnd you must get it you must get it. Silcncc; it's you to cut, it's you to What! thc Jack of spades! Onc for his nob. Tlie dcvil bcgs!' And with thcsc words thc cardmakcr sank back upon his bcd, nnd dicd. CIIAPTER XIX. a iiousu or molt.mng i am in creat rnr.n.. a mcssage fiiom the dead. I was in a house of mourniiig. That is, tho shuitcrs wcrc partly closcd; tho cur tains werc drawn; thc dressmakcr had ta ken ordcrs for black;and very dear friends were invitcd to a funcrul. Bccky, the maid I honorcd her rcsolution strug gled hard to look lugubrious, not at all comfortcd by the prospcct of a new gown; whilst the fortitudc of thc bcrcaved Mrs Cramp was an cxamplc to all neuly dc- ivcrcd widows. I protcst I lovcd thc woman for her honcsty. Thc brcath bc- ing fairly out ofthc body of her husband, that is, hcr husband by conjugal law, shc ncither wcpt nor whincd: nevcr caught lciselfin a strangulaling sigh; but wiped all dcfiling gricf from her face asshc would havc wiped fly spots frnm chinn. She lookcd morc than rcsigncd. Erc Cramp was scrcwcd down, I hcnrd her laugh lustily;albcit thc practiscd Becky bcggcd hcr mistress 'not to go on so 'stuically, as 'ttiricks wouldn't bring him back; nnd why should thcy wasn't hc in hcaven?1 Mrs Cramp dcclarcd she couldu't hclp it; and from my heart I belicve thc womnn. 'I was a good wife to him, Bccky,' said tho widow, smiling in tho very swcctness ofconsciencc. When hc was alivc, mc'm I always said vou was too good for him, but now he's just gonc, it isn't right to say so. Siill hc was old mc'm; lliat s on lus collin, so thore'a no harm in sayins that. Nothinas wickedcr than to abuso tho dcar dcad, me'm. Still he was old.' 'IIc was.' said thc uiriow wilh slij'lil cmphasis. 'Ncver could have been good-looking, but blcss him dcar soul! who'd blamc him lor that? Still, hc ncver could hac been handsome,' sighcd Becky. I ncver hcard ot any body who said as much. But what's bcauty ina man, Bccky! Nothintf,Ncverthelcs?,ho wasn't handsome, God knows,' cricd thowidow. 'And then wo all havo our tempcrs mc'm, to be sure. ror all tliai, me m mastcr was a little sour. Someiimc.M, as onc may say, he'd bilc over wilh vinegar, 'IIc mcant nothing, Becky; nothiltg ht all,' said Mrs Cramp. 'It was only in our honeymoon, I remember Ha, Becky! hero ihc widow slightly slmddcred 'I shall ncver forget my honcyinooii!' 'Yes, mc'm but you wcrc going to say what did dcar master do then, mc'm?' 'Sworelikc any troopcr, Becky. But sicknessdid him a dcal of good,' said Mrs Cramp. 'Quite cured him at last, mc'm. And then but it'sacommon faul'. he didlike moiicy a little me'm? and Bccky pauscd. Thc widow made no answcr, but glan cing at hcr maid-servani.drew a long sigh. 'And what was ihc uso me'm? You know he couldnt takc it with him.' Ilcrc a burst of light animalcd the wid ow's facp,aiid she cricd the monysyllable bubbling from her heart 'No.' 'I wouldn't &buse thc dcad for tho world mc'rn; bat peoplc called him an old Jcw,' said Becky. 'IIc wasn't that, Bccky" answcred the widow, in thc mildcst swectcst tono of rc proof. 'But he did like to drive a bargain. He did lovc morc than his penn' orth,' cricd Bccky. 'He was a man ot tho world, Bccky. said Mrs Cramp.' 'Ha! me'm,' said Bccky, hardly know ing thc truth she uttered; 'if somany folks wasn't what they call themselvcs, mcn of thc world, the world, me'm, wouldn't be so bad as it is.' 'I don't think the poor man lcft it worse than hc found it,' observed tho man's widow. 'And then if he wasn't dead I would say it -he used vou like anv Turk.' W J 'It was his fondncss, Becky; at lcast I iopc it was his fondncss.' 'Ila, me'm I've said it agin and agin, you was too good Inr him!' cricd Bccky. My behef at thc timc was, that Mrs Cramp had long been ot her maid's opin ion. llowcver, sho mcrely answered, ihat's over now, Bccky. 'Itt's over and a good thing, too; for nl lougU nobody should spcak ill of tho dcad I must say it a worscr man ncver livcd.' 'Bccky, don't distrcss me; come hcre.' With this meek roproot, Mrs Cramp. ap proachcd whcrc 1 was lying, followcd by her maid. ' 'Twill be a thousand pities,' said thc widow, taking mo gently in hcr hand. 'Quite a sin, me'm, to do it,' said Becky. 'And yct I must go into weeds,' sighcd thc widow. 'All the bettcr, me'm; you do look so nicc in black,' cried thc maid. It is clear, I thought, I have bccn the subject of previous convcrsation, and mis tress and maid arc now discussing my tate. What would bccomc of me? 'A thousand pities to dyc it.'Mrs Cramp still gazing at mc. I trembled at the word through every filamcnt. Dyc me! What1 was I to fore- go, and so soon, tlie snowy purity ol my outsiile? In thc very bcauty of niv white- ness in my excclling candour to be dy- cd pitch black? for no fault of minc, but at tho whirn, the tyrannous capricc of an othcr to bo dcgraded to the neorol 'And yct 'twill wcar a long time dycd,' mused Mrs Cramp. 'Docs't show the dirt, to besure, me'm, 'Still it's a pity. Yct, I must bc black for a twelvemonlh, Becky,' observed the widow. 'You must t o bo dccent me'm,' answered the maid. Suddcnly, however, she thought of a probablc escape, and addcd, 'unless yon marry aforc mc'm.' 'Beforo a twclvemonth! What do )ou think mc Becky! Wcll, wo shall sce,' said Mrs Cramp, laying mo down again, and afterafew momcmls leavins mc in soli- tude. Thc last spccch ofthc widow lcft mo in perplexily; for I kncw not whcther shc had deferrcd thc idca of again marrying within thc year, or of submitting mc tothodycr's mystery; whcther sho was again spcedily to don tho bridal white, or I was to bc im mcdiately doomed to wcar enduring dark ncss. I passed a timc of rcslless misery, I nm sure I felt as a man fccls, condcmncd by inevitable circumstauces to be blacken- ed for lifc, he himself no parly to the ini quily. I fclt thc samc anguish at Ihc thought of losing iny cxterior whitencss; and bcing aftcr a timc uscd in filty dilTcr ent ofliccs for thc convcnicut rcasnn, that thc dirt 1 gathercd would not show. Can it be thus with mcn, I pondercd? Aftcr thc first dip and dye in inky guiftincss, do aftcr-spots go with them for nothing? The purity of their famo once gonc, do they show no futuro dirt? Again I rcasoncd with myscll. What! I askcd, if I am no party to thc pollution, shall I therefore de spair? Say that to outward look I am made black as pitch, shall it hc to mo no con solation that I fccl thc same inwnrd purity that I nm black only to nppenrancc; not black witliin! bucli wcrc tlicn my mu- sitma. I havc sincc learncd to look on mcn with all their fnults, as sometimes little moro than feathcrs in the hands of thc dy er. About ten days had clnpsed from tho old cardmakcr, and I had bcgun tn think myself forgotlen by his ,vidow, wheu shc took mc from a drawcr, and carricd mo down stairs. I might narratc much gnssip of which I was an enr-witness, rcspecling thc solemnity of the luncral, with tho tea and very hospitablo suppcr given on the lamcntablo occasion. All this I pass over. Mrs Cramp I must own as much woro hcr widow's weeds as though shc wasproud of them; many of her fcmalc friends nssur cd hcr that shc ncver lookcd hctter, whilst to onc or two shc confesscd that, to her surprise, she nevcr feltso, Whcn Mrs Cramp had decended to tho parlour, I trembled, for thcre was Becky, plainly prepared tor soino mission. Aftct all, I thought, are thry going to dye mo? 'And now.Becky, you will takc thc leath er ' A peremtory knock at the street-door mutilatcd Mrs Cramp's scntence. Becky immediately answcred the sumraons, and as quickly rcturned- 'Oh, mc'm! it's that monster ofa man, Mr-' Becky was a quick speaker, but crc shd had uttered the word due.Mr Uriah Cloudy personally introduced himself. Now wo mcn have a peculiar dexterity in hiding things; with almost morc than fcmeniner? pidity, Mrs Cramp thrcw me at the back of her chair, and prepared lierself for her visitor. 'Girl, you'rc not wnnled.'said Mr Cloudy to Becky. 'Go into the kitchcu.' The Mugglctonian having been the spir itual adviser ofthc latc cardmaker, for tho once lnstallcd himsell tlio master of Iua widow's maid. Bccky scemed rcsolved to question the usurpation, but a look Irom her mistress sent her grumbling from the room. 'You're quite happy Mrs Cramp?' ask cd Cloudy. 'Happy as can be expected,' answcred the widow. 'It's a blessed thing I'm left executor,' said tho Muggletoman. Mrs Cramp aaid nothing. 'And now Mr3 Cramp, I'm como upon a solemn business, I come to bring vou thc words of the dead!' 'Mr Cloudy!' cried the widow,anxtouslyj as though half-expccting somo unpleasant communication from her buried husband. You kncw my Itebecca? Well, wasn't shc a woman? A weddinff-rinc? wasn't ost upon hcr, was it? Well, she kncw sho was dying. Dcar creature! She kncw cv crything. It was strange that she should goonly a month before your poor manjbut she knew hc'd follow her; sho knew it, ma'm; she kew it ma'am; shc kncw it. And so she called me to her, and said, 'U' ria, will you lake my last words to that dear angel ofa woman, Mrs Cramp?' Dear an' gel werc her very r.orda, or I'm the worst of sinners. Itebecca savs I, make votir miud quite casy, I'll tell her every sjllablc. Then she takes hold of my hand just as I takc hold of yours, Mrs Cramp and says, Uriah, I'm a-going,and Mr Cramp iscom- ingaiier me. xou and Mrs.Crnmp will ho left alonc in thc world. She'3 a dear wo man, and ' I don't know what you mcan, Mr Cloudy,' cricd thc widow, ncver divining human mcaning bettcr in all her lifc. 'It's only my respcct for thc dead, Mrs Cramp, that makcs mc offend you; but Itebecca promiscd to haunt inejifl didn't do as shc beggcd mc. She's a dear wo man, she said, nnd, as I think, has al ways had an honest rcgard for you. 'When I'm gonc, Uriah, you'll be left a poor unprntcctcd creature in tho world. Nobody to look to your wants; to take care ofyour darning your linen, and your nice little hot suppcrs. Oh, Uriah! I couldn't rest in my grave ifl thought it; and so, in dcccnt time, go to that dcar Mrs Cramp when she's a widow, and givo hcr my lovc and my complimems, and say, if shc'd be really happy in this lifc, shc'll much obligc me by marrying you.' ' With thesc words Uriah Cloudy dropt upon his knecs, and Mrs Cramp suddcnly jumping from her scat, tho chair lell back lothcfloor. Bccky, start- lcd by thc noisc, rnu into thc room, nnd picking mc up, hid mc undcr hcr cloak. 'Whnl's thc mattcrme'm?' sho cried. Mrs Crrmp could givc no answer, but burst into a violcnt fit of laughtcr. 'It's nothing, Becky, nothing,' said tho Muggletonian; 'only tnking on nbout your poor ninstcr.' CIIAPTER XX. jius citAJir's neivsuitop.i the widow's CAP. 'You ncedu't wait for Mr Cloudy, I'll show him out.' said Mrs Cramp. 'And Bccky, go direclly wheie I told you. You know,' addcd tho widow signilicant ly, and I fclt Becky clutch mc closer as shc answcred, 'I know, me'm;' nnd shc immcdiatcly turncd from thc room. Ercr howcvcr, shc closcd thc strect door, l hcard Mrs Cramp loud in hcr silver laughtcr; agnin (svidcntly tnking on- (or D. C. BlOMBTT, D r Wjtmoutii,