Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-11-27

! agreeable company, ne nad pald no at
tention to the lateness Of the hour; and
advised her to call him aside, and repeat
to him, her inability to lodge him. She
accordingly sent her maid to him, and
then, with as much temper as she could
command, recapitulated the situation OF
her family--observed that it grew late,
| and mildly iEtimated, that he would do
well to seek himself lodging. The
doctor replied, that he would, by no
means, imcommode her family; but that,
with her leave, he would smoke one
pipe more with her boarders, and then
retire.
He returned to the company, filled his
pipe, and with the first Whit, his power
of converse returned with double force.
He recounted the hardships; he ex-
tolled the piety and policy Of their an
cestors. A gentleman present mem
tionedthe subject Of the days debate IN
the house of Representatives. A bill had
been introduced, to extend the preroga-
tives of the royal governor. The doctor
Immediately entered upon the subject; ;
supported the colonial rights with new
and forcib,e argument; was familiar
with the names of the influential men in
the house when Dudley was governor;
recited their speeches, and applauded
the noble defence of chamber rights.
During discourse SO appropriately
interesting to the company, no wonder
the clock struck eleven, unperceived by
the delighted circle; nor was it wonder
full that the patience of Mrs. Frank lin,
by this time, grew quite exhausted.
She now entered the room, and, before
the whole company, with much warmth,
addressed the doctor; told him, plainly,
she thought herself imposed on; OBJ
served, that it was true, she was lone
woman; but that she had friends who
would protect her, and concluded, by
insisting on his leaving the house. The
doctormade slight apology, deliberate
ly put on his great coat and hat, took a
polite leave of the company, and ap-
preached the street door, lighted BY the
maid, and attended by the mistress.
While the doctor and his companions
had been enjoying themselves within, a
most tremendous snow storm had, with
out, filled the streets knee deep, and no
sooner had the maid lifted up the latch,
than roaring north-easter forced open
the door, extinguished the light, and al
most filled the entry with drifted snow
and hail. AS soon as the candle was re-
lighted, the doctor cast woful look to-
wards the door, and thus addressed his
mother.-My dear madam, can you turn
me out of your house, in this dreadful
storm III am stranger in this town, and
shall certainly perish in the streets.
You look like charitable lady; |
shouldn't think you couldtu dog from
your door on this tempestuous night.
Don't tell me of charity, said the Offend
ed matron; charity begins at home; it
is your own fault you tarried so long.
To be plain with you, sir, don't like
your looks, or your conduct; and l fear
you have some bad designs, in thus in
Producing yourself to my family.
The warmth of the parley had drawn
the company from the parlor, and by
their united interference, the stranger
was permitted to lodge in the house !;
and as no bed could be had, he consented
to repose on an easy chair, before the
parlor fire. Although her boarders
to confde, perfectly, in the
strangers honesty, it was not so with
Mrs. Franklin; with suspicious caution,
she collected her silver spoons, pepper
box, and porringer, from her closet; and
after securing the parlor door, by stick
ing fork over the latch, carried the
plate to the chamber, charged the negro
man to sleep with his clothes on; to take
the great cleaver to bed with him, and to
waken, and seize the vagrant at the first
noise he made in attempting to plumber
the house. Having thus taken every
she retired to bed with her
maid, whom she compelled to sleep in
her room.
Mrs. Franklin rose before the sun,
reused her domestics, unfastened the
parlor door, with timid caution, and
was agreeably surprised, to find her
guest quietly sleeping in the chair. A
sudden transition from extreme mistrust
to perfect confidence, was natural. She
awakened him with cheerful good
mornlng-inquiring how he had rested
land invited him to partake of her
breakfast, which was always ed pre-
vious to that of the boarders. And pray,
sir, said the old lady, as she slipped her
chocolate, as you appear to be stranger
here, to what distant country do you be-
long? l, madam, belong to the city of
Philadelphia. At the mention of Phila-
delphia, the doctor declared, he, for the