The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-01-13

the juveniles, who had now commenced clam
berng about me. As soon, however, as hal
spoken, the dressmaker, recognising my voice
instantaneously turned her head, and, " Why
John Pandevack is this you ?" and, "Ni,
dear friend Mary WiltonP' were the word
that as quick as thought passed between us
and then followed mutual inquiries after eacl
others health and the expression of surprise
on her part that the name of Pandevack, ,
which stood by itself in aristocratic style or
the door plate, was the "John Pandevack'
with whom she had rompcd and played in hel
9irlhood.
leave it for the reader to imagine the
CONSERVATION of my worthy spouse on finding
how matters stood. The scene was truly dra.
matte Mary and unaffectedly delighted to
see each other and interchanging the kindest
civilities in our illusions to former times,
while Mrs. PandevAck, angrily looking on,
was highly inccnsed that made so free with
a sewing woman. | had not heard of the
Wilton family for some years, but their histo-
ry is bret Shortly after | left my native
village, where they then resided, Mr.. Wilton,
the father OF Mary, signed bonds for newly
elected sheriff for several thousand dollars,
and the said sheriff atterward Ascending with
a considerable amount of funds in his posses
sion, Mr.. Wilton was compelled, in order to
meet his liabilities, to di3posseSs himself of his
farm, and having no other dependence, was
thereby reduced to positive pcnury.
After many hardships endured in the coun-
try, he came to the metropolis, and had since
subsiSted, rather than lived, by the precarious
various periodicals and magazines All this
7 oil I e.,
to hear of the various straits to which her
fathers family had been subjected. Our con-
vcrsation was now interrupted by the ring,
ing of the dinner bell, which l had dreaded
to hear, as | knew it would be the signal foran
unpleasant alteration between Mrs. Pande-
vack and myself. had determined that at
all hazards Miss Wilton should dine with us,
and kindly Signifying the same to her, Mrs,
p. remarked that Miss Wilton would dine
with the children, as she was DESTROYS to have
the bodypart Of her dress put in such shape
that she could get through trying it on in time
to make some early afternoon calls.
At once perceiving the drift of this plea of
female ingenuity, l observed that as dinner
had already been protractcd until a late hour,
it was probable Miss Wilton felt the need OF
her meal, and that she had Of course better
proceed at once to the table with us. AT
this point my wife drew me little aside and
in a low tone assured me that she somewhat
expected Lieut.. Redtop would drop in upon
US at dinner, as she had invited him and had
ordered a plate set for him-and
6 Mr.. Pandeva." she exclaimed, " what opin-
ion would the lieutenant form of us, should
he sec seamstress seated at the table with
Us ?" "Any opinion that the son of old Red
.op the tallow chandler should form of us,
Mrs. Pandevack," 1 replied, in an elevated
tone, for | had got somewhat angriy excited,
is matter of far greater Indifference to
ne than would be the i'll treatment of young
ady of as good birth as yourself, Mrs Pande.
fack." BY this time my wife was fairly con-
Iinced that | was in earnest, and made no
more objection. Mary, it is true, begged to
De allowed to eat after we had finished, but as
would not in the least hcarken to it, Mrs
Pandevack was compelled to bow her neck to
he unaristocratic degradation of dining with
dress maker.
This is but single specimen Of what had
% undergo! For the sake of peace | often
to having those whom Mrs. Pandc
Sack deemed her interiors subjected to the
most naughty and repulsive treatment, while
1t times, in spirit Of righteous Indignation,
have felt called or to take matters in hand
md compel the performance of justice, as
much to my own satisfaction as to the morti-
ication of my naughty spouse. I am now
some thirty-five years Of age, and the cares Of
ny business and family pressing upon me,
IN quite willing to dress becomingly and to
DC thought as old as am, but such is not the
will of Mrs. Pandcvack. The fashion in hats
,,o frofrnnt1y hn ! h,,,- a VIZ
onc, so that hat scarcely gets warmed to my
ootic sovereignty of Mrs. p, (Which | allow
ler to exercise in such matters) to throw it
aside for one of the latest ton.
In 1915, when the styles of gentemen's
hats varied so frequently, Mr. Leary's bill
against me for seventeen of his imperial first
quality was one hundred and nineteen dol
ars In the other departments of dress | fare
no better; | am an exceedingly thin, spare
nan, weighing no more than about eight
stone, yet in spite of my aflirmations that a
sack coat would exhibit my slender proper
ion to disadvantage, Mrs. Pandevack insisted
On my wearing one the very first week in
which they came into fashion. About the
same time, the large massive canes were
also brought into use, and one Of these of
some ten pound weight, l was compelled to
lug up and down town every day, much be-
ieve to the dctrimcnt of my health, and the
of my shoulders, ! do not rcmcm-
Der any foppish appendage, that came nearer
being an infection and a curse than those hor
rible mammoth walking sticks. They were
generally assumed by delicate, slender young
gentlemen who would rather have paid ne
FRO some twenty-five cents each time to carry
the clumsy beam, than have sweated under
its ponderous weight themselves, had not
fashion demanded it.
Even now am thrown into a fit of nerv-
BUSINESS when reflect upon the dreadful bur-
lens staggered under and the forlorn figure
presented in my peregrinations through
The streets during the era of the sack coats
and weavers' beams. OF truth the tapping
Of that aforesaid garment of elegance around
my bony back and shoulders on a windy day,