The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-06-03
TIE TEA TABLE.

Polly Cav entered the room, on one of her flying
afternoon visits. julia could not avoid cooring up
little this sudden Intrusion for this young iady's
visits always intrusive, and Miss CAV evil
IDENTITY saw, suspected, she had dropped in at
a moment when her company was not the most
desirable. However, she got herself seated, and
entertained her good neighbor with history about
three hours long of the home ofevery family
in the neighborhood. There Il minute detailed
account Of Mr. DIS party, with list of all who were
not invited, among whom she careful TO mention
that Julia one then the progress fthe conrtshps
in the country; the domestic squnbes Of her acqunin-
tances tho scandals Of the week; the motions of the
old wdower who lived the ApPleby farm ,betokcn-
ing an approaching union with the squire's daughter,
and who were Jealous thCreat; and hundred other
topics equally interesting and profitable, were all
spread out on the carpet.
Mr. Peew had made his escape as he arose
from the table and Miss Polly did not fail to comment
largely Oh the savage uusociabiy Of husbands, in
ssting they were as restless, and unhappy in the
marriage Gagged up tigers, and Instnnc'ng
how gay, and young, and spruce they Immediately
became losing their wives; kindly and most SYM
pahotically adding, ''If you to drop off, my
dear Julia Mr. Peew would in ten days he the most
pIcasan, and agreeable in the village" Alter
enjoying herself and entertaining Julia thus delight
fully until it began 10 grow late, she gathered up her
knitting, and sailed ont to maze call or Two more
before she went home.
Mr. and Mrs PeIlew young, had been married
but about year. and were mutually happy in
their union MS love and virtue md similar TASTES and
dispositions could make them. lie was en-aged in a
business, which with industry and good management
yielded him gon,eel living; he embarked in it, how
ever, with capital Of his own; bat Julia had con-
siderable amount Of property which, though the prin
eira was under her CONTROL afforded basis upon
which her husband enabled to gain the credit
neccs sary in his business and c had done This
amiable family had numerous reat;vesi and ncquain-
tanccs, were looked upon by the good and sensible
par, Of the neghborhood us patterns of virtue, and
were generally much beloved and lmired.
The visit or their friend, Miss Polly, forgotten
in day or two but things began before long to wear
rather strange aspect. Time after time Mira Pelew
observed, that her visitors, who begun TO lie much
more numerous thnn before, put long faces and in
n condoling strnin ecturcd the trials Of the mar
riuge state The necessity Of orheanncc, and the ex-
ercise Of Christian patience mingled with sundry hints
about the sovereign rights OF the sex, and the best
method of managing unruly husbands, with now and
then kind of half expressed sympathetic pity for her
Sho could for her life understand what all this
meant, and attributed every cause but the right
one.
Nor was Mr. Peew to escape this and to him
unaccounnble change OF the current OF feeling among
his neighLors, towards them. The frs, symptom he
saw was a GOODNESS and shyncss on tho part Of his
wifc's reatives-some Of them refusing TO speak
to him. The female part Of his acquaintance scolded
at him and what was worse, he thought his custom
ers began to neglect him. Day by day it grew worse;
at last his creditors began to push;he nnrm =
he had never before been asked for money; his credit
bad been perfect; he wondered, and waited for the
issue; it came in half dozen prosecutions, judg-
ments and executions.
II was now time to rouse up. As these things were
in progress he appeared be in utter surprise, and
to view them with perfect incredibly being scarcely
willing to believe the evidence of his Now
he demanded the cause of this strange treatment, and
with some difficulty ascerianed that from the
unhappy separation about to take place between him
and his wife and the cruel manner in which he had
used her lie dem anded the author OF the story and
was referred to an old gentleman, who had told his
inrormer The old man gave his wfe-his wife her
thro about five and twenty mouths, growing rather
less at each, until it to Miss Polly Gaw-she
had affirmed that she henrd Mr. Pellew ard his wife
engaged in a violent quarrel, and even heard dis
tinct affirmation on her part that she would leave
| him. ..-
Mr. Pelew now hit upon expedent to bring
matters 10 close at once. He invited all such OF
his and his wfes relatives his ncghbors; his credit
ors, SIC. within his reach, to meet at his
house on business Of the utmost importance. About
twenty assembled, among them Miss Cav, and a
half dozen of the ncpai mouth pieces in the vii
lage. lie then stated to them his business-recoun
ted the stories he had heard-traced them all down
10 their origin and demanded Of Miss Poly her rens
ons for the report she had raised. Cornered 80 I'M
expectedly and suddenly she canddly confessed that
the only foundation for what she had said was, tina,
on the afternoon she had paid the visit first menon-
ed, she had heard, as she entered, Mrs Pellew say
"Weil, sir, | can take of myself And she
wished to know if Julia Pellew would deny this -
julia replied she would not-she had barbacued o
n,ir of fine fat quals for her husban Is supper, anC