The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-01
Genealogy Made Useful.

/ SOLOMON LANaTREE, Esq, dwell il
! Chestnut ST. years ago, an ancient bachelor
with a house full Of books, and magnificent
law Office occupying the whole ofthe ground
/ floor. He was as stately person as you
would wish to see, stiff, tall and dignifed
with little queue resting on his powdery
cont collar, and large gold headed cane in
! his hand us sure as he walked abroad. You
would have thought wisdom would die with
him. lie was never puzzled in law, one rea-
son of which was that he had very few cases
and cared very Iiitlc for those which he did
have. He inherited very competent sup
| port for one and hence ii was in tie common
law doctrine of heriditaments that he most
rciOiCed and gloriCd There aud in the sci
ence of genealogy lie was supposed to he
profoundly read. His colnIehance was
heavy and saiurnine, mis- voice profound
bass tipped of with nasal whine in the ca
dence, and his motions and speech were eX-
cecdngly deliberate, all which gave him Il
reputation for knowing Il vast deal more than
he probably did-we say probably, for what
he did know was an undiscovered quantity
10 the world in general. In the courts his
reputation amounted to little beyond ques-
lions of verbal criticism and lis iayorite
branch Of genealoEy, on which he was rather
the butt ofthe younger members of the bar.
But out ofconrt the veneration for him in
creased as you descended and he was almost
TOO venerable TO he approached.
His household, besides n venerable dog
consisted of principal woman servant or
housckeeper, female cook and an errand
boy, all of whom conducted themselves in
general with great proprieiy and silence.
'lIow happens ,hs!" said Mr. Lan9iree,
one dismal morning in November, as he sat
down TO his solitary coffee, mackerel and
toast. "Iere is Il burnt offering; but | am
not god Call Betty"
The waiter who had conveyed the break
fast retired and Betty the cook, having wiped
her thce with her apron, entered.
"Bet,y, alias Elizabeth Lewis, | have pro-
lnugated to You for five years the laws of
broed mackercl and dry toast You know
the conditions Of their excellence and SALT
briy. What have you TO say for yourscfwhy
sentence of enlistment should not he eXccu-
ted upon son for burning both Of these to q
cinder?"
1t was impossible to tell which way Betty
looked after this terrific speech, and indeed
it was always so on account of an inveterate
SfydbiSmuS or squirting which she had from Il
child. But putting her apron to her face she
burst into tears before she could answer
"Please excuse me, sir; the bad news pve
heard made me forget the breakfast entirely"
"And do you read tie newspaper before
breakfast"
"NOt ], sir, but my poor mother has been
here 10 tell me that she aud the whole family
are going TO be turned into tie street
from the house where was born, and
where we all have lived for twenty
years. The lOndord is going to tenr down
the house and has given notice to quit"
"Well, and what is that TO cry about? Are
there not plenty Of houses in other Streets"
''Sure there 1re, sir, but they ask rent for
them"
"And did you geta house without rent,
gir:"
eyes sir, my dear father that's dead bought
the little house IN Mulberry street, where my
mother lives,of old Mr. Muggins, the grocer.
He's dead and gone, aud father never got ii
deed, and now his son wants the gTnund to
build stores ON. wanledfo ask yOn whe!ll-
er ii was law 10 do such Rtinng, but ! didn't
dare to-"
"Your father Betty, never paid for the
house, suppose, but held it subject to a
mortgage which is now to he torecosed.-
But don't take on about that, girl-if the in
terest az regularly paid you will huye. n
handsome share of Jae proceeds
"But the interest wasn't paid, sir. Mr.
Muggins was friendly and let it run on.--
Now his son, who is great Speculation, says
our right is outlawed and that we may think
ourselves well off that we have got our rent
so long Cor nothing. It's cruel for such a
family, and mother so poorly, to be turned
out of house and home" ... ..
"Don't you fret, Beity broil another mack
crel, and see that the toast is just right, and l
will look after this matter"
"Thnnk you, sir"
"But Bely, who was yonr father"
"Ile was man that made boots and shoes,
sir"
"No, | mean what was his hame-his
Christian name"
go! James Lewis, at your service"
"Anh your grandfather"
ellis name was Joshua. But il was writ
ten Levis-Joslua Lewis, sir--in the big BIZ
ble.'
"Hem! indeed; well shall look after the
matter. Go and get the muckerel'