Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-15

MRS. Butterfly, retired mllllner-MrS.
Redrose, a jolly widow-Mr Walhower, a
broken merchant-and Captain Casket, sup
posed to be apensioner on the King of Great
Britain. We had rakcd and scraped, and
twisted and turned, toprocure all the money
we could. My mother had sold picked
mangoes-I was sent to pick up mushrooms
in the great pasture-my father disposed of
about two tons of old salt hay, the remain
ing wheel of an old ox-cart, all his turnips
and pumpkins, and about half of his Indian
corn--to make up the sum of fifteen dollars,
thirty-seven and half cents, with which
we were to shine out, for one evening at
least in all the peacock feathers with which
ingenious poverty could cover its hide bound,
frost-bitten, hunger-wasted frame We sent
for all the china and glass we could beg or
borrow and Mr.. Planewell, the carpenter,
was summoned to repair our front gate, set
up the fence, and ncw-lay the step before
the front door but, as there was very little
prospect of his ever being paid, he could
not come. Two of the legs of our dining
table we're broken, and / was ordered to
glue them; but failing in that, I remember
L tied them together with piece of fish-line,
which was to be concealed by the depending
table-cloth. The table.cloth itself was of
the finest and incest damask though I'M
luckily, there was thin spot in the middle
OF il, almost verging to hole-but this we
could conceal by the mat on which we laid
the great dish in the centre. My mother
had spent the previous week in preparation,
keeping the whole house in confusion wash
ing, securing, cleaning-adjusting the best
chamber, where the ladies were to take off
their bonnets-mending the carpet, and pol
ishing the shovel and tongs: and / must
confess, considering her means, she put
things in tolerable order. An old decrepit
negro woman, by the name of Joice, who
had formerly waited on parties, but was now
nearly superannuated was to come and as
sist us it having been stipulated that she
should have the fragments of the feast for
her pay. The evening came the company
assembled our old barn-lantern, with one
broken and three cracked glasses, was hung
up in the entry for an Introductory light !;
our turkey, our chickens, our jellies, and
our cards, were prepared. Joice was busy,
my mother was directing, and all were hap
py. But let no man hereafter pronounce an
evening blessed, before the hour of supper
has closed. Joice had complained already
that she wanted things to do ,oith; and on
the narrow table in the kitchen, she had
overturned lamp, and oiled the bottom of
the great dish, on which the turkey was to
be presented to the supper table. 1t became
slippery, her fingers were slippery, and she
was half blind. AS she came waddling in
to the supper room, with the treasures of
her cookery, she stumbled, and struck the
poor spliced legs Of our dining table My
patchwork gave way down went the table,
dishes and sauces, on the ladies' gowns
down went poor Joice in the midst of them !;
my fish-line was revealed the torn place in
the table-cloth was seen, torn still more dis
astrously: my father looked aghast, my
mother was in tears, and the whole company
were in confusion. My father, however,
tried to jump out of his condition, like cat
out of a corner. Plague take Mr.. Hard
wood, our cabinet maker had just order
ed new table, but he never sends home
his work in timep' In saying this, can
bear witness that my honored father did not
tell lie: he told just half the truth. He
had ordered anew table, and Mr.. Hardwood
had not sent it to us in time; but then he
distinctly told my father the reason--and
that was, he should not send it, until he set
tied off the old score.
go poverty, povertyW says Cervantes,
" man must have great share of the grace
of God, who can bring himself to be con-
tented with thee. Why dost thou choose
to pinch gentlemen p Yes, | must allow,
poverty is bad enough; but not so terrible
when it comes alone. 1t may then bring
peace and resignation by its side, and even
lead contentment and virtue in its train In
such cases, it is probation instruction, wis
dom, improvement, religion. The great
and good, in all ages, have submitted to ii
and suffering heroes have sometimes made
it their boast and glory. But Heaven de-
fend me and the souls of all my tribe, from
the mingled horrors of pride and poverty,
when they come upon us together In the
language of our own Wigglesworth, | may
say
II is main great ocean
Wlthouen bank or bound,
A deep abyss, wherein there is