Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1840-04-10


the conversation. For after tea. when Mrs.
Morrison took me into the garden to show me
her autumn flowers, we heard Becky say to the
cook, as we passed the kitchen windows
"Mary do you know that preserves are pisonn
ID don't know such thing" replied the cook.
''nor you ither"-"Yes Indeed, said Becky,
81 heard Mr. Morrison tell his wife So" "Her
preSarUeS may be-" said the cook, "lor she
wouldn't let me make them: though guess
know how great deal better than She. / dare
she has done them bad enough, peach marine
lade and all" ''Well," said Becky, 81 heard
him tell her that there was verdigrese in them.
and every body:knows that's rank pison.' Then
she must have put it in herself" exclaimed the
cook 81 am sure the kettle was clehn, for she
made me scour it long enough before she began
10 use it," "We were much amused with this
ridiculous dialogue" continued Miss Barford
"Mrs; Morrison said to me laughing-The a.
dage is true that listeners hear no good of them
selves, so we will walk on and look at the
flowers" "And now, ladies', positively de-
clare to you, that this is the whole story, and
the simple truth. | thought nothing more
about it, being well aware that servants
are in the frequent practice of talking of their
employers behind their backs in manner they
would not do before their faces also they have
habit of sayingon these occasions much more
! than they really think or believe"
"Well," resumed Miss Dullard, " | can as
sure you that Becky came directly to my Deb
by, and informed her that she had heard Mr..
Morrison say there was poison in the marine
lade that was on the tea-table and that Mary,
the cook, had told her she seen Mrs. Morrison
herself put verdigrease into the preserving ket-
tle." And this said Mre Elliot, is a tolera-
bic fair specimen of lie" That this outrage
Gus piece Of scandal had little or no foundation
| never doubted from the first Now that Mrs,
Barford has so well explained it, hope every
one will make point Of stopping its circulation
and giving currency to the real fact
We are sorry to say that ve-y few of the
circulators set about contradictng the story
with half the alacrity they had shown in spread-
/ ing it, not single Thehan- taking the trouble
Ias IN the former caseJ togo all over the village
tor the express purpose Consequently large
majority re,.s..ned. or nteended to remain in
their first impression.
In the course Of the week to the great aston
ishment of all Thebes, theNlorrisons sent notes
of invitations for party. Notwithstanding that
all Thebes had determine, to drop the Morris
on's, every body concluded to go to their party.
Some alleged no other motive than to see
how their host & hostess :ehaved after all that
had passed. Others remarked very Justly that
party was party. Mary thought that the
Morrisons were about to leave Thebes, and
that this entertainment wa by way of farewell
and therefore their guests would have no far
ther occasion to cOuntename them. At all e.
vents every body went to tie party except the
Elliot's, who always declipd large companies;
and all were unusually puIctual in going at the
hour specified The compeure fMr Morris
on, and the smiling affabilit of his wife excited
much surprize.
There were whispers offs some people have
the face for anything" md one lady who
read French, and who had gone through
Sevigne's Letters, spoke ol Madame Brinvilli-
er's' the famous empoisonelse. "Well must
say whisdered Miss Mo,nshine, that Mrs.
Morrison does not look at al like person that
would be guilty of such a.,rime. 1t seems to
me that murderesses mustalways be very tall
women, with aquiline noses heavy brows, and
curl of the upper lip. Mr.. and Mrs Morrison
exerted themselves to entrtain their guests.
none of whom seemed exaciy (one nature) be-
ing somewhat embarrassedby the conscious
ness of what they had said bout their host &
hostess. The refreshments,yere abundant and
excellent and the ladies oi Thebes began to
think it scarcely possible thai one who provi-
ded such delicious creams aid iellies, could
have even thought of poisoning her husband
Gradually their belief came to be decidedly
shaken, particularly when some very fine stew
ed terapin was handed round
At length the evening drew to a close, and
there were symptoms of the party breaking up
when Mr. Morrison exchanging looks with his
wife, requested the company to remain little
longer as he had few words to say to them
This information produced sort of dismay
in the audience who all lad misgiving of
something that they would not like to hear,
some glanced towards the DIOR, some survey
ed the carpet, some slipped behind others, and
all looked queer.
Ladies and gentlemen--but ladies most par
ticularly-said Mr.. Morrison, advancing into
the middle of the room. 81 beg your pardon for
having kept you so long in Suspense as to the
history of myself and wife. | now see the
wisdom of the planof DIR. Franllin, who, on stop
ping at village tavern called round him all its
inmates, and at once anticipated their curiosi-
h.. .,,f.,~ L l., L