The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-17

however, II went 10 the world, ana experienced
philanthropic emotion in fsncying how pleased
the little hard-faced old gentleman would be with
these fattering encomiums on his "Thespian
Magazine
The very day my paper was out, as | was sitting
" full hthom five" deep in an article on " the ad-
yantages of virtue IAN interesting theme, upon
my views Of which rather fatter myself was
startled by three knocks at the door, and my
~ come i'm exhibited 20 view the broad-brimmed
hat Of the hard-faced old gentleman, with his
breeches, buckles, gold-headed cane, and all He
laid aside his hat and cane with the air Of a man
who has walked q great way, and means to rest
himself while. | was very busy. 1t was one Of
my inspired moments. Half of a brilliant idea was
already eowvNatS$.to paper There itlay--a frag-
ment-a flower cut off in the bud-s mere outline
an embryo; and my Imagination cooling like
piece OF red-not iron IL the open air ! raised my
eyes TO the old gentleman, with aNooS Of solemn
silence, retaining my pen ready for action, with
my little finger extended, and limiting, in every
way, that was not i the vein" kept my lips
closed. dipped the pen in the ink-stand several
times, aud held il ho"sriDg over the sheet Ii
world do Tke old sf6tTeman was not so-es
driven off his ground by shakes Of the pen, ink
drops, or little fingers, He fumbled about in his
pockets, and drew forth the red-covered "North
American Thespian Magazine devoted to the
drama, &c, number twelve. He wanted "a good
notice. The last was rather general. had not
specified its peculiar claims upon the public. |
had copied nothing. That sort of critique did no
good He begged me to read this ear5dly-to
an0lyze ito give it a candid examination
was borne down by his emphatic manner; and
| being naturally of a civil department as well as
at that particular moment, in an impatient fever
ish hurry to get ON with my treatise on the " adj
vantages of virtue" which | felt now oozug out
of my subsiding brain with an alarming rapidity
| promised to read notice investigate analyze to
the uttermost extent Of his wishes, or at least of
my ability.
! L could SCARCELY keep myself screwed down TO
| common courtesy till the moment of his depart
ure proceeding which he accomplished with
most commendable self-possession and deliberate
politeness. When he was fairly gone pOked my
head out, and called my boy.
"Petern
"SirD
odd you see that little old gentleman Peter 2"
Yes, SIR
Should you know him again, Peter?"
eyes srn
DWELL, if he ever come here again, Peter, tell
him am not in"
g Yes, siro
reentered my little study, and closed the door
| after me with a slam, which could only have been
perceptble to those who knew my ordinary still
and mild manner There might have been also a
slight accent In my way of turning the key, and
(candor is mertD ! could not repress a brief
exclamation of displeasure at the little old gen.
tleman with his magazine, who had broken in 30
provokingly upon my essay on virtue" "Virtue
or no virtue thought l. 81 wish him TO the d-n
w. My room is on the ground floor, and window
adjoining the street lets in upon me the light and
air through heavy crimson curtain, near which
sit and scribble. was Just enlargiDg upon the
| necessity of resignation while the frown yet lin
gered on my brow, and was writing myself into a
more calm and complacent mood when-another
knock at the door. As opened it, heard Peters
voice asserting, sturdily that had "gone out"
Never dreaming of my old enemy, betrayed too
much of my person to withdraw and was recog-
missed and pounced upon by the little old gentle
man. who had come back to inform me that he in
tended rs soon as the increase of his subscription
would permit, to enlarge and improve the North
American Thespisn Magazine" and to employ all
the writers in town. " ! intend also" said he
and he was in the act of again laying aside thai
everlasting bat ana ne, when esy Of FIRE ir
the neighborhood, and the smell of the burning
rafters attracted him into the street, where, as
feared, he escaped unhurt In many respects fire
are calamities but | never saw more forcib
exemplifcaton of Shakspeare's remark, Their
is some spirit of good in things evil than in thu
relief afforded me on the present occasion.
wrote, after that, with my door locked. This
knew was, from the confined air, prejudicial Il
my health but what WAS dyspepsy or consump
ton to that little hard-faced old gentlemsn-tt
those breeches-to that broad-brimmed hate
those buckles-to that gold headed cane
Remember, Peter said |, the second morning
after the foregoing, I" have gone out"
"Where have you gone inquired Peter, viii
grave simplicity "They always ask me wher,
have yon gone. sir The little man with the hal
was here last night, and wanted to 60 after you
Forbid it heaven | have gone to Albany
Peter, on business
can hear in my room pretty much what passe,
in the adjoining one, where visitors first enter
from the street. | had scarcely got comfortably
seated, in rare mood for poetry, giving the last
touches to poem, which, whatever might be the
merits Of Byron and Moore, did not think alto
gether different when | heard the little old
gentleman's voice nquiring for me.
{" must see him; have important business" it
said.
ale has gone out" replied Peter, in an under
tone in which J could detect the consciousness
that he was uttering bouncer.
" But must see him" said the voice.
"The scoundrel p muttered l.
I" lie is not in town, sir" said Peter.
81 will not detan him a single minute. II is
Of the greatest importance. He would be very
sorry, rery, should he miss men
held my breath-there was pause gave
myself up for lost-when Peter replied firmly,
lie is in Albany, sir. Went off at five o'clock
this morning"
BE back soon ~
"Don't know
Where does he stay7'
Don't know
"Tll call Tomorrow
heard his retreating footsteps, and inwardly
resolved to give Peter n half-dollar, although he
deserved to be horsewhpped for his readiness at
deception. | laughed aloud triumphantly, and
slapped my hand down upon my knee with the
feelings OF fugitive debtor, who, holly pursued
by sherifs officer, escapes the line into an
other county and snaps his fingers at Monsieur
Bailif ! was aroused from my merry mood of
reverie by touch on my shoulder. turned
suddenly 1t was the hard faced little old gentle
man peepng in frora the street. His broad
brimmed hat and two-thirds Of his face were just
lifted above the window sill. He was evidently
standing on tiptoe and the window being open
he bad put aside the curtain and was soliciting
my attention with the end Of his cane
"Ahp said he, dis IL you2 Well, | thought
it was you, though wasn't sure. ] won't inter
rupt you. Here are the proofs OF number thir-
teen you'll find something glorious in that--just
the thing for you-dont forget me next week
goodbye III sec you again in day or two"
shall not cast gloom over my readers by
dwelling upon my feelings. Surely, surely, there
are sympathetic bosoms among them. To them
appeal. | said nothing. Few could have detect
ed anything violent or extraordinary in my man
ner, as took the proofs from the end Of the little
old gentlemsns cane, and laid them calmly on
the table did not write any more about vir-
tue" that morning II was out Of the question.
indeed, my mind scarcely recovered from the
shock for several days
When my nerves are in any way irritated J
find a walk in the woods soothing and agreeable
sedative. Accordingly, the next afternoon, !
wound up the affairs OF the day earlier than