Delaware gazette and American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1837, 1832-11-02
NEW' SERIES: E.OL. XIII. yNO. 1910

Wcic ohcuutu at DeluB uesplseu; Tor III no Amer
lean assemblage is any real infefiory of rank ev.
er felt or acknowledged. There was a general
dullnesS, and general restraint. Little was DONE
and little was said. La Fayette wandered about
in every body's ay;having been kept wide awake
all The evening by two cups Of strong coffee which
his mother allowed hin, TO take because he would
lave them.
| There was always group around the centre
table, listlessy tut ming over the souvenirs, albums
&c. and picking at the flowers; and La Fayete
ate plumb cake over ChestOn's beautiful draw
ings.
Albina played an Italian song extremely well,
but the Montagues cxchapged glances at her mu-
sic; and Mrs. Puts, to follow suit, hid her face
behindhe her fan and simpered; thoughin truth she
did not in reality know Italian from French, or a
senibreve from semiquaver. All this was great
annoyance TO ChestOn. AT Albina's request, he
led Miss Montague to the piano. Sine ran her
fingers over the instrument if 10 try il gavea
Shudder, aud declared it most shnckeniy out Of
tune and then rose in horror from the music stool
This much surprised Mrs. Marsden as muslciar9
had been brought frem the city only the day be.
fore for the express purpose Ut tuning this very
instrument.
"No,'' whispered Miss Montague, as she re.
sumed her seat beside her mother, al will not
condescend TO play before people who are ucapa-
BILE of understanding my style"
AT this juncture Ito the great Consideration of
Mrs. Marsden and her daughter) who should
make her appearance but Aunt Quitnby in the cal
| leo gown which Albina now regretted having per-
suaded her to keep on. The old lady was wrap
ped in a small shawl and two large ones, and her
head was secured from cold by black silk hand
kerchief tied over her cap and under her Chin
She smiled and nodded all round to the compa-
ny, and said.-'' How do you do, good people;
hope you are all enjoying yourselves. | thought
! must come down and have peep at you. For
after had seen all the ladies take off their hoods,
and had my tea, found it pretty dull work sit
ting up stairs with the mantua-maker, who had
no more manners than to fall asleep while was
talking"
Mrs. Marsden, much discomfted led Aunt
lQuimby to a chair between two matrons who we're
among " the unayOidably invited" and whose pre-
tensions to refinement were not very palpabe.
But the old lady had no idea of remaining station
airy all the evening between Mrs. johnson and
Mrs. Jackson. She wisely thought I" she could
see more Of the party if she frequently changed
hcr psSee. and being Of what is called sOciabIe
disposition, she never hesltated to talk to any one
that was near her, however high or however low.
"Dear mother" said AIbna in under voice.
" what can be the reason that every one in last
ing the icecreain, Immediately sets it aside If
il was not fit to cat. am sure every thing is in
il that ought to be.''
"And something more than ought TO be-" re-
piled Mrs, Marsden, after trying spoonlul--'thc
salt that was laid round the freezer has got iHtO
the cream, suppose by Dixon's carelessness)
and it is not fit to eat"
Sand now,o said Albina starting, 81 | will show
you far worse modification than failure of the
ce-cream. Only oOk--there sits Aunt Quimby
between Mr.. Montague and Mrs. Washington
Potts"
" How in the world did she get there ," ex-
claimed Mrs. Marsden. Sc daie say she walked
up, and asked themito make room for her between
them. There is nothing now TO be done but 10
pass her off as well as we can, and to make the
best Of her. l will manage 10 get as near as pos
sible, that may hear what she is talking about.
and take an opportunity of persuading her away"
As Mrs. Marsden approached within hearing
distance, Mr.. Montague was leaning across Aunt
Qumby, and giving Mrs. Potts an account OF
something that had been said or done during IA
splendid entertainment al Devonshre House,.
" Just at that moment" said he, " was louDging
into the room with Lady Augusta Fitzhenry OH
my arm (unquestonably the finest woman in Eng
and) and Mrs. Montague was few steps in adj
vance, leaning on my friend the Marquis OF Elv-
ngton."
Is Pray, SIR" said Mrs Quimby. ''as you are
from England, do you know any thing Of Betsey
Dempsey's husband ?"
81 have not the honour of being acquainted
with that person." replied Mr.. Montague, after a
g whitening siaFe.
Well that's strange" pursued Aunt Quimby
/" considering that he has been living in London
at least eighteen years-or perhaps il is only
seventeen. And yet | think it must be neal
eighteen, if not quite. May be seventeen and q
half. Well, IT'S best to be OH the safe side, So
I'll say seventeen. Betsey Dampsey's mother
was an old school mate of mine. Her father kept
u the Black Horse tavern. She was the only &C.
y quaintance | ever had that married an English
4 mara He was grocer, and in very good bust
IL ness but he never liked America and was always
le finding fault with it, and SO he went home, and
AZ was to send for Betsey. But he never sent for
OF her at all ;for very good reason which was that
e. he had another wife in England, as most OF them
;, have-no disparasement to you, SIR"
n Mrs. Marsden now came up, and informed
?, Mrs. Potts in whisper that the good old lady
10 beside her, was distant relation rather con
~ nexion of Mr.. Marsden's, and that, though lit
:, tie primitive in appearance aud manner, she had
10 considerable property in bank stock. To Mrs
~ Marsden's proposal that she should exchange heI
T. seat for very pleasant one in the other room
IL next to her old friend Mrs. Willis, Aunt Dumb,
replied nothing but Thank you, Pm doing ver!
y we'll here. %