Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-12-29

Sharp colored, and looked at the door,
aud then a, Peter
"Come, come, young man," said he,
advancing with rather a threatening nj
iitude towards Peter, "ihe soonrr YOU
leave the house peaceably the better"
"Now, SIR" said Peter, fixing his
black eyes upon Sharp, with an intense
ness that he could no, but feel, 81 am n
small man, and you are considerable of a
large one but my mind is made up. !
am not going TO starve, when there's
food enough that have an honest claim
upon"
So saying, hr took his seat again very
deliberately upon the sofa. Sharp paus
ed he looked agitulrd and angry aud
after waiting a minute, apparently un-
decided what to do, he left the parlor and
went up stairs. In few minutes, the
servant ruDg for dinner. Mrs. Sharp
came INTO the dining room and took her
scat at the head Of the table. Mr..
Sharp followed, and seated himself op-
poste his lady aud between them, and
on the right hand Of Mrs Sharp, sa,
another lady, probably some friend or
relative Of the family. When they were
well seated, and Mr. Sharp was beg in
ming to carve, Peter walked ont of the
parlor, drew another chair up to the
table, and seated himself very con,posed-
ly opposite the last mentioned lady -
MIR. Sharp colored good deal, but kept
on carving. Mrs. Sharp stared very
wildly, first at Peter, and then at her
husband.
"What in the world does this mean 7"
said she. "NIr. Sharp, didn't know we
were to have company to dinner"
"We are not" SAID the husband. -
"Jhis young man has the impudence to
take his seat at the table unasked and
says he is gong to board out The amount
OF The bill"
"Well, really, this is a pretty piece Of
politeness,' said Mrs. Sharp, looking
very hard at Peter.
"Madam," said Peter, "hunger will
drive "A man through stone wall. ]
must have my board somewhere"
No reply was made to this, and the
dinner went on without any further refer
ence to Peter at present. Mr.. Sharp
helped his wife, and then the other lady,
and then himself, and they all fell 10
eating. Peter looked around him for
plate and knife and fork, but there were
none on the table but what were in use
Peter, however was not To he bailled.-|
lie reached plate Ufbread, aud tipping
the bread upon the table cloth, appro.
priated the plate to his own Use. He
then took posse ssion Of the carving knife
and fork, helped hilnself bountiluily to
meat and vegetables, and commenced
eating his dinner with the greatest com
posure imaginable. These operations on
the part Of Peter had the effect to sus-
pend all operations for the time on The
part Of the rest of the company. The
ladies had laid down their knives AMI
forks, Ond were staring at Peter in wild
astonishment.
"For mercy's sake, Mr. Sharp" said
the lad y Of The house, "can't We pick
up money enough about the house to pay
this man his five dollars aud send him
off! declare this is too provoking III
see what ! can Ind"
With that she rose and left the room.
Mr.. Sharp presently followed her. They
returned again in a minute, and Mr.
Sharp laid five dollar bill before Peter,
and told him he would thank him to leave
The house. Peter examined the bill to
see il il was good one, and very quiet
Iy folded it and put it into his pocket
lie then drew out little pocket-inkstand
and piece OF paper, laid il upon the
table before him. wrote recei pt for thu
which he handed to Mr. Sharp,
rose from the table, bowed to the com
pany and retired, thinking as he left the
house that he had had iul enough of
the custom OF Solomon Sharp, the i'm
porter.
Peter Punctual still followed his voca
ton of circulating magazines. lie had
no intention Of ever darkenng the door
olSolemon Sharp's store again, but some
how or other, two or three years after, as
he was canvassiDg for subscribers in the
lower part OF the city, he happened to
blunder into the same store accidentally, |
without noticing the name upon the door. |
Nor did he discover his mistake, un-
Ill he had nearly crossed the store and
the attention Of Mr.. Sharp him |
self, who was a, his accustomed seat at
he desk where Peter had before so often
seen him. Peter thought, as he had
got fairly into the store, he would not
Jack out so he stepped up to Mr.. Sharp
Without look Of recognition, and asked
he would not like to subscribe for
ONE magazines. MIR. Sharp, who either
nd not recognise Peter, or chose not TO
ppear to recognise him, took the maya
lines and looked at them, and found
couple he said he would like to take, and
inquired the terms. They were each
hree dollars year in advance.
"But | don't pay in advance for nny-
hing" said Sharp. "If you have n
mind TO leave them at my house, to be
'ald for at the end Of the year, you may
ut me down for these two"
"No," said Peter, 81 don't wish to
AXE any subscribers, but those who pay
n advance.
Saying this, he took up his specimens,
md was going out Of the door, when Mr..
Sharp called him back
"liere, young man, you may leave
hose two at any rate ~ said hc nnI II