Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-05-14
THE TEA TABLE.

were taking tea together In their little par
lor, one delightful summer afternoon -
Just at that moment, and while the words
were yet on her tongue, the door opened,
and Miss Polly Cav entered the room, on
one Of her flying afternoon visits. Julia
could not avoid coloring up little at this
sudden intrusion; for this young lady's vi
sits we're always intrusive, and Miss Cav
evidently saw, or suspected, she had drop
ped in at n moment when her company
was not the most desirable. However,
she got herself seated, and entertained her
good neighoor with history about three
hours long Of the home concerns of every
family in the neighborhood There was
a minute and detailed account Of Mr.. DIS
party, with list of all who were not invi-
ted, among whom she was careful to men,
ton that Julia was one; then the progress
of the courtshps in the country; the do
nestle squa5bles Of her acquaintance; the
scandals Of the week; the motions Of the
old wdower who lived on the Appleby
farm, betokening an approaching union
with the Squre's daughter, and who were
jealous thereat; and hundred other topics
equally interesting and profitable, were all
spread out on tne carpet
Mr.. Pellow had made his escape as soon
as he arose from the table, and Miss Polly
did not fail to comment largely on the saw
age unsociability Of husbands, insisting
they were as restless, and unhappy in the
marriage moose as Gagged up tigers, and in
stanclng how gay, and young, and spruce
they Immediately became on losing their
wives; kindly and most sympatheicaIly
adding, "lf you were to drop off, nv dear
Julia, Mr.. Pellew would in ten days be the
most pleasant and agreeable man in the
village" After enjoying herself, and en-
terlanIng Julia thus delightfully."- until it
began to grow late, she gathered up her
knitting, and sailed GU; TO make call or
two more before she went home.
Mr.. and Mrs. PelIew were young, had
been married but about a year, and were
mutually as happy in their union, as love
and virtue and similar tastes and DISPOSE
tons could make them. He was engaged
in business, which with industry and
good management yielded him a genteeI
living; he embarked in it, however, with
out capital of his own; but Julia had con
siderable amount Of property, which, tho
afforded a basis upon which her husband
was enabled to gain the credit necessary
in his business and he had done so. This
amiable family had numerous relatives and
acquaiHtanccs, were looked upon by the
good and sensible part of the neighborhood
as patterns of virtue, and were generally
much beloved and admired
The visit OF their friend, Miss Polly, was
forgotten in day or two. but things began
before long to wear rather a strange aspect
Time after time, Mrs. Pellew observed,
that her visitors, who began 10 be much
more numerous than before, put on long
faces, and i'll n condoling strain, lectured
on the trials of the marriage state, the ne
ccssty of forbearance, and The exercise of
Christian patience, mingled with sundry
hints about The sovereign rights of the sex,
and the best method OF managing unruIy
husbands, with now and then a kind of half
expressed sympathetic pity for her. She
could not for her life unde rstand what all
this meant; and attributed it to every cause
but the right one.
Nor was Mr.. Pcllew to escape this new
and TO him unaccountable change of the
current Of feeling among his neighbors, to-
wards them. The first symptom he saw Il
GOODNESS and shyness on the part Of his
wife's rclatives-some Of them even refu-
sing TO speak TO him. The female part Of
his acquaintance scolded at him; and what
was worse, he thought his customers began
to neglect him. Day by day !, grew worse;
at last his creditors began to push him; he
was alarmcd;-he had never before been
asked for money; his credit had been per-
feet; he wondered, and waited for the issue;
it came in half dozen prosecutions, judg-
ments and executions.
1t was now time 10 rise up. AS these
things were in progress, he appeared TO be
in utter surprise, and to view them with
perfect incredibly being scarcely willing
TO believe the evidence Of his senses. Now
he demanded the cause Of this strange
treatment, and with some difficulty ascer-
tanned, that il arose from the unhappy Sc
paration ab out to take place between him
and his wife! and The cruel manner in
which he had used her. He demanded
the author Of the story, and was referred
TO an old gentleman, who had told his IN
former. The old man gave his wlfe-his
wife her neighbours wife, and so the tale
was traced down, through about five and
twenty mouths, growing rather less at
each, until il came to Miss Polly Cav
she had affirmed that she heard Mr.. Pei
lew and his wife engaged in violent quar-
rel, and even heard distinct affirmation
on her part that she would leave him.
Mr.. PeIlew now hit upon an expediens
10 bring matters to a close at once. He
invited all such of his and his wife's rela-
tIves, his neighbors, his creditors, &C., rs
were within his reach, to meet at his house
on business Of the utmost Importance
Aoout twenty assembled, among them Miss
"aw, and half dozen of the principal
NOUN pieces in the village He then sta
ted TO them his business-recoun,e the
stories he had heard-traced them all down
TO their origin, and demanded of Miss Pol
ly her reasons for the repor, she had raised
Cornered so Unexpectedly and suddenly
she candidly confessed tha, the only foun-
dation for what she had said was. that on
the afternoon she had paid the visi, frs,
mentioned, she had heard, as she entered,
Mrs. Pellew say "Well,.. sir, can take
care OF myself" And she wished to know
n