The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-08-03
From d ckens's David Copperfeld.
| HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY.

ana threads from their dresses, and went into the
shop TO put that to rights, and wait for customers
Minnie stayed behind to Iold up what they had
made aud pack it into baskets. This she did
upon her knees, humming lively little tune the
while. Joram, who had no doubt was her low
er, came In and stole kiss from her while she
was busy Che didn't appear to mind me, at all, J
and said her father was gone for the chase, and
he must make haste and get himseIfr ready Then
he went out again. and she put her thimble and
scissors in her pocket, and stuck needle thread
ed with black thread neatly in the bosom OF her
gown, and put on her outer clothing smartIy, at a
little glass behind the door, in which | saw the
reflection OF her pleased face.
All this | observed, sitting al the table in the
corner with my head leaning on my hand, and
my thoughts running on very different things
l ne chaise soon came round to the front of the
shop, and the baskets being put in first, was nut
In next, and those three followed. | remember
II as kind OF half chaise cart, half piano forte
van, painted OF a sombre color, and drawn by
black horse with long tail. There was plenty
OF room for us all.
| do not think | have ever experienced so
strange feeling in my life RI am wiser now,
perhaps) as that OF being with them, remember.
ing now they had been employed and seeing
them enjoy the ride. | was not angry with
them; was more afraid of them, as if [ were
cast away among creatures with whom had no
iul. The old man sat in front to drive, and the
two young people sat behind him, and whenever
ne spoke to them lea ed forward, the one on one
SIDE oil his chubby face, and the other on the 9TH
er, and made great deal of him. They would
nave talked to me too, but held back, and mop
ed In my corner; scared by their love max.
ing and hilarty, though it was far from bolster
GUS ana almost wondering that no judgment
came upon them for their hardness of heart
%. no ctr mad Ia.t al..r 4
ate and drank and enjoyed themselves, could
touch nothing that they touched, but kept my fast
uhoroken. so, when we reached home drop
ped out OF the chaise behind, as quickly as posi-.
Bile, that might not be in their company before
,hese solemn windows, looking bndy on me
IKE closed eyes once bright. And oh, how lit.
tie need had had to think what would move me
10 tears when | came back-seelng the window
OF my mothers room, and next it that which, in
the better time, was minei
was IN Peggotty's arms before got to the
door, and she took me into the house Her grief
ourst out when she first saw me; but she con-
trolled 1t soon, and spoke in whispers, and walk
ed softly, as ii the dead could be disturbed She
had not been in bed, | found for long time
She sat up at night still, and watched. AS long
as her poor dear pretty was above ground, she
said she would never desert her.
Mr.. Murdstone took no heed of me when "
went into the parlor where he was but sat by the
hre side, weeping silently, and pondering in his
elbow chair. Miss Murdstone, who was busy at
her writing desk, which was covered with let I
ters and papers, gave me her cold finger nails.
ana asked me, In an iron whisper, if / had been
measured for my mourning.
l said; "Yes''
"ARd YOUR Shirts" said Miss Murdstone; have
you brought 'em home.
eyes ma'am. l have brought home all my
c!othes.''
The Uag all tho coosolstior tbot no. Grrono,,
administered to me. / do not doubt that she had
choice pleasure in exhibiting what she called
her self-command, and her hrmness, and her
strength OF mind, and her common sense, and the
| whole diaboical catalogue OF her unamiable quail
| tiles, on such au occasion. She was particularly
proud of her turn for business; and she showed it
now in reducing everything to pen and ink and
being moved by nothing. All the rest OF the
day. and from morning to night afterwards, she
sat at that desk; scratching composedly with
had pen, speaking in the same impururbable
whisper to everybody; never relaxing muscle
! OF her face, or sottening tone of her voice, or
appearing with an atom of her dross astray.
Her brother took book sometimes, but never
read it that saw. He would open it and look at
! it as il he were reading, but would remain for
whole hour without turning the leaf, and then
! put it down and walk to and fro in the ROOM
used to sit with folded hands watching him, and
counting his footsteps hour after hour. He very
seldom spoke to her: and never to me- He
seemed to be the only restless thing, except the
clocks, in the whole motonless house.
In these days before the funeral, saw but lit
tie oil Peggotty except that, in passing up or
down stairs, | always found her close to the
room where my mother and her baby lay, and
except that she came TO me every night, and sat
by my beds head while went to sleep. A day
or two before the burial think it was day or
two before but am conscious of confusion in nv
mind about that heavy time, with nothing to
mark its progress-she took me into the room
only recolect that underneath some white GOV.
i ering on the bed, with a beautiful cleanliness
and freshness all around it, there seemed to me 10
lie embodied the solemn stiffness that W as in the
house; and that when she would have turned the
cover gently back, cried, "Oh no, oh no!' and
| held her hand.
II the funeralhad been yesterday, [ could not
recollect it better The very air OF the best par.
Tor, when went in at the door, the bright con-
diton OF the fire. the shining of the wine in the
decanters the patterns of the glasses aud plates,
the faint, sweet smell OF the cake. the odor OF
Miss Murdstone's dress, and our black clothes.
Mr.. Chillp is in the room, and comes to speak to
| me.
"And how is Master David!'' he saws kindly.
cannot tell him very well. l give him nv
hand, which he holds in his.
"Dear mel" says Mr.. Chip, meekly smll.