Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-05-29

won't be pacifed with any lies they can
tell him--he's doing nothing but scream"
ing for you
well, well, he cant last forever was
the self-comlorting answer Of the WIFE
She then took the glass, and saying
Here's the gon,leman's health, whoever
he is enptcd it. We'll, suppose like
the girl in the play, must take off my
finery and be Cinderella again, said Mrs
Cramp, and she rose to leave the room.
You'll find every thing as you left it,
said Crumpet, who during her mistress's
absence called in Becky, and gIorfed her
with half a glass of wine. 4 suppose
you dou't get much of this sort of stuff
with your master'' said Mrs Crumpet.--,
The girl made no answer; but gave mel
ancholy shake of the head, drank tho
wine, and heaved deep sigh. and has
the old fellow made much Of a rumpuc?
He's been doing nothing but swearing
and praying these two hours, said Becky.
well, Providence is very good,' says
Mrs Crumpct; there's one good thing
he's bedrid
That's the only blessing, said Becky,
for we can have the comfort of shutting
all the doors and letting him halloo.
More conversation of this consolatory
cast took place ere the return OF Mrs
Cramp. AT length she entered the room;
but what a change! She had thrown off
every vestige Of her finery, and was
drest with scarcely more pretentsion thar
the smutch faced blowsy maid-of-all-woris
who had come to fetch her. You'll take
care of the things-and oftha, particular"
Iy,' said Mrs Cramp pointing me out to
Mrs Crumpet
Like the apples ofmy eyes, answered
the andlady with emphasis. She then
took the candle, and preceded her visit
er to the street door. Good night my
dear Mrs Cramp, let US hope for happier
days
yes! he can't last long, again repeat
ed Mrs Cramp; and lightened by such
comfort, I heard her trip quickly past the
window, followed by Becky. Mrs Crump-
ct returned to the parlor, and setting her.
sell at the table, whereon was still the
wine, divided her admiration between the
bottle and myself. We'll, they ought to
bless their stars as are born to such
things said Mrs Crumpet; her heart ev-
identity softening under yinous influence.
She continued to solloquize. 'Ha! with
such fine feathers, what q fine. bird /
should have been' And now-the Lord
help mel lets lodgings to all sorts.-
Then, for solace, did Mrs Crumpet again
address hersclfto the wine, which still in
creased its kindly operation. She took
me from the table; shook me; blew thro'
me; and then began to hum the songs of
her youth. For some minutes she said
nothing; but sure ! am her brain was bu-
sy with the past; with the glowing radi-
cnt hopes which had faded into lcaden-
colored realities; for after time, she
dropped me upon the table, and in deep
or key exclaimed confidently to herself
and now lets lodgings!'
At length, Mrs Crumpe, rose, and
placing the bottle atlectionateIy under
one arm, she carried me, wine glass, and
a candle.stick from the room, with, as
soon perceived, the intention of ascending
the stairs This operation, after some
difficulty, she effected; and in due season
| arrived at the door of one of the gar
rets. AS Mrs Cumpet opened the doo2
i know not how it was-bnt the candle
fell from her hand, and was eXtnguished,
With wonderful presence of mind
might even say with an intuitive instinc!
Mrs Crumpet held fast the bottle,
who's tkere?' cried a low gentle voice
tho voice of suffering. Instantly | re-
cognized it; tremor thrilled me- 1t was
the little feather dresser, Patty Butler
Who's thero?' again she asked, in dark
ness.
They do make such candles now! cried
Mrs Crumpet; and she CROPPED for the los!
treasure, which, with some difficulty, she
regained. Here, however, began diff
Guilty. Mrs Crumpet endeayored to
strike light; but by some accident Meth
err flint nor steel would meet. Sometimes
the stone jagged one set of the strikers
knuckles-sometimes the steel the other
And thus Mrs Crulnpet sat and struck, and
struck but no spark came!
Oh, wine -wne-Bac chus-Bacchus.
Here in a wretched garnet, with an Ole
crone of a landlody, was thy subtle wick