The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-06-12
From the Evening Post.
THE HOUSE-CLEA.NINC.

''NAOhiNA SUN t"ChiJ CtSHL Hul!utCu
years ago, that call is vanity and vega
ton Of spirit" He has not informed US
of the cause of the trouble that drew
forth this melancholy apostrophe; but
it is most probable he had found one Of
his wives cleaning house, and perhaps
he had met some misfortune similar to
the one | am about relating.
1t is four years this hcuse-cIean;ng
since made VOW that if everI should
be master Of house, would throw the
first house-cieaner that made her APP
pearance in it out of the second story
window. The truth is, as you will per-
ceive, had some cause of complaint;
and cannot TO this day behold cham
BERNARD without sbuddering. still re-
member the demoniacal grin of one of
these devils when she would say as she
came ont of my room, that she had only
"put things little TO rights" | once
broke her of this trick for two whole days,
by placing in her reach charged electri-
cal jar; but she soon forgot the shock,
and returned to her old habits. NV pa
tience was at last exhausted persuad-
ed my father, after much coaxing, to
build me small room in the garnet, for
study. | shrewdIy suspect that he felt
some sympathy for me himself, though
he did not acknowledge it. BE that as
il may, gained my point. So soon as /
got possession of my room, my first
thought was how effectuaIly TO secure il
from all intruders. For fear, therefore,
that in an unsuardcd moment, should
leave the door open, | contrived pull
ley; but as shutting the door was Of it.
self no security, | procured spring lock,
SO that the moment | let the door go, it
shut aud locked itself.
Having taken these precautions, | con-
sidered myself safe, and began operations.
! had long been fond Of mineraiogy and
botany, and during frequent visits to the
country on account ofmy health, had
opportunities to pursue my beloved stud
les without interruption, and had made a
collection Of minerals. and an herbarium.
1t is true they were not very extensive,
Blu. then they were all in all to me.
had never yet dared TO bring them out
of their hiding place in an old chest; but
now | spread them out before my de-
lighted eyes: I arranged my minerals
and classified my plants-I was never
tired of surveying them. About this
time attended MIR. Griscom's lectures.
aud acquired taste for chemistry and
philosophy. My room was soon filled
with wheels, levers, pulleys, and inclined
planes. BY some plan too, which don't
recollect now, contrived to. procure all
the acids and alkaiis, and indeed all the
simple and most of the compound sub
stances in nature. In word, | was a
young Philosopher. ] had written an
essay on some petritactions, which had
found, and on this | fixed my hope of
literary fame. ! had been three months
preparing it, and it was at length ready
for publication. 1t was now spring and
housekeeping was at hand. Every day
| was met on the stairs by whole
tribe Of scruhbers, white-washers, paint
cleaners, &c. sc. begging me to let them
Z" only clean the room-they would not
touch any thing; indeed they would
not" was inexorable. remember
had just built small furnace, and one
day had put some sulphurc acid in the
retort. This acid is better known by the
name foil of vitricl; after making fire
| locked the door, and went to attend to
some business. When | returned, the
house was in an uproar found they
had by some means got into my labora-
tory, but how | never knew. One of