The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-22

al intervals, the window trembled, the rusty want
upon the iurret-top complained, the clock beneath
gone, or the fire collapsed and fell in with rattle
When knock came at his door, in short, as he
sitting so, and reused him.
"Who's that :" said he. "Come in,''
Surely there had been no figure leaning on the
back of his chair; no face looking over it. 1t is
certain that no gliding footstep touched the floor
as he lifted up his head, with start, and spoke
And yet there was no mirror in the room on whose
surface his own form could have cast its shadow
for moment; and something had passed darkly
and gone
Pm humbly fearful, SIR said fresh-coored
busy man, holding the door open with his foot for
the admission Of himself and wooden tray he car
RED, and letting it go again by very gentle and
careful degrees, when he and the tray had got in,
lest il should close nosily that it's a good Bit
past the time tonight. But Mrs. William has been
taken off her legs so often-''
''By the wind Ay! have heard it rising''
by the wind sir-that it's a mercy she got
home at all. Oh dear, yes Yes 1t was by the
wind, Mr.. Redlaw. BY the wind.''
He had, by this time, put down the tray for din
ner, and was employed in lighting the lamp, and
spreading cloth on the table. From this employ
ment he desisted in hurry, to stir and feed the
fire, ana then resumed it; the lamp he had lighted
and the blaze that rose under his hand, so quickly
changing the appearance of the room, that it
seemed as if the mere coming of his fresh red face
and active manner had made the pleasant alteration
Mrs. William is of co 'rse subject at any time,
sir, to be taken off her balance by the elements.
She is not formed superior to that"
NO" returned Mr.. Redlaw good-naturedly,
though abruptly.
''No, sir Mrs. William may be taken off her
balance by Earth; as, for example, last Sunday
week, when sloppy and greasy, and she going out
to tea with her newest sister-in-laW, and having
pride in herself, and wishing to appear perfectly
spotless though pedestrian. Mrs. William may be
taken off her balance by Air; as being once over
persuaded by friend to try swing at Peckham
Fair, which acted on her constitution instantly
like steamboat. Mrs. William may be taken eff
her balance by Fire as on a false alarm of en-
gines at her mothers, when she went two miles
in her nightcap. Mrs. William may be taken off
her balance by Water; as at Battersea, when
rowed into the piers by her young nephew, Char
ley Swidger, junior, aged twelve, which had no
idea Of boats whatever But those are elements.
Mrs. William must be taken out of elements for the
strength of her character to come nto play"
As he stopped for reply, the reply was " Yes"
in he same tone as before.
Yes, sir. Oh dear, yes.'' said Mr.. Swidger,
still proceeding with his preparations, and check
ing them off as he made them. "That's where it
is, sir. That's what | always say myself,-s
Such many of US Swidgers Pepper. Why
there's my father, sir, superannuated keeper and
cus todian of this institution, eigh-ty-seven year
OLD. lie S a SWldger spoon.
True, William was the patient and abstract
ed answer, when he stopped again.
Yes. SIR" said Mr.. Swidger. "That's what
always say, sir. You may call him the trunk of
the tree bread. Then you come to his successor,
my unworthy self-Salt-and Mrs. William, Swid-
gers both-Knife and fork. Then You come to my
brothers and their families, Swidgers, man and
woman, boy and girl. Why what with cousins,
unces, auns, and rela ionships of this, that, and
tother degree, and whatsnot degree, and marriages.
and lying-in, the Swidgers-Tumbler- take
hold OF hands and make ring round England"
Receiving no reply at all here, from the thought
full man whom he addressed, Mr.. William ap-
preached him nearer, and made feint of acct
IDENTIFY knocking the table with decanter, to rouse
him. The moment he succeeded, he went on, as
If In great alacrlty Of acquiescence.
Yes, sir. That's just what | say myself, sir.
Mrs William and me have often said so. There's
SWldgers enough, we say, without our voluntary
Butter. In fact, SIR my father is
a family in hmself-Castors-to take care of and
it happens all for the best that we have no child of
our own, though it's made Mrs. William rather
1uiet-like too. Quite ready for the fowl and
mashed potatoes, sir Mrs. William said she'd
lish it in ten minutes when left the Lodge9'
g am quite ready said the other, waking as
from dream, and walking slowly to and fro.
" Mrs. William has been at it again, sir.' said
he keeper, as he stood warming plate at the fire,
md pleasantly shading his face with it, Mr. Red
aw stopped in his walking, and an expression Of
interest appeared in him.
What always say myself, sir. She ,oW do it
There's a motherly feeling in Mrs. Williams
breast that must and will have went"
What has she done -
"Why, sir, not satisfied with being a sort of
mother to all the young gentlemen that come up
rom variety OF parts, TO attend your courses of
ectures at this ancient foundatiOn-its surprising
low stone-chaney catches the heat, the frosty
weather, to be sure'' Here he turned the plate,
md cooled his fingers.
Well - said Mr.. Redaw.
That's just what say myself, sir" returned
Mr. William, speaking over his shoulder, as if in
eady and delighted assent "That's exactly
where it is, sir. There amt one of our students
,ut appears to regard Mrs. William in that
light. Evers day, right through the course, they
,ut their heads into the Lodge, one after another,
md have all got something to tell her, something
o ask her. Swldge is the appellation by which
hey speak of Mrs. William in general, among
themselves, I'm told but that's what | say, sir.
Better be called ever so far out of your name if
rs done in real liking, than have it made
much Of, and not cared about! What's name
or! To know person by. If Mrs. William is
,nown by something better than her name-I al
ude to Mrs. Williams qualities and disposition
lever mind her name, though it is Swidger, by
lights. Let 'em call her Swidge, Widge, Bridge
ord London Bridge, Blackfriars Chelsea, Put
ley, Waterloo, or Hammersmth Suspension-if
hey like
The close of this triumphant Grafton brought him
nd the plate to the table, upon which he half laid
nd half dropped it, with lively sense of its being
thoroughly heated just as the subject of his praises
ntered the room, bearing another tray and a Ian
ern, and followed by venerable old man with
ong gray hair.
Mrs. William like Mr. William, was simple, in
person, i'll whose smooth cheeks the
heerful red of her husband official waistcoat was
cry pleasantly repeated. But whereas Mr.. Will
ams light hair stood on end all over his head, and
eemed to draw his eyes up with it, in an excess Of
ustling readiness for any thing, the dark brown
air Of Mrs. William was carefully smoothed down,
nd waved away under a trim, tidy cap, in the
lost exact and quiet manner imaginable Whereas
lr. Williams very trousers hitched themselves up
the ankles, if it We're not in their iron gray
allure to rest without looking about them, Mrs |
Villains neatly Powered skirts - red and white,
Ike her own pretty face--were as composed and
rderly as if the very wind that blew so hard out
doors could not disturb one of their folds |
Whereas his coat had something of HV-aWaV and |