The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-15

Neither of US being very laxative, the
Kind hearted old man brought forward ar
earthen pitcher deprived of nose and han
die, filled with what he termed "frst-rate
old orchard" "a few pulls at which set us
a-going. Our conversation turned first tc
the goodness of the cider, which he attribu-
ted to the time of the moon and the direc.
ton OF the wind, when it was made. He
then set upon the hearth a wooden bow
filled with half-rotten apples. These he
labored hard to prove were superior to any
sound ones that could be procured at any
other place for many miles around. be-
came convert to all his notions and sig
nlfied, either by silence or by words, my as
sent to all he said. Having treasured up
In his heart the proverb that I" they that
wont work, must MT eat," he had wrested
the true meaning from this Invaluable max
inland dispensed with breakfaetvIenoon
I fiji nothing better than enquiries into the rat
ural causes why an old bachelor is usually
rich, why be is so much kinder to dogs and
cats than other men, and so on. But fear
| am going too far into details, and there
fol e pass to our dinner, which the Corporal
spared no pains to render worthy of his
Yankee nephew. 1t consisted of bean-por-
ridge, skinned milk cheese, and few dry
crusts ofbread, venerable in the eyes of the
giver, for its antiquity, and for being pru-
dent, safe meal. that would give man
twice as much strength as one from the ia
BILE of modern epicure.
After dinner about half an hour was
spen. in a sort of sociable half-and-half-
chat. l was then invited into the different
rooms of his mansion, for though small, it
was divided into several apartments. | en-
tered his bedroom, in which his library,
containing fifteen volumes neatly covered
with red baize, was deposited. Among the
volumes, recollect Fishers Young Mans
! Companion, Webster's Third Part, a state
ly volume on calculating interest, with a
great number of tables for the purpose
! another on the way to long life, The
Prompter, and Ovid's art of Love all Of
which, with the exception of The Prompter
he informed me, he read through once in a
year. Knowing but little of books, and
having been told that many of the philoso-
pliers of old times lived retired and odd
lives, hoped that | might now be with u
man of extended views. Having seen
enough of every thing else he had, grew
impatient for a peep into his money box.
But on this subject he was silent as the
grave. After trying every other expedient,
and discovering nothing that looked like
filling my purse from his Golfers, l at last
had recourse to f1attery, which had some
where heard would often make the mos
niggardlv old bachelor profuse of his wealth
I In this way, | caused him several times tc
contract the skin of his large framed face
! into Fuckers. and to throw out several things
in praise of himself-how that he had ac-
CURED large estate by his own industry,
now having in his possession a three feet
| box closely slowed with silver and gold
besides securities for considerable sums
My hopes were raised to such a pitch that
| imprudently dropped something that led
him to suspect the object of my visit. He
now began to treat me with more reserve
When the sun was sinking behind the hills
in the west, he informed me that he could
not accommodate me with lodgings for the
ensuing night, but that some Of the inhabit-
ants within few miles on my way back.
would do it for small compensation. Judge
of my feelings at this moment | was far
distant from home without either money or
| friends. Stung with modification and an
ger, had frequent temptations to set the
old miser adrift upon the charity u the
world, and take absolute possession of all
he had myself. But called to mind that
in our country, even an old bachelor could
resort to the law for protection and defence
determined, therefore, to measure my why
back again to the disputed territory o
Maine, though I should perish in the at
tempt. By the kindness of strangers, wa:
enabled to reach my fathers house, where
| resolved never again to seek assistance
! from rich relatives, nor to trust to the gen
crosby of any other in old age, nor in dy
J ing hour.
A MATcHLEss VENTRILoQUIsT. The
celebrated Monsieur Alexandra, whose
powers of ventriloquism have been so mucl
admired. seems 10 be out dors in his art
by an American bird, the yellow breasted
chat, (Pipra Pollyglotta.) When the haun
Of this bird is approached, he scolds the in
truder in an endless variety of odd, uncoutl
monosylables, difficult to describe, but east
ly initiated so as to DECEIVE the bird him
self, and draw him EDWARDS to It good dis
lance. In such case, his responses are
constant and rapid, expressive of anxiety
and anger; and, while the bird is Away!
unseen, the voice shifts from place to place
among the bushes, as if proceeding from
spirit. First are heard short notes, likt
the whistling of ducks wings, beginning
loud and rapid, becoming lower and slower
till they end in detached notes. Then sue
ceeds something like the barking young
puppies, followed by variety of guttura
sounds, like those Of the same quadruped
and ending like the mewina of a cat bu
much hoarser. All these are given will
great vehemence, and in different keys, S,
as to appear sometimes at great distance
and instantly again quite near you. Il
mild, serene moonlight nights, it continue
this motley medley of ventriloquism tn
whole night long, responding to its owi
echoes-.4merScan Ornithology.