Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-12
ROVrpEN
HOUSEKEEPERS.

"CIO tWO uoufyt IUluulc uRcu ulcE-
chants; they wore either Dutch or Germans;
l know not which. but their name was Wander
clump. Most decided old bachelors they were.
with large, lcathern, hanging checks, sleepy
eyes, and round shoulders. They were men
not gwen 10 much speech, but great feeders;
and, when waited upon, would point clumsily
Tor what they wanted, and make a sort Of low
growl, rather than be al the trouble TO speak.
These Messrs. Vanderclump were served by
$50 tall, smooth faced dowdies; I never could
discover which held tho superior station in the
incnlge. Each has been seen tottcring home
from market, with a basket on her arm; each
might be observed to shake n dus,er out Of the
upper windows; each would occasionally car
~ a hugo bunch Of keys, or wait at table du-
ring dinner; and in the summer evenings when
it was not post-day, both Of them would APP
pear, dressed alike, sitting at work at the low
er counting-house window, with tho blinds
thrown wide open. Both. ] suppose. were
L.o..shrcpcrs. 1t happened one cold, foggy
spring, that The younger brother, Ms. Peter
Vandcrclump, left London to transact some
business Of importance with n correspondent at
Hamburgh, leaving his brother Anthony to the
loneliness Of their gloomy house in st. Mary.
Axe. Week after week passed away, and Po'
ter was still detained at Hamburgh. Who
would have supposed that his society could
49, - 'N''' 'p'S tbah Nht III " navy
seemed more disnalIy dull by the absence Of
one Of those from whom il chiefly derived its
character Of dullness. Mr.. Anthony took up
his largest morcha IN. aud enveloped himself
IN It's smoke by the hour; but the volumes of
smoke cleared away, and no Peter Vandcr-
clnmp appeared emerging from tho mist. MIR.
Anthony brought some Of his heavy io!ios from
below; and IN their pages of interest, (no com.
non, but often compound INTEREST," lost for a
while the dreary sense Of loneliness. But u
question was to DO asked! Peters solemn
yah or "nein," was waited for in vain.
Forgotful and almost impa tent, Anthony look
ed up the chair was unoccupied which his
brother had constantly filed. Mr.. Anthony
began 10 sigh = he got into a habi, of signing.
Betty and Molly (tl,ey were soft hearted bag
gagcs) felt for their master - piticd their poor
master! Bcity was placing the supper on the
table onc evening, when her master sighed
heavily. Ect,y sighed also; and The corners Of
her mouth Tell their eyes mot - so Icthing like
a blush %crimsoncd Be,'y's sleek shining cheek,
when, on raising her eyes again, her master
was still staring at her. Betty simpered and,
in her very soft, demurc voice, veniured to say,
Was there anything she could do ?" Mr..
Vanderclunp rose up from his chair. Betty,
for tho first tune felt awed by his approach.
"Batec!" he said, &" my poor Bitco! Ha! you
are u very PoOl H!I! lo CnuCkcd UcT unucr
the chin with his large hand. Betty looked
meek and blushcd. and s~impercd again. There
was a pause--Mr. VandercluInp was The FIRST to
disturb it, "Hah!" "hah!" he exclaimed.
g%ruiiy, as IL suddenly recolIecting himself; aud
thrusting both hands into his capacious breeches
pockets, he sat down 10 supper, and took no
further notice Of Betty that night.
Tho next morning, tho sun seemed TO have
made u successful struggle with the dense Lon
don atmosphere, and shouu full in Mr.. Wander
clupp's face while he was at breakfast, setting
"A piping bullinch singing "A tune which his mas
tci loved rather for the sake Of old associations
than from any delight in music. Thon Lloyd's
list was full Of arrivals, and the price current
had that morning some unusual charm about u,
which ! cannot even guess at. Mr.. Wander
clunp looked upon the bright and blazing lire;
his eyes rested, with a calm and husing salts
faction in the light Volumes Of steam rising
from tho spout of tho tea kettle, as it stood,
rather murmuring droasily than hiss ng, upon
the hob. There was, he might have fc'i, n
sympathy between them. They were bo.h
placidly pulling out the warm and wreaihiny
smoke. lie laid down his p!po, and took hall
Il wei! buttered muffin into his capacious mouth
nj Il bite; he washed the mouthlui down with
al4rge DISH oftea, aud he felt in better spirits
That morning lie entered the contingencies
r'bJlng his hands. Within an hour, u crowd
OF huge, dIsky clouds shut out the merry sun
slime, an the HLmbursh mail brought no It'd
iDg4 whatever Of MIR. Peter. Mr.. Anthony
worked himself up TO a thorough i'll humor
agin, aGd s"ogo at his clerks because they
asked hHA questions. Wncn Le entered his
apartment, that evening he felt more desolaie
than ever. Betty placed o barrel ofoystcrs Oh
the table he Needed her not-a large German
sausage hUs eyes were GGcd on the ground -
a p.e,e of Hamburg beef Mr.. Vandorcluuip
boxed up frr an instant, and Europa Ike, his
tho iallls crossed the sea, upon that beef to
ii ,mbirg. Gradually. however, a genial
warmth spread throughout the room; TO, Betty
stirred up tac fire, aud lot down the ~curiains,
aud snu,lod The DIN candies; while Molly load
ed tho table with bottles Of Divers shapes and
sizes, a basin Of snoS-whIte sug ,r, and a litle
basket OF lines, If well known and exquisite
ntvOr, placing AT The same time, a very small
kettle OF boiling water on The fire. away,
Mullce, my goot gIrl!' sad MIR. Viuderclump,
III a low aud somewhat melancholy tone, Gas
eyes had mechanically followed these lattor
pro.cGd,ng',) "Mollec! that Is ponch!' ola,
sir. aud why not" replied the damse', almost
p.ayiu.l,; Z" why not be comfortable and
,hcoiy /! | aa suro;'' and hero she meant TO
looh encouraging, her usual snnper spreading
To a sniilc; e an sure Bsity and I would do
oui bcst 10 make YOU So &C ,oi girls, goot
cir,si' said Mr.. Vandorclump, his ego liked all
the winlo upoi the supper table he sat do"n
tn II. my gopt g',is,".sad he. soon alter,
you may 60 down. ! do not want you. you
need not wat" Tho two tmid, gentle cIca-
lures Instantly obcyed. Moro than an hour
elapsed aud then V,nJorcInmp's bell rang.
Tho two maironly miidens woru very blsil
employed IN making a new cap. Bciiy roSa OF
ontu; bat suddenly, rocolleciing that SIC had
boon Try ing on kor now and unia.shod cap.
and had thea only a ANAL brown cotton skull
cap on her head, sl'c raised both hor hand TO
hor head to bo certain OF this, ana then SAID