Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-11-10
w G q L L A ~ z.
From the New York Mirror.
{ MIR. AND MRS. PEREGRINE PRINGLE.
A chapter, showing that {" some things cannot
be done as well as others"
BY J. H. HEWITT.


By J. II. HEWITT.
"Wha beautiful scenery, my love
how charming is the prospect from
this spot" said Mrs. Peregrine Prlngle
to her spouse, as they stood on the ri.
azza of their new "country seat
(rented at two hundred ayearD
"Yes, my dove" replied her hus>
band, 4" this is what | call comfortable j;
it is much more Independent than mea>
surfing out bobbinett by the yard, and
far more honest | am sure, than selling
rotten silks. Don't you think so 7"
Greatly, Mr.. Pringle, you were ve-
ny foolish to vest all your money in
that degrading dry-good business. It's
true, you were brought up to it, but
you know it don't follow that you
should be a horse because you a
born in a stable. Here we are in a
neat country farm-we breathe the
pure country air-the children are all
delighted-and the hens have already
began to lay eggs. How different is
this from the dust and smoke of the CT
ty? most cordially detest a city hfe!'
eyes, my dear-though have not
been brought up to farming, yet | think
from the appearance ofthings, that we
shall have a fine market crop this
summer and | claim all the credit,
for | put old Isam t work on the veg
etable garden some time prior to our
entering the house, and look how char
ming every thing appears; the corn is
thriving-the peas are i'll blossom
and the vines look as ifthey were 60
ing to yield US a rich harvest. But, |
tell you what that room was mon
strous dark last night, and the musqui-
toes bit like fury; you recollecr my
love, we had nc musquitoesln the city,"
"True, my DEAR" replied Mrs.
Pringle, +" but you must remember that
,,his house has not been inhabited for
three years; and we must in the be-
ginning expect these kind Of %inconye-
~niences."
els breakfast ready 2" asked Mr..
Pringle, looking wistfully towards the
kitchen, 81 have been working so hard
on the cornfeld this morning, that
feel as if | could digest a milestone"
alt is all ready replied the atten-
tive wife, 81 have got every thing so
nice-here are fresh eggs, all laid by
our W hens-young radlshes from
our own garden, and charming water
crosses, which our dear Cordelia pick
ed this morning. Those strawberries
picked with my own fingers and On
" look at this milk, how rich it IS with
cream, those are excellent COWS OF
ours"
Mr.. Pringle looked legions of love
upon his tender wife he forgot his
yard stick, scissors, tape, bobbinett,
&c. &C., in the bliss of the moment.
"Tell the children to come to their
breakfast" said he to the waiting maid,
"the poor things must be hungry-up
ever since five o'clock"
This order had no sooner been lssu-
ed, than in came Robert, James, VIII
liam, Cordelia, Matilda, Elvira, jose
phne, and all tho rest of the young
Pringles, nicely washed at the spring,
and neatly dressed in clean bib and
tucker. Mr.. Peregrine Pringle was
in ectasies-what a charming wife had
he-the country air had given her
cheeks a tinge which they had only
known prior to her marriage; and his
little children too, he compared their
rosy cheeks to damask silk, and their
smacking appetites to his customers on
the day that he put out a printed nana-
bill, with "Selling off at Cost" IN large
characters. ,,..,
"Pappa, | wants a hegg," said little
Bob, turning the salt into his plate, IN
Anticipation 81 likes heggs."
Mr.. Pringle gave his son an egg'
"laid by his own hen;" but, alas on
breaking it, it was found to be hollow!
Another was tried, and it was also
found to be filled with emptiness =
Chow is this" said Mr.. Peregrine
Pringle, hens don't lay eggs with no.
thing in Them" Whereupon he called
in old Isam, who looked as if he was
m~onstrousIy inclined to laugh. The
strange phenomenon ofempty eggs was
thus explained by the old negro.
"Whoy, Massa, them rats>what's
been o|verrunnin' the farm this four
years past, have got a way of suckln'
all the eggs what the old hen lays
I'm sarten dem varmints won't let you
hab no fresh eggs no how you can fix
en-"
Isam was dismissed, and the shells
were thrown out ofthe window. The
adlshes too, were worm, eaten, and
had the rot /; the water-cresses turned
out to be chick-weed, and the strawber-
ries were all gritty. AS for the NIL