The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-14
Volume XII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Graham's Magazine for December,
THE WIDOW A N TIL E
DEFORMED.
BY MRS. CAROLINE H. BUTLER.
PART |.

ence was rare; and no sooner was it therefore,
seen entering the long street Of struggling hou-
ses, than it was followed by noisy set Of bare
footed urchins, yelping dogs, and idle loungers,
so that by the time it reached the inn, motely
assemblage was formed around it.
AS the carriage stopped, the glass was let
down. a thin, sallow face looked sharply forth,
and a voice not the most gentle, demanded,
Here, some of you-can you tell me where
one Widow Oakly lives?
The landlord, who by this time had reached
the scene Of wonder, imperatively threw aside
all other aspirants to the honor OF answering the
stranger, and himself began,
The Widow Oakly-ay, yes. The Widow
Oakly you said sir?'
To be sure did. ask you to direct me to
her residence
Certainly, sir. Well, you see the widow
lives in that small house yonder, on the bank
OF the creck-that is, she has a room there; an
honest little woman, but poor-very poorp
Drive on cried the gentleman, sternly,
without deigning further notice on the loquac-
iouS laulord.
The driver cracked his whip, and the spiri-
ted horses obeying the impulse dashing thr'o
the crowd at the imminent risk of trampling
some of the throng under their feet.
| There. | told you,' cried the landlord, there
was something uncommon about them Oakly's
poor as they are; and now you see what grand
coach comes after them. Run down there, jim
my, my boy, and find out what it means
And not only Jimmy, but dozen others set
off on full trot in the rear of the carriage.
In the meantime the object Of so much curl
osity had reached the house pointed out as the
residence of the widow; and carefully mincing
his steps across the muddy pathway, Mr. Oak
~ raped londly at the door with his god-hca-
ded cane, for knocker there was none. After
several repctitions Of the same, each more We
hement than the last, the door was finally O.
pcned by middle aged woman, whose red
face, and Sowing brows told she was in no
VERY pleasant frame Of mind. Around her
head was tied and old black handkerchief,
through which, in several places her grizzly
hair shot up like 'quills upon the fretted por-
cupine" She was slip-shod, and stockingless
her dress drabbled and torn.
Well she exclaimed, not at all daunted at
the sight Of the carriage or its owner, whats
all the ruml,ns-what do you want, that you
knock a body's house down about their cars?'
Is there Mrs. Oakly lives here?' inquired
the gentlemen, inyoluntarilly rctreating a step
or two.
We'll, if there is-what do you want? said
the woman, surlily.
That is my business answered Mr.. Oakly.
daggers. "lfthere is such woman here must
speak with her"
! Then 90 round TO the other door, and knock
that down too replied the woman. Ell, may
be YOU are one of her husbands relations. Pve
heard tell he had powerful rich Ones
MIR. Oakly turned away without replying to
this half intcrrogatory.
En-, she continued, her voice becoming
shriler and shriller,' and plaguy proud set
YOU are, I'll be bound. You can ride in your
coach, can you, and let your brother, as maybe
he was, die on straw. Ho-0Otl she cried, her
face inflamed with anger, as she found her
taunts unnoticed, 'ho-oot away with you off nv
door-steps-did you ever hear OF Dives and
Lazarus? Your gold wont keep your back
from scorching, old Dives. Faith, should like
to have the baSting of you mysclfr Saying
which she bozed the ears of the nearest I'M
lucky wight who stood grinning with the rest
at her eloquencc, and then giving him shake
which nearly sent his head OIL, she slammed the
door, and rctreated.
Her last words were audible to the person
they were intended for Glad to escape from
such virago, he had hastily bent his steps a.
round TO the back entrance of the domici
Here he Knocked several times, but as no an
swer was given, he ventured at length to lift
the latch, and enter.
1t was low, dark room in which he found
himself, little better than cellar. l fancy it
wonld have been impossible even for those who
dwell upon the charms and romance of poverty.
and who. with well-fed stomachs, in sfippertd
ease, on Turkey carpets, descant so eloquentlv
upon this theme, to have found aught char
ming here. The floor was broken and uneven:
two low windows, which could only boast of
three whole pancs between them, the rest be-
ing patched with paper, or their places suppli-
ed with rags, through which the rein had for
ced its way, and now trickled in long streams
across the floor. There were two chairs.
low bedstead, miserably furnished, pine ia
bic, and some few articles of crockery and
cooking utensils Of the poorest kind.
Upon an old quilt, thrown down upon the
floor IN one corner of the room, two little chill
dren, entwined in each others arms, were slce-
ping. AT this sight the knees of Mr.. Oaklv
trembed, his teeth chartered, and for mo
ment he leaned for support against the wall
Tor voice seemed whispering in his ear
"Look srretch! thy brothers. children-this is thu
corL,!'
! And perhaps it will be as well here as else
where, here, in the scene of that brothers
death, to relate the events which led to so sad
an end.
, In Mr.. Alfred Oakly's summary Of his bro-
theirs life there was some tmtb hut not H.
whole truth. John ,cas the fayorite Of his f..
Their; for beside that his mind was of much
higher order than his brothers, his disposition
and department were also far more amiable &
respectful. Mr.. Oakly preferred not sendinn
both of his sons to college. so he very wisely
resolved it should be the youngest, as one
whose talents would most honor the expense.
This excited the envy and jealousy of Alfred,
and from that moment he resolved to work his
brothers undoing. 1t happened that at the
same college-and in the same class with John
oakly, was wild, dissipated fellow of the
same name, who was continually getting into
disgrace. Accident furnished Alfred with this
: clue, which he determined sbould lead 70 his
desired wishes. BY degrees whispers of mis-
conduct reached his fathers ears. Then came
letters to corroborate those ry,mors elm a.,