Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-21

ed dt the inner uOO., nut tue CDiIu cry
ing most Justify, and prevented he
knocks from, being heard. The oil
| beggar, although she had just come from
the church where Fir. Seeheim ha,
been preaching sermon against men
deity and theft, had not profited by hi
exhortations. The first she was alread,
committing and tho sight Of the pie in
duced her to commit the other. Sh'
seized the masterpiece of pastry will
the gilt upon it, and made the best o
her way down stairs. just as she reach
cd the bottom she heard some one en-
tor the passage; and thinking the bes
way of avoiding detection would be te
turn back again, she mounted the stair
case rapidly, and, passing the tailor's
door, went still further up stairs. The
person whom she had heard, followed
her, and she saw it was Mr.. Seeheim
who was all the while congratuIatine
himself on the effect which he though,
his sermon would have in diminishing
tho practices Of beggary and theft.
The old womon felt herself already in
the hands of the police when she found
that she could not get higher than the
second floor, and that Mr.. Seeheim was
behind her. A sudden thought occurred
to her, which, as it promised her safety,
she did not hesitate to put in practice.
Making up demure face, she told the
preacher thar she had been sent with the
pie as present to him and his wife and
begged his acceptance Of it, with as
many compliments as she could invent
Off hand.
"But who is il that has sent it, my
good woman1" said the parson, perfect
y dozzled at the sight Of so handsome
present.
The old woman had her cue here, and
said she had been expressly forbidden
10 tell. Mr.. Seeheim believed her; and
seeing the gilded S on ,he pie, convinc-
ed him it had been made for him, and
.obody else. He gave the woman
something for bringing the pic, and re-
turned to her the pewter dish on which
il had been sent.
The old hussy, delighted at having
got so we'll of, hurried down stairs as
fast as possible, and, gaining the street,
got clear away.
Madame Seeheim was delighted with
her husbands handsome present. 'One
would almost believe,' she cried, that
we live in times when good deeds meet
with certain and prompt reward Yes
terday you read to me your sermon
against mcndicity and theft, and to-day,
almost as soon as you have finished
preaching it, this handsome present is
sent to YOU
Mr.. Seeheim tried in vain to guess
who it could be that had sent him this
pie. He fixed upon and rejected vari-
Gus personages; and at last ended by
declaring that he could not satisfactorily
attribute this compliment to any one Of
his acquaintance. While he was oc-
cupied with these agreeable reflections,
a scene of very different nature was
acting in the floor below. As soon as
the loss of the pie was discovered, a
noise and confusion, which may easily
be imagined, had ensued. Each person
accused the other of inattention and
negligence, but the tailor internally
blamed himself for the ostentation with
which he had displayed the pie; and but
for which the accident would not have
happened. He enjoined his maid ser
want, under threats of immediate dis
missal, not to say word Of the matter
to any one, in order that he might at
least void the SCOTS Of the preacher and
his wife, who, he concluded, would be
delighted to hear Of his misfortune.
The inmates OF the second floor, in
the meantime, had tried the. contents Of
the pie, which they found excellent. -
Madame Seeheim had just finished din
ner, when she said to her husband, /
can't imagine what has happened below;
but there is a great noise in our nei gh-
bour's rooms. hope no accident has
happened to the poor woman who is
confined
"I should indeed be very sorry"
said her husband; "for although don't
want our families to be united, they are
very honest people, and I have a great
regard for them. They have, upon
many occasions been very civil to us;-
and | should not be sorry to make the
first advances for reconciliation, sup
pose we send down some Of the pie to
the lying-in lady,"
Madame Seeheim readily accorded
with her husbands propositions; and, as
she also knew that Mrs. Heftelmeyer's
name was Sophia, she sent that part of
the pie on which the gilt s was placed
While the servant carried this peace