Litchfield enquirer., 1842-02-24


ring the pafoxvsns Of which the bursting
"f her corset laces could be distinctly
heard BY the company.
Nancy =! at length said her husband,
Sternly. She suppressed her mir'i,, STAN.
nered an excuse aud added, You will
forgive me, and believe yourselves quite
welcome
THAT is we'll done,' whispered Mr.. N
i-, then my friends, he said rs NV
wife is not acquainted with you will make
a few presentations Then leading her
toward an eDsaciated creature, whose dis
tortrd limbs were unable to support his
body, he said, This gentleman, Nancy,
is the Reverend Mr.. Niles, who ia his
youth travelled and endured much in the
cause Of our common Master. A violent
rheumatism, induced by colds, contracted
among the new settlements Of the west,
where he was employed in preaching the
gospel to the poor, l.as reduced him to his
present condition. This lady, his wife,
has pi"nsly sustained him, aud by her own
labor procured a maintenance for herself
aud him. But she is old and feeble now
as you see.'
Then turning 10 a group with silver
locks and thread bare coqts, he continued,
These are soldiers Of The rcvolulion.-
They were all sous of rich men. They
went cut in their young strength 10 defend
their oppressed country. They endured
hardships, tolls aud snferings, such as we
deem it hardly possible for man to endure
and live; they returned home at the close
Of the war, manned in their limbs, and
| with broken constitutions to find their pat
rin"nics destroyed by fire, or the chances
of war, or their property otherwise filchcd
and wres,ed from them, aud these worthy
men live in poverty and neglect in the land
for the prosperity Of which they sacrificed
their all. These venerable ladies are
wives of these patriots, and widows Of 9TH
crs who have gone t. their reward. They
could tell y"" tales that would thrill: your
heart, aud make i, better. This is the
celebrated Dr.. b, who saved hum
drcds of lives during the spotted epidemic.
But his great success reused the animosity
Of his medical brethren, who succeeded in
running his practice, aud when blindness
came upon him, lie was forgotten by those
whom lie delivered from death. This love-
Iy creature is his only child, and she is
mothelless. She leads him daily by the
hand, and earns the food she sets befnre
him. Yet her learning and accomplish
Mon,s are wonderful, and she 10 the author
Of those exquisite poems which appear oc-
casi"nally in the - Magazine. These
children were orphaned in infancy by the
Asiatic chulera, and their sad hearts have
seldom been cheored by smile, or their
pala,es RECALLED by delicious food. Now
dry your eyes, love, and lead on to the d.
! ning-room.'
She obeyed, aud notwithstanding her
emotions, the humping Of coarse shoes,
and rat,ling Of sticks, crutches, and wood
EN- legs behind her, well nigh threw her in
to another INDIGENOUS laugh.
To divert her attention she glanced over
the table. There stood the dishes for
which her husband had stipulated,
IA the shape Of two INDUSTRIOUS, home
~ looking meat pies, and two enormous
pla,lers Of baked meats aud vegetables,
looking like mighty mountains among the
DELICATE viands that she had prepared for
the refined company which she expected.
She took her place, and prepared to do
The table honors, but her husband, after Il
!
addressed the company with, Now my
brethren, help yourselves and one another
I" whatever you deem preferable. | will
wait upon your children
\ hearty and joviaI meal was made, the
minister setting the example, and AS the
hearts uf the old soldiers were warmed
with wine, they became garrulous, and
zach Iecoun,ed some wonderful or thrill
ling adventure Of tile olulionary war ;
aud the old ladies told their tales OF priva-
.on and suffering, and Intervene with then,
the histories Of fathers, brothers o. lovers,
who died for liberty.
Mrs. N was sobbing cOnvulsively
when her husband came round, aud touch
ing her shoulder. whispered,
My love, shalt we have dancingV That
word with its ludicrOus associations, fairly
threw her into mysteries. and she laughed
aud wer, at once.
When she became quicscent, Mr.. ~
thus addressed the company.
Il fear my friends that you will think
my wife Il frivolous, Inconsistent creature,
and 1 must therefore apologize for her.
We were married only last fall. and have
attended several gay parties which our
rich neighbors gave in honor Of our nup-
tails. and my wife thought 1t would be gcn-
,sel to give "a dinner i'll return. consents
ed on conditions, one OF which was that
should invite the guests. So being pro-
fesscd minister uf him who was meek and
lowly in heart, ! followed to the letter his
command Rut u hen thou makest a feast.