The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-04-04

wringng her hands Ivy the side Of IA cradle, where
lay little laughing cherub playing with kitten;
while another was rushing madly about, with child
in her arms, which she had squeezed to death in her
convulsvc writings. Thousands Of scenes like
these occurred all around, but deght to dwell
on horrors, and will proceed to state what saw of
the exhibitions of the various modes of grief and de-
spalr, which served 10 convince that the ruling
passion Will struggle in the last agonies Of existence
and triumph Mt the moment of the dissolution Of ma
ture herself
In the course Of my wanderings, methOught en-.
countered the celebrated Fire King who was sitting
at home, quietly smoking his cigar, and calculating
that being the destined survivor of all his race he
would succeedto an immense landed estate and bo
come lord proprietor Of the whole earth. Having a.
greed upon the terms, he furnished me with an anti
doc against the heat OF the most raging anthracite fur
nnce and being now assn red of safety, l made my
observations with more GOODNESS and precision. Be-
ing OF rather pryng disposition, conceived that CIV
erythng was in state Of utter confusion the doors
and windows all open, and police officers on duty,
there was no occasion to stand upon ceremony.
accordingly made my way into the most private
reccsses OF various hnbitatons, where saw many
things which would not disclose, were il not that
all Tins ls nothing but dream. Entering handsome
house rather spIcndidy furnished I saw an old man
OF upwards Of iourscOrc, who bitterly complain.
ing oil being thus suddenly Off without time 10 make
his will, and repent Of his sins; while an elderly wo.
man, whom took to be one Of Jobs comlorters was
upbraidng him FOR not taking her advice and attend
ing to these matters long ago. In another miserable
house. without furniture and destitute of every com
fort lile discovered shriveed cadayerous spec
ire, hngging bag ofgod and Iamenting the hard
ship Of being called away Just day before the inter-
est became payable on his bank stock. met in "
mother place SPECTATOR with the perspiruon roll.
ing down his face in torrents, who was calculating
the immense profits he might have made if he had
only foreseen this sudden catastrophe A little father
on, saw gutton devouring pair of canvass backs,
and heard him at intervals murmurng to himself
"thcy shan't cheat OF my dinner" The next
person particularly noticed was staunch believer
in progress WHO terribly OFT of humor that the
world should be destroyed just rs it was on the high
road to perCectbiIiy lie had an essay in his hand
which he about to enclose in a bottle, hermetr4
coy sealed, in hope that it might float down TO poe.
terly, and make him immortal, forgetting, as sop
posed, that the world now about to perish by
fire, and no, by water, In the course OF my further
making will, dividing his property among his chill
dren; and another dsnheriing his son for marrying
against his wishes. usurcr was nrnerting that lie
not aware Of what coming, as he would GER
tain ~ have borrowed good round sum, and thus
escaped paying the interest. A worthy dealer in
political hadebashey who had been seeking office.
believe, over since the food, was excIaifning H.
gans fate for cutting him off, now that he had actual
yrecciyed promise of succeeding gentleman who
was only five years younger than himself immediate
" on his deah This example by the way, brought
TO my recollection circru,tunce that happened in
real life, and within my own knowledge, whorc m
old man Of upwards thrcescore and ten, actually
hanged himself on the marriage OF his daughter to
whose fortune he looked 70 ward TO becoming heir,
provided she died "a out issue, 1t is soneV hat sin
gular that people always calculate ON OUTLYING those
by whose death they expect to be benefited
In the course Of my refegrina,ions, encountered
some of the disciples Of the prophet, who, might havo
supposed would have been prepared for the event
they had so long confidently anticipated Bat it seen,
ed they were much taken by surprise their UNI
believing neighbors, and were running TO and FRO in
great CONSERVATION, preparing in all haste for what
they had been expecting ut leisure, according the
ways Of the world, who see farther into futury than
their ncghbors, Entering the chamber of n middle
aged widow, and staunch follower Of the prophet,
who had retreated somewhere, l found open let
ter. not quite finished, which purported to be an
swe to proposal Of marriage from. another disciple,
and in which the prudent dano very udicously post
poned her final decision until after the first Of April
| own proceeded to other unwurrantable ndulgen-
ces Of curiosity, only pardonable in perseu fast
asleep, in The of which made certain discov
cries, which,now that am awake scorn to disclose
10 the world.
Al will venture TO say is, that ] enough to
convince me that if the widow really believed in the
approaching dissolution ofthe world she had deter
mined to make the mos, of it while it lasted. 1t is
impossible 10 say what other discoveries mig have
achieved ir I had not heard footsteps approaching;
and experimenting it might be the lady herself re-
treated with considerable precipitation, in doing which
encountered, and overthrow, Fat cook maid, who
was coming up in great haste to aPprze her mistress
that the kitchen was hot she could breathe in it