Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-19

out either shoes oil his feet, or stockings on his
legs. He, like other men, had sometimes 'bu-
siness al the toon;' and this being the case with
him on Wednesday the 10Th utimo, he puts in
TO the pocket of his velveteen brooches few
shillngs to bear expcnses,-or, we might say
with more propriety, merely TO bear him COM
panv-besides which he took from the draecer
Two pound notes, to be expended in purchases
of some sort, and wrapping them carefulyin
linen rag, with Mrum round the whole, off he
set on foot towards Dumfries. On entering
Maxweltown, he beheld 'thimble-man' bust
ly plving his vocation among a knot OF young
and old children, and he stopt to gaze, with
unhaIIowed eyes, on the manner in which the
all-important pea was shifted from thimble 10
thimbie, and how those who strove 10 discover
its true hiding-place were disappointed in their
coniectures. He saw one BOBBY lose IS. cd, al
ter which little boy lifted one of The thimbles,
and, TO appearance, placed it upon the pea
! 'Dog ont, haze We moo, my man. cried the ca
ger elder, who had entered with his whole soul
into the spirit Of the game. Stand back" cried
he to the crowd as he rushed forward to the Ia
be- sHere, my lad, III lay We twa pun that fin
90, the pea for ance for a yer juckery.packery.
Table your money said he OF the thimbles.--
The elder Immediately broke the thrum, unfold
ed the linen rag, and spread out his two notes
upon the table, beside which were laid other
two by the master Of the ceremonies. Now,
which one is it UNDER asked the uggler.-
Allow this anc, replied the elder; 'il's here as
sure as Pm levin Well, the ,himble referred
to was lifted, but--no pea was there! The el-
der stared with both mouth and een;' the small
and great children around were moved to
laughter; the winner lifted another ,himble
under which the pea was snugly deposited, and
| convinced the gentlemen that no deception had
| been practised, and then lifting the money, he
thrust il into his breeehes pocket, and the eld-
cr's heart along with it. This movement arous-
ed the elder from his rance ofgriet and amaze
ment he uttered lamentablc cries about lnJus-
lce, and ran for baile; but he Of the Thin
bles had the sagacty to lift in the interim his
table and apparatus, and 10 remove out oil
harm S way. All day the poor elder was in pi-
table plight; his beloved notes were ever pre-
sent 10 his minds eye, and when he returned and
drew near to his dwelling at night, the sense OF
his folly pressed so heavily upon him, that he
actually stood stock still, and-O, unchristian
thought!-demurred for long period whether
| he should enter the house, or ever see his wife
and children more. At length, however, in he
went; and as the arch Enemy of ali, but parti-
cularly of elders, would have it, there sat bro
Their Back-coat awaiting his arrival, to learn the
news 'irae Dumfriesh.' VIVA, was then our
worthy to do? He was aware that sorrow OF
heart was visible on his countenance, and that
| therefore, he could not escape being questioned
respecting it; and unless he lied how was he to
avoid exposing his 'backslidngs" 60 10,
will amend my way said he to himself as he
drew near the ingle; my sin sits heavy enough
on my conscience already without the guilt OF
leein' beein' added till't.' SO down he SAT- and
in the lapse of :hree minutes informed the whole
house Of his disaster. The lecture which he re-
ceiyed from his brother elder was tremendous,
bat he bore it, to speak in obituary phrase, with
Christian fortitude and resignation; and to the
angry interroga,ory, 'What in a the yirth tenn
pet We to risk bath yer sillcr an yer hopes O
grace on sick proieck" he replied only in
these brief but solemn words-'strong advice
from behindl' The gudewife, though she adj
verted not to the risk of spiritual death which
he had run, expaliated loudly and eloquently
upon the enormous madness Of losing so vast
sum as two notes in such manner and The
poor delinquent, thus sore buftcted, and groan-
| ing in the spirit, could only calculate, 'Weel,
| maun confess that haze game wannerin' IN the
paths o. vanity, that leads to destruction, and
that / deserve this hard chasten'; but my
prayers sail yet atone fort to Heaven, an if ye
forgie me too, protest that sail hahn the claes
off my back, an the meat out O. my stamak,
an mor,ify the flesh an the lusts thereof till
the siller be every iardin made up again.
What could man do more? The gudewife's
railing died gradually away; but the elder rose in
holy Indignation, and shook the dust from off
his feet at parting and whether the adventure
may become subject Of discussion in the kirk
session, is not yet fully ascertained.
Communicated for the PHILADELPHIA Gazette