Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-12-21
POPULAR READINGS.
WHAT WILL MRS GRUMPY SAY o.

made up her mind to live for herself and not Tor he,
peighbors IN short, il she could have forborne To
ask on every OCCASION the significant, question we
have placed AT the head Of story II has been
sad that every body has a Mrs Grundy-an asser.
iion disposed to dispute both from personal
experience aud observation but Mrs Parker had
hanIred Mrs Grundys--Tompkins, Watkins, John.
son, smnh--their name Legion and not salts
fod with her natural and hereditary Mrs Grundys
so picked up now ones wherever she went 50 that
sic passed her life IN accordance with every bodys
opinions and inclinations but her own and her hus-
hands And the mos provoking part of the bust.
ness was that these dctators were nos times wholly
imaginary Mr. and Mrs Parker were the bonds
men of taskmas,ers unreal as they were arbitrary
Goo1-na,ured inofensive people, doing nothing TO
excite malice, and no, in a situation to awaken envy
the world cared very little about them their affairs
But tins was fact, which, to use the American
phrase Mrs Parker could never realise Like a
corporal Of grenaders in the grand army, she felt
that the eye of the world upon her and under
the nhuence of this pernicious optic she sought for
glory, or rather fed from shame BY running into
folly She and her husband furnished their house
arranged their establishment regulated the number
Of their entertainments together with what should be
eaten and drunk at them. not to their own tastes but
TO the taste OF Mrs Grundy and in obedience to the
same despoilc power, their daughters were forced to
waste their time in learning music for which they
had no natural aptitude ut a fashionable seminary
where nothing taught that was ever likely to be
81 any use to them whilst they gave their sons
Classical education instead of practical one, and
brought them mp to professions for which they were
wholly unfit and in which they could reap neither
money nor credit K
Mr. and Mrs Parker were the inhabitants of a
/ country town in the centre of England where,
dinaeiy for them, the society beng limited and
the circumstances of their neighbors generally not
much more affincni than their own the standard the
iy felt herself obliged to at in order to please
Ms Gruniy was not very exalted one But
there was place in the vicinity called Cotton Hall
calculated for the residence of family of much
larger means with fine house, that had indeed
some prHensions to have been a castle park wall.
ed gardens, lighthouses and every thing else appro-
pirate The property belonging to minor IT had
been for several years unoccupied, much to the
ere of the good people of Nj, who recalled the
tune when the former hospitable posscssor was in
We habit OF giving them two three sumptuous din
ners IN year, besides ball at Christmas for the
Young people, where they toasted on venson, cham
payne, pmcappies grapes, ices, and other Injuries
which, since that period existed for them only as
VISIONS of the past
Al length however, the tedious minority expired
Dat still the heir abroad and some years more
elapsed before the inhabitants of Nj were cheer
d by the tdings, that Mr. Cotton, with his wife
Lady Elizabeth. were on their way home from the
continent, with the intention of taking up their resi-
dpnce al the family seat and when Wagons were
seen to pass through the town, loaded with all the
Injuries and Appearances that come under the head
OF neccsslres TO people with several thousands a
year, none were more delighted than short-siphtcd
Mr Parker
Go and put on yonr things, girls said she to her
dlughiers, one morning about week after the ar
rival Of the Col,ons; we pay our visit to the
family tho hall
though, You didn't mean to go till next week
mlma said Jane
No more | did, answered the mother but
hear several people are calling, and il won't do for
as - be last YOU know
Why won, 1t inquired Mr. Joel looking
sharply up from the newspaper he reading
Oh. because people will think ii so odd replied
Mrs Parker
Why, somebody must be last, responded Joel
What signifies whether ii is you or any body else 2
u signifies TO us at any rate, replied Mr Par
can't see that, answered Mr. Joel
You can never see those things you know an
.aered the lady
Glad Off, responded Joel Wish yoE couldn't
Mrs Parker, however did see those things, or
sa-I,d she did and, accordingly, she prepared her
and her daughters for the important visit with
t@iy hut ere they could SIT out a difficulty
''se which had not been ioresecn A friend who
tlTpanod 20 step in, unfortunately menticacd that
N Mrs. Wainwrighl had ordered horses from
n for the purpose Of driving to Cotton Hall
Nier'upon Mrs Parker began to image to herself
H.u would bc the as,onishncnt and conservation Of
NJ Cotton and Lady Eizabeth, if she and her
-.l ghiers arrived on foot
How very odd they will think It, when Parker
Magistrate and Mr. Wainwrighi Is nothing a, all
Mr. Joel affirmed he certain thsi Herher Mr.
'.'0u nor Lady Elizabeth enher, would ever b.
,'F though, upon the mailer degree Of malt
'-f'uee far beyond Mrs Parkers conception, that
Pc was positively indignant the superstition hini
l2 that although herself and her movements might
very unimpouant IN the eyes Of Mr. Joel Parker
nsnerod herself they were no, qaEe 80 isngnlh
l' a the eye OF other people to which inuenio
' answered.
= much he worse
% e1mpliance therefore, with the dlc,um Of her
a''lnary lawgvers, Mrs Parker sent for a post
's AMI pair Of horses for carriage she had none
| drove therein ~ Cotton Hall and the family
'f' al home, che, with her daughters was admit
~ Now, Of all the Mr. Grundys tha, any body
'.'f ~ up Tor themselves Lady EiizaSssh was the
--'s hoPiess She had been brought up in degree