Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-12-18
Dickens New Work
CHAPTER VI.
Panrs Second Deprivation.

CHAPTER VI.
Paurs Second Deprivation.
Polly was beset BY SO many misgivings in the
r,orninp that bnt for the incessant promptings
,f her black-eycd companion. she would have
abandoned all thoughts of the expedition, and
formally petitioned for leave to see number one
hundred and fortv-seven, under the awful shadow
Of Mr. Doinbcy's roof Bat Susan, who was
personallv disposed in favor of the excursion.
and who dixie Tony Lumpkin) if she could bear
the disa poointments OF other people with toer-
able fortitudc, could not abide to dsappoint her
self, threw so many ingenious doubts in the way
of this second thought, and stimulated the orgi-
nal intention with so many ingenious arguments,
tina, almost as soon as Mr.. Dombey's stately
back was turned, and that gentleman was pur-
suing his daily road toward the city, his uncon-
scious son was on his way to Stages Gardens
This euphonious locality was situated in
suburb known by the inhabitants OF Stagg Gar
dens by the name of Camberling Town; dcs-
ignation which the Strangers Map of London,
a printed with view to pleasant and commodl-
GUS reference) on Observation-Disclosures, conden-
SEES. with some show Of reason, into Camden
Town. llther the two nurses bent their steps,
accompanied by their charges; Richards carry
ing Paul, of course, and Susan leading little
Florence by the hand, and giving her such Jerks
it wholesome to administer.
The first shock OF great earthquake had. Just
at that period, rent the whole neighborhood TO
the centre. Traces of its course were visible on
every side. Houses were knocked down; streets
were broken through and stopped deep pits and
trenches dug in the ground; enormous heaps OF
earth and clay thrown up; buildings that were
undermined and shaking, propped by great beams
of wood. Here, a chaos Of carts, overthrown
and jumbled together, lay topsy-turvy at the bot
tom of a steep unnatural hills there, confused
treasures OF iron soaked and rusted in something
that had accidentally become a pond. Every
where were bridges that led no where thorough
fares that We're wholly i'm oassble Babel towers
Of chimncys wanting half their hight temper
AIRY wooden houses and enclosures, the most
unlikely situations:carcases dragged tenements,
and frJgmcnts Of unfinished walls and arches,
and piles of scaifoGng.and wlderncsses oil bricks,
ana giant forms of cranes, and tripods staddI'nS
above nothing. There were hundred thou-
sand shapes and substances of Incompetence,
wildly mingled out of their places, upside down,
b,rrowing in the earth, aspiring in the air,
Wondering in the water, and unin'elligbIe as
any dream. Hot springs and fiery ernp,ions, the
usual attendants upon earthquakes, lent their
contributions of confusion to the scene. Boil
ing water Kissed and heaved within dilapidated
walls: whence also, the glare and roar of flames
came issuing forth; and mounds of ashes block
ed up rights Of way, and wholly changed the law
and custom of the neighborhood.
In short the vet unfinished and unopened Rail
road was in progress; and, from the very core
of all this dire disorder trailed smoothly away
upon its mighty course OF civilization and i'm
provement.
But as vet, the ncighborhood was shy to OWL
the Railroad. One or two bold SPECTATORS hac
a I'D bod h,,iit Ian
had stopped among the mud and ashes to consid
er farther of it. A bran-new Tavern, redolen
of fresh mortar and size, and fronting nothing a
ALL had taken for its sign The Railway Arms
but that might be rash enterprse-and then
hoped to sell drink to the workmen. So, Tn
Excavators' House of Call had sprung up from
a beer shop; and the od-establishcd Ham an
Beef Shop had become The Railway Eatin
House, with roast leg of pork daily, throug
interested motives of a similar immediate an
popular description. Lodging-house keeper
were favorable in like manner; and for the Xix
reasons were not to be trusted. The general be
lief was very slow. There were frowzy field
and cowhouses, and dunghills, and dusthcaps
aud bitches. and gardens, and summer-housc
and carpet-bcatng grounds at the very door
the Railway Little tumuli Of oyster shells
the oyster season. and of lobster shells in III
lobster season, and OF broken crockcry and fade
cabbage leaves in all seasons, encroached upc
it's hirh places Posts. and rails, and old car
tons TO trespassers, and backs of mean house
and patches of wretched vegetation, stared it OF
O. countenance. Nothing was the better for
or thought of being so. If the miserable was
ground living near it could have laughed Il wou
lave laughed it to scorn like many the mlser
be neighbors.
Starr's Garden was uncommonly incrcdulou
I, la nf bpueos
patches OF ground before them, fenced off vi
old doors, barrel slaves, scraps OF tarpauln al
dead bushes; with bottomless tin kettles and Q
hausted iron tenders, thrust into the gaps. lie
the Stages Gardeners trained scarlet bean
kept fowls and rabbits, erected rotton summe
houses, Zone was an old boIt) dried clothes al
smoked pipes. Some were ofopinion that Stage
Gardens derived its name from deceased ca
itahst, one MIR. Sttegs, who had built il for j
dedication. Others, who had natural taste {
the country, held that it dated from those rur
times when the antlerei herd, under the fam
lar denomination Of Staggscs, had resorted
its shady precincts, BE this as il may. Staru
Gardens was regarded By its population as n $
cred grove not to be wthered by railroads; al
so confident were they generally of its lonu on
living any such ridiculous inventions. that 4
master chimney-sweeper at the corner. who W
understood to take the lead in the local poIi,i
of the Gardens, had publicly declared that on t
occasion of the Railroad opening if it ever {
open, two of his boys should ascend the fues
his dwelling, with instructions to hail the fail,
with derisive jeers from the chmney-pots.
To this unhalowed spot, the very rlme
which had been hitherto carefully concealed FIR
Mr.. Dombey by his sister, was little Paul n
borne by Fate and Richards.
That's my house, Susan, said Polly point
it out
is it, indeed, Mrs. Richards said Susan, c
descendingly.
'And there's my sister Jcmima at the doc
do declared cried Polly, with my own sw
precious baby in her arms!
The sight added such an extensive pair
wings 10 Polly's impotence, that she set offdc