The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-10-22

4 VI epi'Ns, NapOFS, aOO
with all the childish bugbears OF disordered
| iancy. She wocld sometimes concet thas
all the meeting houses were going to be pull
! led down sbou, her ears--thcn take il into
| her head that oil ,be bibles belonging TO her
family were enng 10 DO burnt up, end actu-
ally once Went SO iar rs to prepare foI bury
| ing the in order TO ensure their safety
Sumo OF her servants who were right. cunning
Craftsmen, fellows OF marvellous acuteness
and Of most prolific invention in the ,rade and
! mystery Of story telling, used TO delight in
worrying ,he poor lady almost out of her sen.
scs. They likewise, frequently praclised cp.
teal tricks upon her by snddling her noso
wi,ho pair OF Magical Sneeloeies so con,riv.
cd as TO turn objects upside down---in consc-
quence whereof her vision, by long habit, boz
came pe:ve,sc 20 that degree that, oven with
out her g'asses, il converted, like a eGme,c
obscure, every thing she behcld. Nay more,
the Magical Sheci0eies had SO completely dis
ordered her >i.ual faculties That when by
chance she happened not 10 wear them, tho
most extraordinary decep,ions OF sight PER-
pe,ually tormentcd her. She supposed both
men aud women were walking upon their
heads. She would take the most hprn'lcss
domestic animals for beasts Of prey, and ono
a soul could Get wink Of sleep, rs she clam
orously persisted tbs, n little bob-tailcd cue
which had slipped into her room, was huge
mammoth pursuing her through the woods.
Al another time shc went half crazy from
mis,aking some kittens newly Uttered, for
furious tigers COMB 10 devour her alive and
whole, and had like TO have burnt down her
house by throwing blssng hrc.b,shds at them
t..C Cre thAr In nFnr nj lima
her other senses became affectcd--thc nerves
OF her ears were 50 uctnblingly susceptible
that the slightest motion Of the or sounded
TO her like tornado, and she once went into
swoon from her alarm at Tie chirping OF .
nest OF young chimney swallows Just matched,
which she insisted was the screaming vi Vul-
her pool,ry yard.
Some laborers who cultivated her faim and
who wI,c attached 10 her former spouses
were forced 10 sleep in the bar n both sum mer
and winter. Whenever they endeasored TO
como inside Of the house Tor shelter or pro-
tcction, the fsc,oos knavcs within set upb
dismal hue AND cry, in which the GOOD lady
joined to the very top OF her lungs, .xcisius.
inA that Ell the maids would CO, a,o'y be rniu-
ed. a, such times she would Invariably DO
overtaken with extremely ssnc,imotiious, fits,
in consequence Of some sly doses given her
by her roguish servants, under the name of
revivihs drops. She would then sit down,
cross the bridge Of her nssc with the Msgi.
cal Spcctaces and sing some slaves ofs
hymn so loudly through her nasal organ, thae
she might DO hcard half q mile off, TO tho
great annoyance Of the Dcghbor hood, who
wete a religious, good sort Of people, but
who, nevertheless, thought there was pio-
per tine for all things, and who, from con.
stantly observing tbsi her devotional his Oh
ways came on much stronger just an she was
in he greatest heat Of the quarrel with her
spouse or with the Isborcrs attached 10 his
cause, shrcwdiy suspected her OF q little sane
timonious eflectaion and pbarisaicai osseh's.
,ion. 1t Mas amusing TO sec the conduct OF
The arch jogglcrs OF house servants upon
these occasions. They would form com.
plr,e circle round their mistress, carry up
the stevc in truly edifyiug manner, some.
times shu, their eyes as if 10 strance OF ee-
stacy, a, oihor times open them and roll them
back so Gar that nothing l-s, the whites could
be discerned. Now and then, when they
thought they were unobserved, they would
interchange jokes 10 whispers accompanies
by wink., shrugs and ill.sopprsssed ,ittcfing,
m. ut they knew they were looked at by 9TH
er., their feces were as long ond as cemufo
as cvet. Some Of them would seize the op'
portuniiy Of the good Isdy's fl's OF Devotion
TO creep secretly into tho pantry or eellar''s
make sure ofs asia,y lid BIT or OF some ro'
freshng cordial that might comfort the IN.
ward man Of the s,omoeh--while others who
we're always promoting Law suits end spout
ing 10 court, got suiiably rewarded tor their
zeal By appointments Of chief butler, stew:
I'D, &c down TO bottle eorker, dog whippcf
and overseer 9th hcnfoost. II was remark
ed ,ba, the la, mentioned spoutisg, wind
selling sst after joining In the de'o''ooai
conferences Of the house with solemn viss-
ces, a, least half yard in Longitude, were
frequently, when 10 private among. 'hem-
selves, little humorous and satcas,ic upon
he scenes they had just left, but OF this the
good lady knew oo,hiog, for they wore most
rigid, screwed up aspect 10 her presence, es-
pceisliy ,t the periodical seasons when ihey
went to q,arre,iug with her sposse aud his
.,.,, .e,vants Then was there q most dole