Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-02-05

Mrs. Crowder, the mistress Of the Punch
bowl: why, Mrs. Crowder," said he,-"l
should hardly know you again! Really, must
say you have things in the first style. What
AZ elegant paper! what noble chairs what
pair OF fine screens.-all 50 bright and so
fresh and yourself SO well-and looking SO
WELL"
Mrs. Crowder had dropped languidly into
an arm chair, and sat signing aud smiling
with afiectation, not turning deaf car to her
visitor, but taking in, with her eyes, a full
view Of what passed in the shop, having
drawn aside the curtain Of rose-colored silk,
" hich sometimes covered the window in the
wall between the shop and the parlor.
"Why, you see, Mr.. Berriman," she repli-
ed, our business is thriving one,-and we
don't love to neglect it, for one must work
hard for an honest livelihood; aud then you
see, my two girls, Lctitia and Lucy, were a
bout to leave their boarding school; SO Mr..
Crowder and |, wished to make the old place
as eenteel and fashionable as we could; and
what with new stone copnes to the windows,
| and new French window frames to the first
| floor, and little paint, and a little paperng,
! Mr.. Berriman, we begin to look tolerabe. !
! must say, Mr.. Crowder too has laid out
| deal Of money in fitting up the shop, and in
! filling his cellars.
! 'Well ma'an" continued Mr. Berriman-
| 81 don't know where you find the needinl for
| all these improvements. For my part, can
| only say, our trade seems quite at u stand
! still. There's my wife always begging for
! money to pay for this or that little necessary
| article, but | part from every penny with
pang. Dear Mrs. Crowder, how do you ma
! tnuge?"
Mrs Crowdcr simpered; ;-and raising her
| eyes, and looking with a glance Of smiling
| contempt towards the crowd Of customers in
the shop; "The fools pence,-'tis the FOOLS
! pence, that does it for u.s." she said.
II Perhaps it was owing to the door being
! just then opened, and left ajar by MISS Lucy,
! who had been serving at the bar, that the
words Of Mrs. Crowder were heard by a man
! per end of the counter. He turned his eyes
upon the customers who were standing near
him, and saw pale sunken cheeks, inflamcd
eyes, and ragged garments. lie turned them
upon the stately apartment in which they
were assembled; he saw that it had been fit
ted up at no triiling cost /; he stared through
the partly open doorway into the parlor, and
saw looking glasses, and pictures, gliding,
and fine furniture, and rich carpet, and Miss
Lucy in silk gown sitting down to her pia-
no forte; and thought within him, how strange
it is. by what curious process it is, that all
this wretchedness on my left hand is made to
turn into all this rich tinery on my right.
II swell, sir, and what's for you:"
N These words were spoken in the same
shrill voice which had made the fools pence
ring in his ears.
George Manly was still in deep thought
and with the end Of his rule, (for he was a
carpenter,l he had been making a calcula-
ton; drawing the figures in the little puddles
Of gin upon the counter. lie looked up and
saw Mrs. Crowder, hcrself-as gay as her
daughters, with a cap and colored ribbons
flying off her head, and pair Of gold ear
rings, almost touching her plump shoulders.
"a pint Of ale, ma'um, is what Pm waiting for
tonight mo more spirits, he thought with
in himself, will touch;) and then us he put
down the money for the ale, he looked her
= calmly in the face, and said, "There are the
fools pence, and the last fools pence intend
to pay down for many long day."
: George Manly hustened home. His wife
1, and his two little girls were sitting at work.
: They were thin and pale, really for want of
food. The room looked very cheerless, and
their fire was so small, that its warmth was
scarcely felt; yet the commonest observer
must have been struck by the neatness and
cleanliness OF the apartment, and every thing
4 about it."
"Ths is indeed treat, girls! to have dear
father home SO soon tonight" said Susan
e Manly, and she looked up at her husband, as
d he stood before the table, turning his eyes
e first upon one and then upon another of the
n little party; then throwing himself into his
: large arm chair, and lying back, and smiling
= said:-
"Wcll, children, amt you glad to see me
May not those busy little fingers stop a mo.
!, mcnt, just while you jump up, and throw your
arms about your fathers neck and kiss him2'
10 yes, we have time for that" said one 0.
. the girls, as they both sprang up to kiss their
n father: "but we have no time to lose, dear ia
c ther," said Sally, pressing her cheek to his
and speaking in kind Of coaxing whisper
: close to his ear, "fOr these shirts are the las,
i Of the dozen we have been making for Mr.
= Farley, in the corn-market." And as nc
o work can be done Tomorrow added Bessy
g gravely, who stood with her small hand in hel
e fathers, I'VE are all working as hard as we can
n for mother has promised to take them home
G on Monday afternoon
J. Either your eyes arc very weak tonight
It dear wife, said George, 'or you have beel
c crying. I'm afraid you work too hard by can
$ delight
of Susan smiled, and said, working does no
e hurt my eyes, and as she spoke she turne
IT her head, and beckoncd with her finger to he
% little boy.
ID 'Why, John, what's this that see;' said hi
a father-'What you in the corner Come ou
le as mother beckons for you; but come and te
ID me what you have been doing
re NAY, never mind it, dear husband, job
a. will be very good hope, and We had bette
say no more about what has passed.
s. Yes, but ! must know said he drawn
m John close 10 him. Come, tell me what ha