Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-01-07

kept teasing him into gradual compliance
with their wishes. First he was prevailed on
to dine at FIVE, instead of two O'Clock; second
ly, TO listen to his daughters execution of
"Oh! tits love, tbs love," sung with twist of
the mouth peculiarly provocative of that
passion; and, lastly, Qhe severest cut of alb
to give Conversations to his sons literary
acquaintance.
At these parties strange and talented
group never failed to present themselves
All were men OF genius, but exhibited in their
respective persons, proofs of the amazing
rancour that subslsts between genius and gen.
tility. Among them was lively lrishnian,
named O'Biarney, reporter for the daily
press, with sandy hair, nose that turned up
like fish hook, and mouth which. from its
extensive dimensions, afforded the most CO.
pious facilities for grinning. This promising
young Papst, whose estates unfortunately lay
in the most Protestant part OF Ireland, was
the very gem of MIR. Simpkins' parties: and,
as he mixed much in fashionable society. and
could beat even a negro in dancing. his pre-
sence never failed to create lively sensation
at Crutchcd-Fuars Another of the old gem
ucman's guests was rising yersiiier of TWEEN
y-two, whose appearance would have been
sentiment itself, had not a pair of dingy whis-
kers, which grew back towards his ears, as il
enamoured of the latter's unusual length, Civ
en- him slight touch of the grotesque. As it
was, his fine, open, full blown face, resembled
a cherub on country tomb stone. 1t would
be injustice to acknowledged ability were |
here TO omit the mention of another poet,
whose genius taking an uxorious turn, explo-
ded IN admiring apostrophes to his WIFE,
This bard displayed infinite sweetness of YER
slticatlon--as the extracts from the different
reviews, inserted accidentally atthe end of his
volume--assured him. There were no in
temperate sallies, no startling originality, no
audacious imagery in his rhymes; all was
sweetly and agrecably uniform, like the fea-
lures on BARRIERS block. Such with the adj
dtion of three historians from st. Mary Axe,
two political economists from Long Acre, a
pastoral writer from Wrapping, and an essay
ist from Hounds-ditch, were the literati whose
dazzling abilities illumined the fortunate
neighborhood OF Crutched-F riars. Old Simp-
kins, meanwhile, to whom the whole scene
was novelty and well nigh took his breath,
kept moving backwards and forwards among
his guests, oscillating in spirits between a
sign and smile at one moment looking
grave and digniiied, like the Scotch High
lander at a tobacconist's; at another, shipper
ing sweety and benignly, and perpetrating,
whenever he ventured on remark, the
strangest possible biunders. The three
French consuls he invariably mistoos for the
three per cent. consols: quoted Moore's Alma
mack in Illustration Of Moore's Melodies; IN
quired whether those two great poets, Hogg
and Bacon, were not of the same family, and
when asked his opinion of Crabbe, gave de-
cided preference to lobster.
This sort of work had continued for the
best part Of the year, during which time the
good naturea Old grocer had been sub jected
TO every species OF expense and annoyasce;
when one morning, towards the close OF Oc-
tober, news arrived that a literary gentleman,
for whom his son had persuaded To become
bail to a pretty considerable amount, had pre-
sented him, in return, with what is termed
leg-bail-a species of gratitude whereby the
locomotive powers are exercised at the ex-
pense OF principle. The same post brought a
letter from Miss Spinks at Newington, with
the Intelligence that Sophy-the sprightly
Sophy Simpxins-who had been on visit
there for some days, had just set out with
O'Biarney, on hasty visit ofinspec ton to the
iatter's estates at Monaghan. This letter
enclosed another from the fair fugitive her
self, in which she implored the forgiveness
OF her father for the .srash step she had la
ken; but assured him that immediately on her
arrival at the old family castle, she should be-
come Mrs. O'8larney, and return home the
very instant that her husband had secured
his election for tiae county, The epistle con-
ciuded with affectlonatc remembrances 10 the
family circle, and hope that, when things
were a little in order, her eldest sister would
be prevailed on to accompany her back to
Monaghan.
This intelligence, Notwithstanding his sons
very sansuine anticipations on the subject,
annoyed poor Mr.. Sisnpkins exceedingly,
while, as if to ill up the measure of his trlbu-
iaton, his former acquaintance at Crutched-
Friars, finding that, for months past, he had
shewn evident symptoms of wish to cut
them, began, 10 seli-delence, TO setup reports
injurious to his reputation. Rumors so cir
culated soon obtained belief. First one Gus
toner dropped od-then second--then a
tlird--then fourth, fifth and sixth--until at
length the whole neighborhood set it down,
confidently down in their minds, that the
Sinpkinses were losing family. Even the
parish-clerk himself, person of considerable
local authority, was heard to observe that
they were getting too clever for business-an
opinion which, pronounced gravely and orac-
ularly by gentleman in double chin, pro-
duced an instantaneous effect
Bu; where all this time were the Spinksesp
Where were they whose patronage should
have shielded, and whose kindness should
have cherished, the unfortunate but still inter-
estng Simpkinses? Alas they had set out,
only few weeks before, for the Holy Land,
with the avowed intention OF taking furnished
a a Il