Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-25

ble--and that, as he had been informed was
celebrated for my charitable actions, he hop
ed would afford him little assistance
was rather pleased at the strangers address;
hut how he came to be informed that was
celebrated for my. charitable actions, J con-
fess cannot very well comprehend; for,
with the exception of a penny / threw to
little boy who continued scraping on the tlddie
under nv window one day after dinner when
was falling asleep, do not think l have
given away farthing in charity for the last
nine months. The Spanish refugee, how
ever, in green spectacles, had done me the
honor to single me out, probably IN conse-
uuence ofthe air of distinction which my ne"
coat gave me, and it would have been very
inhuman in me not to have presented INN
with half crown He received it with
much gratitude, and went on towards Cal
ton-hili
Passing the Waterloo Hotel, encounter
ed cloud of dust, which did not at all like,
but which | was philosopher enough to
submit to. Severe evils were awaiting me-
After had assembled the hill, the day sud-
denly overcast big heavy drops OF rain be-
gan to fal-faster and faster-tlll thunder
shower came tun bling down with irresistible
violence Good heaven! raln-thunder ram
upon new coat-the very first day l had
ever put it on l turned back-1 ram
few-but in vain! Before could reach the
nearest place Of shelter, | was completely
drenched could have wept, but was in too
great agony to think Of weeping When
rot to the east end Of Princes street, there was
not coach on the stand / might have gone
into Barry's or Mackay's but it would have
been OF no use, l was as wet as could be- =
/ walked straight home thro' the splashlng
streets. do not think was in my right rea-
son. was to have dined out in my new coat,
and now it would never look new again =
| it was soaked in water / Put my hand In
nv rocket mechanically to take out my
handkerchief don't know why; Hea-
ven and earth it was gone; my pocket had
been pckea had lost my new handker-
chief. The horrible conviction flashed up
on me that the Spanish refugee in green
spectacles, VINO had complimented me OIL my
| charitable action, and to whom | had given
| half crown, took it from me.
| reached home, more dead than alive. -
threw oil my coat, and sent it to the kitchen
10 be dried. My cook is very good woman
but she is rather fat sat by myself, medi-
tating upon the uncertainty of human life. -
My reverie lasted long while. Suddenly
an odour like that of singed sleeps head
reached my rostrIis. | started up; in mo-
ment the fatal truth crossed my mind l rush
ed into the kitchen my cook was fast asleep;
and my coat was smoking before the fire,
burnt brown in dozen different places, with
here and there several small holes. | siezed
a carving knife TO stab the cook to the heart,
but, in my impetuosity, tumbled over kit
chen tub, and as fell, my head struck with
bump upon the cooks lap. She started up,
and calling me ''base MONSTER" fed from
the kitchen as fast as her dumpy- legs would
carry her duu,pier carcass. l thought COM
hitting suicide but Just at that moment the
chamhermad came to tell me that the tailor
had called TO know how liked my new coat.
pushed my arm through one of the holes
;hat had been burned in the back of it--totter-
ed into the dining-room where he was waiting
for me-aud fell in a swoon at his feet.